Hillhead/Jordanhill RFC (32) vs Kelso RFC (22) - RBS Premier 2 - Stage 1

Pre-Match Report

Coming Soon…

Match Report

It was always going to be a difficult task for Kelso who were missing Kevin Utterson, Gregg Minto, James Stevenson, Donald Seed and Stef Carnegie from their normal starting line up.    

A much changed and under strength Kelso team took the long road to Hughenden for a key game against a Hillhead/ Jordanhill team which were stuck at the bottom of the league although they had secured 7 bonus points in 6 games. They had been nomadic for the early part of the season due to construction around their ground but this was their first game on their own pitch, albeit the game was played on the second team pitch as the turf on the number 1 pitch had not bedded in as yet. 

It was an early start and the mood was not improved by the roadworks in the last mile to the ground extending the journey on a miserable wet day inGlasgow. 

Kelso started off well with the backs looking threatening and they took an early lead through a Greg Ponton penalty for an offside. The bigGlasgowpack exerted their own pressure and they soon equalised with a penalty. Kelso hit back and scored their only try of the game when, after clever handling and support play, debutant Frankie Robson broke through a tackle and scored near the posts for Ponton to add the conversion. 

As the weather deteriorated, the mistakes followed and the power of the Hills pack stated to tell and they soon scored an unconverted try in the corner to take the score to 10-8 to Kelso. From the kick off Hills repeated the exercise and drove up the blindside for a virtually uncontested try, which was again unconverted. Kelso, through Ponton, brought the scores level with another penalty after some momentum and drives up the middle of the field. The Kelso line out seemed to be operating well as the half closed at 13-13. 

The second half brought a chapter of mistakes in handling due to the wet slippery ball. Turnovers were prevalent in the game at this stage and soon Hills took the lead with yet another unconverted try through their heavy pack after wheeling a scrum against a slightly disorganised Kelso defence. Ponton regained the lead for Kelso with another two well struck penalties but slack tackling and suspect defence let Hills in for another two tries which this time were converted. This was disappointing as the Kelso defence has been much improved in recent weeks. Ponton ended the scoring with his fifth penalty to take the score to 22-32 for Hillhead/ Jordanhill. The bonus point scored by them was enough to take them above Kelso in the league table. Kelso’s defeat cost them 3 places in the league and they now sit second bottom. They do, however, have 3 of their next 4 league games at home.