Heriot's 20 - 22 Glasgow Hawks: Fit-for-purpose Miller is driving force behind hard-fought victory

A FEW years ago Ross Miller was a fat, 18-stone-plus student, a great lump of a lad who loved his rugby, but did not have the energy to do much about it.

Yesterday, the 6ft 5in No8 was the dominant force in this Premier One game, one that scored two tries, squandered a couple more and generally lifted the game from mediocrity. He is 18 stone, but, recounting afterwards how he has changed in the last few years, that has come through a drop to 16 stones and new friendship struck up with the gym.

The spark was ignited at Murrayfield, two years ago, when the youngster from Kilmacolm in Renfrewshire discovered what joys the sport could bring as he helped Garnock to the Scottish Shield title, the year after they had lost in the same final. Then the Renfrewshire lad realised he may have something more to give, and something even better to experience. So, once a persistent shoulder problem was diagnosed as a torn rotator cuff, he underwent surgery and recovered, he got in touch with Glasgow Hawks.

"Garnock was great for me," said Miller, now 24. "I never got the chance as a teenager, but I was a big, fat lad, who got bigger at university, and never went to a gym. At Garnock I really enjoyed my rugby and reaching the shield final was amazing.

"That win was incredible for the club and the love I had for rugby from my St Columba's schooldays (he was taught latterly by Hawks teammate Eric Milligan] grew.

"I knew then that, once my shoulder was sorted, I had to see if I could go further, so I called Peter Wright and asked if I could come along, and it's been great so far. Garnock are a great family club, but this is very professional now."

In his first season in the top flight Miller has left his mark in most games so far. He is that rarity in Scottish rugby, a genuinely big, strong man with a turn of pace, balance and handling skills.

It comes as no surprise to hear the Scotland sevens squad have had him in for training.

It did not seem that way in the early stages of this encounter at a chilly Goldenacre.

The sharp wind left him clutching for long passes and knocking-on, while his kicking skills need work as he twice launched attacks only to fluff it when he tried to kick the ball towards his teammates. 'Just dinnae' might be Wright's advice this week.

So he is raw, but when Miller broke on Saturday, Heriot's faces, on the pitch and in the stand, blanched.

When he stretched out a long arm to touch down after 24 minutes, with an orthodox break off a scrum, it should have set Hawks on their way.

They had spent long periods in the home 22 but, in the face of hard-working Heriot's toil, lacked the white matter to apply the finishing touch.The hosts showed them how by ratcheting up a 20-5 lead early in the second half.

It came through a fine solo try by Max Learmonth, who lost his tackler, David Milne, around 25 metres out and showed blistering acceleration to the posts before half-time, and a sublime pass by Jamie Syme, the No8, and similarly stunning burst by lock Chukwuma Osazuwa, six minutes after the restart, with Graham Wilson chipping in with two penalties and two conversions.

Hawks had been down to 14 men, Bart Karalus yellow-carded for two 'no-arm' tackles, but with the Kiwi flanker back they virtually dominated the final half-hour.

Prop Adrian Smith dived over after solid forward pressure, Miller crashed through with 20 minutes to go and, their chance of glory kept alive by Wilson missing two penalties and prop Wullie Blacklock earning a yellow card for constantly infringing at rucks, Karalus eventually applied the coup de grace, going over for the bonus point from close-range.

With Dean Kelbrick having missed two conversions, Hawks were glad to have Andy White back on the field after injury, and the fly-half converted to clinch the win a minute from time.

Miller added: "We were pretty annoyed the whole game because we knew we were better than them, but we seem to be a team that will either blow sides away, as we've done with West and Stirling, or just do enough, like the last few weeks. It was great to get there in the end, but we need to improve because everyone wants to be going for the championship."

Scorers: Glasgow Hawks: Tries - Miller 2, Smith, Karalus; Con - White.

Heriot's: Tries - Learmonth, Osazuwa; Pens - Wilson 2; Cons - Wilson 2.

Heriot's: C Goudie; G Bryce, M Learmonth, G Hunter, M Nimmo; C Ferguson, G Wilson (capt); A Dymock, S Burnett, G Cameron, C Osazuwa, J Hill, J Parker, S Dewar, J Syme.

Subs: R Martin, W Blacklock, P Saunders, K Bryce, Martin.

Glasgow Hawks: R Hair; J White, D Kelbrick, T Preece, K Gossman; A White, K Hamilton; A Smith, E Milligan, G Hunter, R Hamilton, A Kirkland, R McKay, B Karalus, R Miller.

Subs: T Steven, D Milne, Preece, G Strain.

Referee: J Matthew