Hennessy's haul has Watsonians flying high

Published on Monday 8 September 2003 01:00

WATSONIANS continued their bright start to the campaign as they thumped GHA at Braidholm.

Fly-half Bernie Hennessy was the destroyer in chief, claiming a try, four conversions and two penalties for a personal haul of 19 points.

Marcus di Rollo, released by the Edinburgh pro team to step up his rehabilitation from injury, was also on the mark with the other touchdowns coming from Rory Duncan (two), Ashley Hall (two) and Jamie Blackwood to make sure of the bonus point.

Ross McClymont also notched a double for GHA. Rory Watson was their other scorer, with James Noonan landing two conversions and a penalty in vain.

Ahead by the slender margin of 15 points to 13 at half-time, GHA went 22-13 up in the second half then never scored another point, as Watsonians totally dominated the last half-hour and ran in no fewer than 36 points.

The home side’s lethargy - at least that of centre Ewan Baillie - could be explained by the fact he had run a half marathon in the morning.

The home side’s Chris Burchill was making his first start in rugby union after a 20-minute substitute’s appearance against Stirling County last week. The prop has been farmed out to GHA from Glasgow in an attempt to get to grips with union after his move north from rugby league. He was replaced with 15 minutes remaining by former Stirling and Saracens prop Gavin Blackburn, another player with professional aspirations.

GHA: R McClymont; R Watson, N Barrett, B Baillie, A Scott; J Noonan, S O’Donnell; C Hastie, G King, C Burchill, I Smith, J Eddie, E Smith, T Carmichael, J Fitzpatrick.

Subs: R Jericevich, for Baillie 61 mins, L Hazelton for McClymont 62, G Blackburn for Burchill 65.

Watsonians: A Nash; M di Rollo, A Hall, B Hennessy K Waters; C Gregor, J Blackwood; W Scott, S Lawrie, D Wright, R Sanders, C Houston, J Van der Merwe, W Duncan, N Cockrane.

Subs: G Brown for Van der merwe 54, K Coetzee for Wright 54, G Dickson for Lawrie 74.

Referee: R Dickson (Madras)