 No way through the GHA defence for Liam Neilson KIRKCALDY 9 GHA 16 The Blues, in their first home game in nine weeks, failed to raise any sort of enthusiasm in the Beveridge Park crowd. In an poverty-ridden performance they meekly surrendered the points. GHA had a much more positive approach to this Premier 2 game and deservedly took the points. The Blues rarely mounted a worthwhile challenge and it was only in the closing minutes that they posed any sort of threat to the GHA line by which time the game was won and lost. The visitors’ half backs had a controlling influence in the game with scrum half Andrew Gillman constantly sniping at the home defence while at stand off Jim Noonan displayed a wide array of kicking talents, which consistently forced the Beveridge Park men back into their 22.
Much of the early play matched the driech overhead conditions with Kirkcaldy kicking away much of their possession. GHA had the lion’s share of the ball at this time but could have made better use of it, leaving play mostly in midfield. Nearly 23 minutes had gone before they established any sort of presence in the Kirkcaldy 22. A penalty driven deep into the Blues territory set up a series of mauls, with prop Geoff Warnock eventually being driven over for the game’s only try. Noonan added the conversion points. This reverse had the desired effect on Kirkcaldy and for the first time in the game they established a foothold near the GHA posts, forcing a penalty kicked by player coach Quintan Sanft. This proved to be a temporary blip in a shoddy Kirkcaldy performance and although Noonan missed a straightforward kick at goal he made amends with a snap dropped goal just before half time.  Mark Wallace came closest to scoring a try but Alan Tasker (behind) was in touch The Glasgow team resumed where they left off at half time, forcing play into the Kirkcaldy half as they profited from Kirkcaldy disciplinary problems. Noonan’s penalty extended their lead to 13-3.Sanft reduced his side’s deficit with a 48 metre penalty in the 46th minute but chance of a Kirkcaldy comeback foundered once more on the continuing loss of penalties which ruined any momentum they had built up. Another Noonan penalty made the points safe for GHA even although Sanft put over a third Kirkcaldy penalty to give his side a slightly undeserved losing bonus point. Kirkcaldy’s early season form has deserted them as they slip down the table. Forward aggression has gone and there appears to be little punch behind. TEAMS Kirkcaldy: A Tasker, I Gillies, C Goodall, M Wallace, J Webster, Q Sanft, G McKenzie, M Thomson, G Wallace, J Brown, S Mitchell, K Fraser, L Neilson, R van Rensberg, M Harvey Replacements:- W Gray, G Mangalo, S Porrter, R Murphy  Iain Gillies on the run GHA:- R McClymont, C Binnie, N Cassie, A Rushforth, R Jericevich, J Noonan, A Gillman, G Warnock, C Landsburgh, J Low, I Smith, M Gurran, J Auld, J Pinder, D Kellock Replaceements:- M Kidd, R Jenkins, D Stoddart, R O'Keefe REFEREE:- C Brett (ERRS) FFP Star Check 3 I Gillies, 2 G Wallace 1 A Tasker |
