Dundee HS 20 - 37 Glasgow Hawks: Yellow card is turning point as Hawks take full advantage

THE turning point in an enthralling encounter was undoubtedly the sin-binning of Dundee's Harry Duthie early in the second half. The sides were locked at 20-20, with the eventual outcome anyone's guess, but Glasgow Hawks powered ahead after the centre was sent to the stand for ten minutes.

The importance of the referee's decision was not lost on Dundee coach Ian Rankin. "The yellow card changed the whole structure of the game. There was no need for it. It is desperately disappointing to come away with nothing after all the effort we put in," he said.

Rankin had seen his men fall behind to early tries from Craig Gossman and Kris Hamilton, both converted by Mike Adamson, but Dundee showed their resilience in bouncing back with touchdowns from Richie Hawkins, Stewart Coleman and Matt Smith, the first of which was converted by Jamie Urquhart, who had also chipped over a penalty.

Hawks levelled when Adamson nudged two penalties before the break and surged into the lead when the stand-off converted Ross Miller's try following the binning of Duthie, and added a further three points soon after as Hawks capitalised on their numeric advantage.

Dundee threw everything at their visitors in the final quarter but Peter Wright's troops dug deep as they repelled wave after wave of attacks.

A final try from loose forward Grant Strang, again converted by Adamson, came at the very end of the game and marked the cessation of hostilities.

The Glasgow coach was fulsome in his praise for his team's resilience. "Dundee is one of the hardest places to visit, so to come away with a bonus point is superb," said Wright.

"Our defence in the last 20 minutes of the game was pleasing and the try with the last touch of the ball was the icing on the cake."

In truth, the final score flattered the Glasgow side somewhat, but the bonus-point success keeps their title ambitions very much alive.

Scorers: Dundee - Tries: Hawkins, Coleman, Smith. Cons: Urquhart. Pens: Urquhart. Glasgow Hawks - Tries: C. Gossman, K. Hamilton, Miller, Strang. Cons: Adamson 4. Pens: Adamson 3.

Dundee HSFP: J Urquhart; M Smith, H Duthie, C Strachan, S Coleman; R McKenna, A Dymock; D Russell, S Forrest, A Brown, A Linton, R Hawkins, C Cumming, R Cessford, D Levinson. Subs: C Kerr, S Cessford, E Grewar, J Morrison, S Barlow

Glasgow Hawks: P Jericevich; C Gossman, D Kelbrick, D Milne, R Hair; M Adamson, K Hamilton; A Smith, E Milligan, G Strain, Ross Miller, N Campbell, R McKay, B Karalus, G Strang, Subs: S Cameron, N Nyemba, A Hill, T Preece, S Murray.

Referee: A McMenemy.