GHK 26-38 Biggar

By Alistair Stewart
at Old Anniesland

THIS was another incident-packed contest. Another game of two distinct halves. Another with a barrow load of tries (nine in total) and another with some great running rugby from both sides. 

Biggar were 14-0 down before they came into the match – but if they can continue to mount second half revivals on the scale of these last two outings, then it is going to be a long yet exciting season.

Starting in similar fashion to Dumfries last week, GHK put Biggar under immediate pressure with stand off Danny Campbell hitting a great line off quick ruck ball to crash over for the opening score. He added the conversion for an all too easy 7-0 lead.

And the home side were soon back on the attack when their big prop strolled through the Biggar defence to score the second. Campbell added the conversion. But the visitors did create chances and a penalty gave them good field position on the GHK 22. 

The following move saw Calum Braid and Ewan Stewart handle before Ryan Moffat went over the line. Carne Green’s conversion made it 14-7.

A second penalty kick from Green was pushed wide while a similar award to GHK saw them tap and go, this causing all sorts of problems for the Biggar defence – with winger Marc Taylor getting the Glasgow team’s third try just before half time. Campbell’s excellent touchline conversion rebounded off the upright before slipping over to make it 21-7.

Biggar mounted an attack on the restart, and should probably have scored from two good attacks. 

Having conceded a score just before the break, Biggar needed a quick riposte although this didn’t come in the normal manner. 

A GHK attack stretched the visitors’ defence but Green took a gamble and made a timely interception, this taking him clear to the line. Bogle added the conversion for 21-14.

And Biggar levelled the scoring soon after when Stewart went over the line and Bogle converted.

Moffat then profited from a good quick pass and perhaps should have made the line, but his off-load failed to go to hand.

However, Bogle eventually put the side in the driving seat by converting a penalty.

And he also scored the fourth Biggar try – the winger tearing in at the corner after Green had combined well with Robbie Lavery.

The conversion from out wide was just short, but at 21-29 the advantage was at last Biggar’s.

GHK had a chance to put Biggar under pressure following a high tackle from Bogle but frustratingly for the home support, the penalty was kicked long and dead allowing Biggar another escape.

But it was the visitors who scored again.

Lavery took a fumbled pass and played the ball to Green on Biggar’s 10m line. The stand off had the legs to beat the defence and run in for his second try of the afternoon. Bogle added the conversion.

There remained some nervous moments as GHK flung everything they had left at Biggar. But the stout defence did its job.

However, the final move of the match, a driven maul, did end on a positive note for the home side as they notched their four try bonus point.

Biggar: D O’Connell, E Stewart, C Braid, J Orr, A Warnock, A Orr, E Sanderson, R Jackson, D Reive, C Green, A Sinclair, R Moffat, R Lavery, E Bogle, A Jardine Replacements: D Notman, G Kelly, J Barr, G Stewart.