Hamilton Bulls 28 - 14 Berwick

Laigh Bent was buzzing at 4.30 on Saturday after the Bulls recorded their first victory of the season. Not just any old victory, but a four try bonus-point victory against competent, competitive, mid-table opponents.

Coach Ben Addison, who was at pains to emphasise that he was not in charge, but part of a coaching team, reckoned that ‘there was an excitement, a desire today. We knew we had underperformed in previous games, but we were improving. We had played well for spells, but not put a complete performance together. We knew this (performance and win) was coming.’

He continued ‘in the time I have been working with the boys, this was the best defensive performance I have seen.’

For those at Laigh Bent on Saturday, who, like your correspondent, have seen little of Hamilton this season, it was hard to believe that at kick-off, the Bulls were winless and propping up the Tennent’s National Division 2 league table.

As Addison had explained, recent matches had brought narrow losses, rather than the heavier defeats of earlier in the campaign. Saturday’s win lifts Hamilton above Cartha, who they play on Friday evening under the lights at Dumbreck.

Selecting a player of the match was virtually impossible, given that every one of the nineteen Bulls in the squad made valuable contributions to the cause.

One could single out the centre pairing of James Howatson and Scott Whitelaw for their thunderous tackling, but in truth the tackling from one to nineteen was aggressive and determined throughout.

The front row more than held their own against a heavier Berwick unit and Josh White and Ryan Burrell made typical barges, whilst Adam Ryan and Andy Wilson were silkier in their running.

To be fair to Berwick, they took the lion’s share of line-out ball, moved the ball smoothly and retained it well at the contact points. It was just that Hamilton kept tackling until the visitors made a mistake.

After 15 minutes Andy Wilson kicked a penalty to the corner. From the subsequent lineout the ball was driven to the Berwick line. Josh White was held just short, but Grant McCowan scooped up the ball and dived over. Andy Wilson’s conversion gave the Bulls a 7-0 lead.

Another series of Hamilton sorties saw the ball fed wide to Ryan Burrell. The big winger had perhaps 25 metres to go to the line, but with a mixture of brawn and determination, and no little pace, he beat his own man and several cover tackles to crash over in the corner. Andy Wilson added the goal points with a sweet conversion to make it 14-0.

As half-time approached Berwick produced a sustained spell of pressure to put Hamilton under the cosh, but the home tackling remained resolute.

Half-time: Hamilton Bulls 14-0 Berwick

Fingernails were being chewed on the terrace; similar leads having been squandered in the recent past and it was all Berwick for the next 20 minutes as they pummelled the Hamilton line. Last ditch tackles kept the visitors out, but the Bulls were visibly tiring.

With a Berwick try looking inevitable, Adam Ryan stuck out a hand to intercept, gather and race virtually the length of the pitch for a stunning try. Wilson’s conversion made it 21-0 and the home support began to relax a little, and dream of a fourth try.

Berwick continued to dominate field position and threaten the home line. Eventually Alistair Grieve dived over for a try converted by Jack Webster, whilst a weary Whitelaw made his way to the sideline, having been yellow-carded for trying to kill the ball.

With about 10 minutes to go, Ryan burst onto a Euan Whelan pass on halfway. He weaved through the midfield traffic and emerged with Wilson and Burrell outside him. As the Berwick full-back covered across, Wilson and Ryan demonstrated how much ‘sevens’ rugby they have played together. Wilson straightened his running line and Ryan instictively found him with a deft cut pass to put the skipper clean through.

Wilson’s conversion made it 28-7. Surely this time ….

Back came Berwick, but with both sides almost out on their feet, a combination of courageous Bulls defence and sloppy Berwick handling kept the score the same, until Grieve took advantage of tired legs to cross for his, and Berwick’s second try. Webster’s conversion, making it 28-14 was the final act of the game.

Berwick will win games in which they have far less possession, whilst Hamilton can reflect on an outstanding defensive performance allied to a masterclass is taking their scoring chances.