Hamilton Bulls 23 – Gordonians 31
This was a sombre occasion as the game was preceded by one minute applause for the sad loss of one of our own, past player, coach and President, Willie Logan who sadly passed this week after a long battle with Huntingdon’s disease.

MATCH REPORT
There is an old sporting cliché that this was a game of 2 halves, but it totally sums up what turned out to be a miserable Saturday afternoon for Hamilton Bulls, players and fans. Bulls were so much in control in the first half, but Gordonians wrested that control within 7 minutes of the second half. The match was littered with injuries to both sides but it turned on the decision to play uncontested scrums and from that point on Gordonians, feeding off easy possession rapidly took control of the match and Bulls’ optimism of the first half was quickly dashed.
Bulls opened the match on the front foot and the powerful scrum won plentiful ball. Controlled phase play and secure possession soon had the home team on the attack and a scrum penalty gave McLeish and easy penalty to get the score board ticking. Gordonians launched their own attack but secure defending, and another scrum penalty gave them an easy exit. The pattern of quick phse ball on the back of forwards breaking the gain line soon had Bulls camped on the opposition line. A smart grubber kick from McLeish was collected by Craig Inglis for a touch-down under the posts and an easy conversion for Mcleish. 5 minutes later McLeish added another 3 from the boot after Selfidge and Edgar had made good ground forcing Gordonians to infringe at the ruck. All the momentum was with the Bulls and once again forward dominance was the key. Coltman had complete dominance in the lineout and the pack controlled the scrum. It was a great break from Coltman which set up the next try, this time out wide where scrum half Euan Whelan forced his way over in the corner. McLeish added the extras for a lead of 20 – 0Bulls kept up the pressure and were unlucky when a great up and under from Wilson almost led to a 4th try. However, bulls’ anxiety to get that bonus point led to some handling errors and from one of these Gordonians hacked through from their own 22 all the way to the other end. A great cover tackle from Wilson prevented the try but in the ensuing desperate defending White was yellow carded. Gordonians took the tap penalty and showed the potential power of their back 5, to force the try out wide.
Despite this setback Bulls went on the attack again and were awarded a penalty for handling in the ruck. Struan Robertson found himself being sent to the bin for his vociferous dissent. Unfortunately, Coltman had to be withdrawn injured after another great line break. McLeish ended the half with the resulting penalty from over 40 metres. Bulls 23 – Gordonians 5.
The second half began as the first had ended with Bulls on the attack, but handling errors and desperate attempts to offload, gave the Gordonians defence a way out. When prop Lennox was injured attempting to halt another Bulls attack, Gordonians were left with no front row cover and uncontested scrums began. This was the turning point of the match. With easy scrum possession their back row got them going forward, and the complexion of the game changed. The backs were now feeding off front foot ball and winger Stephen went in at the corner, converted by McLean. With the wind at their backs Gordonians cleared their lines easily and from a penalty kick to the corner set up the position for their third try this time by Robertson who forced his way over from the lineout, again converted. If a couch had been available, Bulls supporters would have been huddled behind it, as nerves were shredded. Bulls made a real push to get back on the score sheet and pressed the Gordonians’ line but a combination of stout defence and over-anxiety, gave possession away and gave them a simple exit. Coltman’s absence was really telling as the game wound towards a close, and a lineout steal gave the visitors another attacking platform which they took to score under the posts, to take the lead and the bonus point. Hamilton did not give up and once again went in search of their bonus point try, but the same weakness of forcing the game gave the opposition the chance to clear and the final score went to the visitors scrum half who carved his way through the middle of the lineout to score for another easy conversion.
Bulls were definitely hampered by injury, and the change to uncontested scrums took the wind out of their sails, but at this level the boys need to learn to adjust to the circumstances, and play with more patience and control. Frustration was etched on the faces of players and supporters alike after this disappointing result.