Hamilton rout Howe of Fife in final home game of the season

Apr 8 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

Hamilton RFC 41 - 17 Howe of Fife

HAVING secured their Premier 3 status last week, Hamilton entertained Howe of Fife in their final home game of the season at Laigh Bent.

The Bulls were able to play a much more relaxed game, allowing interim coach Stuart Eynon to bow out with a win.

Veteran Gerry Hawkes was given the honour of leading Hamilton out onto the field in what was his final home game, following a lengthy and distinguished club career.

Hamilton attacked from the start but were held at bay until Owen McLeish slotted a penalty.

Howe of Fife hit back, however, and Fraser Clark was just held up as he tried to crash over.

That served as a wake-up call and the Bulls attacked, being rewarded with a penalty, which was quickly tapped to Elvis Levi, who went over for the try, with McLeish adding the extra points.

The Cupar side crept back into the game and a break by winger Girvan Imrie was well stopped by Craig Inglis. Shortly afterwards, a scrum was picked up at the back by Paddy Crawford and he was stopped just short. Howe came straight back at Hamilton and Clark broke free but was stopped just short.

From the resultant Hamilton scrum, the ball was seized by Stewart Lathangie, who crashed over for the visitors’ opening try, with Clark converting for 10-7.

Hamilton looked jaded and Howe took full advantage, with Turpie slotting a penalty to level right on the stroke of half-time.

Grant McCowan pulled in the restart kick and Hamilton went straight on the attack, with Richie Maxton and Levi taking play deep into the Howe half.

A slapped down ball earned Hamilton a penalty and Levi quickly tapped it and darted over the line before Howe could react. McLeish again slotted the conversion for 17-10.

Ali Marshall secured good lineout possession and Kevin McCann burst through before setting the backs in motion but was stopped short. However, a penalty award allowed McLeish to stretch Hamilton’s lead to 20-10.

Hamilton were then dealt a blow when Marshall was sin-binned.

The Bulls still looked well in control and McCann and John Selfridge probed for the break before the latter picked from a scrum and supplied good ball to Chris McLaughlin, who cut inside before offloading to Inglis, who drove in for try number three. McLeish added the conversion for 27-10.

Howe showed character to come back from this and winger Imrie took them well into the Hamilton half before being forced out.

However, the visitors stole the lineout, however, and ball was moved quickly to Ross Aitken, who slipped in for a try which Clark converted for 27-17.

Hamilton dominated the remaining 15 minutes, however, and when a scrum just short of the line was driven forward, Chris Hunter broke clear for the bonus point-earning fourth try, with McLeish again converting for 34-17.

The Bulls wrapped up the points when Levi picked up at the back of a scrum, drew his man and sent Inglis clear to crash over for a well-deserved try. McLeish kept up his record, taking Hamilton to 41-17.