Mill says Heriot's are ready to go looking for Melrose payback

Published on Monday 3 November 2008 08:56

Heriot's 27 Glasgow Hawks 12 HERIOT'S centre Richard Mill insists his side won't have to look far for motivation on Saturday when they bid to consolidate second place in the Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership earned with a 27-12 home victory over Glasgow Hawks by evening a score.

If the star of this latest Heriot's show was undoubtedly second row Ian Nimmo with a tireless display that took him to all corners of the pitch – they really should have let this most indefatigable of players slot the place-kicks because it seemed he led by example in every other area – then gratifying, too, was the display by Mill, who afterwards said: "Now we go to Melrose needing revenge for what happened to us on Cup Final day last season.

Only now is Mill finding his feet after a year out with a serious leg injury, but the former Glenalmond schoolboy ace – he was an astonishing four years in the 1st XV while earning Scottish are-group honours – was part of the Heriot's side at Murrayfield and he clearly hasn't forgotten the raw taste of that defeat.

In predicting that a Heriot's side who have now won four in a row will rise to the latest challenge, this great-great-nephew of 1930s Scotland stalwart Copey Murdoch of Hillhead said: "We're now starting to play helped by the spirit of a team who are all good mates.

"Against Hawks this came through in the way we defended with our lives when necessary, and if we kicked the ball away too much in attack, a win is a win nevertheless."

Heriot's probably let a bonus point slip, but the bizarre sin-binning of sub lock Chukwuma Osazuwa at the business end by ref Andrew McMenemy – he seemed reluctant to let the game open out in denying advantage far too often – was possibly crucial and has to be taken into account.

When a bewildered Osazuwa took his leave after a momentary flare-up, when it seemed he'd been the recipient of a punch and not the instigator, Heriot's momentum seemed to depart with him.

To reach the stage where the bonus point for a fourth try was tantalisingly close, though, Heriot's had relied heavily on not only the graft of Nimmo, the sheer unselfishness of winger David McCall and the lethal finishing of Colin Goudie, but the athleticism of Mill.

It came as little surprise to learn that this rapidly improving prospect comes with a notable sporting CV.

"When I was under-17 I competed for Scotland in a junior athletics international against the other home countries, specialising in 400 metres and javelin," revealed Mill, whose rugby prowess is based on an ability to get up quickly to apply pressure under the high ball, as well as distribute tidily.

Indeed, it was Mill who waved the smelling salts under Heriot's noses after they'd fallen behind early on to a couple of penalties by Ian Noble. First of all, Ian Wilson cut the gap with a similar kick, and then around the half-hour mark, Mill, who earned a sports scholarship to Glenalmond, sliced through and released Jim Thompson.

Though full-back Thompson ran out of support, Heriot's grew in confidence from that moment. There was an inevitability about the way the ball was swung down the line from a scrum for McCall to lay on the first of two tries for Colin Goudie when he could probably have crossed himself.

Three minutes later, McCall provided a scoring pass for Jim Thompson, and all Hawks could muster in response to these powerful midfield surges were further penalties by Noble to cut the gap to 12-17.

Entering the final quarter, Heriot's struck with a copybook training ground move which allowed Goudie to run a brilliant angle from 35 metres out off an inside pass from Greig Rutherford for his sixth try of the season.

Mill said: "I am in my final year of a Sports Studies course at Stirling University and after that I can really start focusing on trying to become a pro. I aim to be the best I can.

"Last year was my first one back from injury and I was seriously nervous a lot of the time after a bite-sized piece of my femur detached and kept grinding away before requiring surgery.

"This time round I'm feeling much more relaxed, and I hope it's showing in my play for a Heriot's team who have the ability to win this league, no doubt about that."

Mill need have no worries regarding his contribution and Heriot's coach Bob McKillop, who was followed to Goldenacre by his prodigy from Stirling County.

McKillop said: "Richard helped us weather an early storm with his desperation in chasing kicks which brought out his sheer bravery.

"To a man our guys tackled their hearts out.

"The work rate of our front five, including Alan Dymock, Scott Burnett and Ian Nimmo was phenomenal and that laid the foundations.

"Ian has brought a professional attitude and performance level back with him (from Leicester and Coventry) to become a big player for us."

McKillop added: "The bonus point was probably there with a bit more composure and there is a need to start reacting to the lead that Ayr are opening at the top (12 points, although Heriot's have a game in hand] but not to concede a try was pretty good."

Scorers:

Heriot's: Tries: Goudie (2), Thompson; Cons: Wilson (3); Pen: Wilson.

Hawks: Pens: Noble (4).

Heriot's: Thompson, McCall, Thomson, Mill, Goudie, Rutherford, G Wilson, Dymock, Burnett, Blacklock, Reid, Nimmo, McVie (c), Syme, Parker. Subs: Mustard, Blyth, Osazuwa, Bell, Walls.

Hawks: Shaw, Wright, Duffy (c), MacDonald, Gossman, Noble, Boyer, Nyumba, Maclay, Mories, Hamilton, Kely, Harkness, Strang, Francis. Subs: Maclay, Blackwood, A Kirkland, Murray, Hair.