Aberdeen Grammar vs Hamilton

27 October 2007

Aberdeen Grammar 32 Hamilton 3

Aberdeen Grammar closed in on a promotion place, but were dependent on a late scoring burst to gain a bonus point win.

Three tries in the closing five minutes brought an end to an otherwise less than inspiring contest which the Aberdeen side had dominated without killing off a stuffy Hamilton side.

Until the late scoring glut the home side had to be content with a first half touchdown from flanker Rab Barrie and two penalties either side of the break from centre Andrew Ritchie.

Ritchie sparked the remarkable rally, slicing through the visiting defence to apparently end the game when he kicked the conversion.

More was to come, as first centre Ewan Campbell added to the total after an inspired piece of interpassing with full back Andy Buchan.

In the dying seconds prop forward Richard Just plunged over from a ruck and with Andrew Ritchie adding the maximum to both efforts the stunned visitors were left to wonder what had hit them.

Grammar head coach Mike O’Donovan said: “We failed to create a basis for our attacks and did not play to our strengths until late in the game, but I’ll take a bonus point, even if we left it late.”

Although Hamilton took the lead in 25 minutes through a drop goalfrom their most outstanding player, stand off Ronald Strydom, they had little to offer and never seriously threatened the home line.

Eager, efficient Grammar tackling ensured the visitors would have lean day.

Ritchie was arguably the man of the match with a personal haul of 17 in a strange, but welcome win, but pushed by fellow centre Campbell, who ended the game on a high, but was invisible for much of the early play.

Satisfyingly for O’Donovan the home pack excelled, even if Grammar could not cash in their dominance until those devastating last five minutes.

A sterner test awaits Grammar at Selkirk on Saturday.

 

 

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