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Glasgow Hawks vs Stew
Mel, 5/11/05
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Squad
The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Glasgow Hawks
at Old Anniesland on Saturday, kick off 2.30 pm, is:
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15
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Nicky Wood
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14
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David McCall
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13
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Craig Joiner
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12
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Andrew Easson
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11
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Sam Hendry
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10
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Graham Shiel
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9
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Euan Clark |
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1
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Paul Wharakura (captain)
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2
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Shaun McMurchy
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3
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Stephan De Beer
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4
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Ben Leathes
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5
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Stuart Clark
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6
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Stephen Dalgleish
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7
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Andrew Fraser
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8
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Sky Laurie |
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16
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Euan Patterson |
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17
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Alex Edmonstone |
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18
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Graham Lind |
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19
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Richard Borthwick |
A number of changes to the team that never really got going
against Watsonians last week, with Stuart Clark and Sky
Laurie being brought in after impressing for the 2nd XV
in recent weeks. It is hoped that pairing Sky and Dalgy
in the back row will give us more penetration and 'go forward'.
Lindy is carrying a number of knocks and so drops to the bench,
with Andy Fraser coming in to complete the back row.
The bus for Glasgow will leave Inverleith at 11.15 on Saturday,
so players are asked to meet at 11 am. Supporters should,
however, note that, because we are taking two teams to Old
Anniesland, there are unlikely to be any spare seats on
the bus, so travelling by car or train is recommended.
But please do make an effort to get through to the game,
which will give our young players a chance to measure themselves
against the best team in the league. This will also be big
Steph's last game for the club, and we owe the big man a
proper send off after all he has done for us over the years.
Malky
Nosebag's
Notes

Saturday's result meant that many of us had, once again,
to boycott purchasing the 'Sundays'. We arrived at Old Anniesland
genuinely believing that we could take something from this
vital fixture and really kick start our season, due to the
fact that the Champions had a number of key players missing,
and, as acknowledged by some of the home support , had not
been performing to their true potential in recent weeks.

Whilst 13-3 down and pressing the Hawks line,
however, the refereeing trio made the first of a number
of mistakes which all but killed the game for us in five
very short minutes. The home side were allowed to come yards
offside at a ruck, steal the ball and run the length of
the pitch unopposed for a score. Both sets of players, not
to mention the management and supporters, could not believe
what had happened as only one out of the thirty on the pitch
reacted in any way. By half time it was 25-6 to the Champions
and all but over for us.

It has taken ten very long, hard years for
us to regain Premier 1 status again, and, whilst, at the
end of the day, it is the players on the pitch who make
the difference between winning and losing, there is no point
in having two neutral touch judges at this level if they
do not have the wherewithal to tell the miked-up ref that
he has got a decision wrong. The touch judges could be better
deployed as referees at a time when many games are being
called off throughout the county due to a desperate lack
of referees. Our referee's refusal to speak with our Captain
at half time perhaps tells a story?

We did manage a consolation try in the second
half through Captain Paul, but, in the end, we were beaten
by a better side who are destined to be season 2005-06 Champions.
We made handling mistakes, missed vital tackles and were
off the pace at times, which gives us a lot to work on as
we head into the second half of the season at Goldenacre
on Saturday. We will have to do this without Stephan De
Beer, who played his last game in the red, black and gold
against Hawks, and wish him every success on his return
to South Africa this week.

Our destiny is still very much in our own
hands. The home Coach, Dave Wilson, was telling us after
the game that, two seasons ago, whilst he was Coach at GHA,
they lost all of their first ten matches and only had ten
bonus points to show for their efforts. They won seven of
their remaining ten games and finished mid table. We can
do this, especially as we only have one game to play outside
Edinburgh, and that is at the Greenyards in February. Not
only do we require a massive effort from the players, coaches
and management of both the 1st and 2nd XVs; we also need
your continued support. Our home gates have been exceptional
this season, and, when on the road, we have all but outnumbered
the home support, especially at Aberdeen Grammar. Keep
it up. It makes a massive difference to the players
turning out in the red, black and gold and will go a long
way to helping us retain Premier 1 status.
Nosebag
Stew
Mel Stats
| Result |
Lost 61-11 |
| Sequence |
0-3,
3-3, 8-3,
13-3, 13-6,
18-6, 23-6,
25-6 (half time),
30-6, 35-6,
37-6, 42-6,
47-6, 49-6,
49-11, 54-11,
56-11, 61-11 |
| Tries |
Paul Wharakura (62 mins) |
| Conversions |
None
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| Penalties |
Sam Hendry 2 (4 & 25 mins) |
| Cards |
Steph, obviously fired up for his last
game in Stew Mel colours, saw yellow on the stroke of
half time for boxing with his opposite number; the home
player also got 10 minutes in the cooler |
| Referee |
Graeme Hannah of Kirkcaldy |
| Single Sentence Summary |
We knew that we were on a hiding to nothing
against high flying Hawks, but didn't help ourselves
by forgetting how to tackle and, crucially, gifting
them two first half interceptions that all but put the
game beyond us |
| Leading Lion |
You won't be surprised to learn, given
the scoreline, that no one really stood out this week,
although Andy Fraser and Stuart Clark struggled manfully
to contain the formidable Hawks back row. But Craig
Joiner was arguably the only one of our players
who looked the part today, putting in some great hits
and demonstrating the 'go forward' that Malky demanded
before the game. |
| Bevvy Bulletin |
Less than impressed with the beers on offer (Caffrey's,
Belhaven Worst) in Hawk's main stand bar, I found
pre-match succour in the Esquire House at the end
of Great Western Road - a soulless Wetherspoon's barn
it may be, but you can't argue with Harviestoun Gremlin
at £1.29 a pint
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| Pie Points |
If only Hawks' beer matched their pies
- lightly dusted with flour, encased in slightly chewy
pastry and filled with delicately spiced mutton. The
players' post-match scran
was pretty impressive, too! |
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