Bulls hit form to defeat Gordonians

Against one of the lower-placed sides in Tennent’s National 2, the Bulls did all that they needed to do and took five League points, moving them into fourth position in the table. They produced some purple patches in attack to score nine tries - the first seven by backs.

Bulls coach Kenny Brown pronounced that he was ‘delighted to score nine tries, but that the most pleasing aspect of the performance was that a much improved defensive effort limited the visitors to just one try. Hamilton scored some lovely tries, but left perhaps another half dozen out there.’

Nathan Brown fielded a well weighted Owen McLeish cross-kick on the full to scamper over for the opening try after Hamilton had dominated the opening 5 minutes, and soon the young winger was twice involved in good attacks down the left which created promising field position.

Gary Adams made a typical breenge, only to be stopped five yards short. When Gordonians killed the ball and were penalised, Ross Jamieson scooped up the ball and tapped to burst through the retreating defence, and this time McLeish added the conversion.

Gordonians put together a number of phases which were well defended, with notable big hits from Scott Alexander and Greg Richardson, but when the ball was fed wide, visiting full-back Graeme Crawford dummied and shimmied over.

Adam Ryan came on at scrum-half for Liam Bell, and within a minute Ryan was involved in a scorching Bulls try. Gary Adams surged from a mid-field set scrum and made 30 yards. When he was held, Ryan took and gave to Jamieson for his second try.

Some great attacking play featuring strong carries from Billy Simpson, Max Crumlish, Gregor Brodie and John Selfridge, earning no material gain, but on the stroke of half-time, a delightful Ryan pass into space released Selfridge. When he was held he popped a return pass to Ryan who crossed for the bonus point try. McLeish having added both conversions took the scoreline to 26-5 at the break.

The early part of the second half saw plenty of Bulls possession, but no cutting edge. However, after 15 minutes, Gregor Brodie intercepted inside his own half. To the roars of the Laigh Bent faithful he romped clear, only to be trip-tackled on the twenty-two. Nathan Brown was tracking the break and took the pop pass to race over for his second touch-down.

Virtually from the restart the Bulls swept passes right and Ross Inglis straightened his run before releasing Ben Plant who simply gassed the defenders from half-way.

Another surging run from the restart saw Scott Whitelaw hauled down a yard short. The visitors killed the ball and from the quickly taken penalty slick hands right gave Ross Inglis room to cross.

Four minutes elapsed before the next Bulls touch down. McLeish zipped a lovely pass into the path of Richardson. He was held by the full-back but offloaded to Euan Ferrie for the young middle-row to notch his first try for Hamilton.

McLeish had converted three of the scores, and at 52-5 and 15 minutes to go, one wondered what the final score would be. However, from a Bulls perspective it all went a bit flat with injuries to Andy Wilson and Ross Inglis causing disruption whilst Gordonians had their best spell.

As no-side approached, Gary Adams took a pass on the left wing, just inside the opposition half. He surged down the wing, barrelling and barging through perhaps half a dozen attempted tackles, before flopping over the line for the Bulls ninth try, and stretching the scoreline to 57-5. The second 15 had a solid victory at Stirling County 34 - 7

Report by Stuart Sutherland