Hamilton Rugby Club suffer defeat to Garnock,

Nov 12 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MANAGERLESS Hamilton slumped to a third successive Scottish Hydro Premier 3 defeat on Saturday as Garnock ran out narrow winners at Lochshore.

In wet conditions Garnock got things underway and Hamilton attacked their hosts.

The Bulls quickly secured lineout possession through Robert Cowie, which was spun wide and just as Garnock looked to have intercepted, referee Alan Hoyle brought them back for offside.

Owen McLeish sent the penalty to touch and when Garnock were penalised again, the same man fired the ball out deep into opposition territory.

Cowie rose high and pulled in the ball, setting up a good drive by the Hamilton pack, from which captain David McGrath crashed over for the opening score, with McLeish adding the points for a 7-0 lead.

Shortly afterwards Elvis Levi tidied up at the tail of a lineout, burst clear, and set the backs free to supply full-back Craig Inglis with quick ball, which he took full advantage of and evaded his opposite number to cross for a second score. McLeish again tagged the points, for a 14-0 advantage.

With Garnock rattled by this fast, decisive start, Hamilton looked to cement their early lead.

David Gemmell secured the restart and Hamilton again surged forward, only to be brought to a halt when the ball was spilled in the tackle.

Garnock tried to get back into the game, spinning the ball wide to winger Declan Goldie, but solid tackling by Hamilton halted their progress.

Both sides attacked with gusto but found it difficult in the conditions, with several spilled passes halting moves.

But Hamilton were reduced to 14 when Goldie’s pass released Chris Neill, who kicked only to be cynically obstructed by Craig Inglis, who was sin-binned.

Hamilton’s frustrations at not being able to add to their tally was showing in their indiscipline, and when they were penalised, Michael Jamieson caught well in the line, setting up Stuart Wilson to go around the front of the line and in for a score. Paul McCrorie’s conversion attempt flew wide but Garnock were back in the game.

Restored to 15 again, Hamilton went on the attack, but when Ross Oattes was caught aiming an unnecessary elbow at an opponent, referee Hoyle had no hesitation in sending him to the sin-bin.

Hamilton started well but lost the services of Levi when he went down under a tackle.

Garnock then turned the screw and, when Jamieson set up Miller, he crashed over, with Neill adding the points and reducing the deficit to 14-12.

Garnock pulled ahead moments later when ball at the tail of a lineout was flipped out to McCrorie and he sliced his way in for the try and a 17-14 lead.

The hosts stepped up their pressure and were rewarded when sub Rory Walker kicked two long-range penalties for a 23-14 lead.

Time was running out on Hamilton and their play became increasingly desperate, but good tackling kept the Bulls at bay and when McLeish surprisingly missed a kickable penalty it didn’t look good.

The Hamilton man succeeded with a late award, reducing the deficit to 23-17, but the visitors couldn’t find their way through for any further scoring.