Hamilton Rugby Club lifted themselves back into the top half of the Tennent’s National League 2 table with a five-point win at Whitecraigs.
The 48-19 win was a real tonic for the Bulls after recent results, and leaves them fifth in the table.
Playing down the slope in the first half, Hamilton played some enterprising rugby and were four tries up, with the bonus point secured, inside 20 minutes.
Whitecraigs came back into the game in the second half, largely because Hamilton took their foot off the gas, but it was a much-needed win.
Hamilton received kick-off and from the start they went on the attack, with strong carries from Gary Adams and Gregor Brodie giving Owen McLeish the time to prod the ball deep into the Whitecraigs 22.
Eventually, some slick handling in the backs put Ross Jamieson into a gap, and his well-timed pass to debutant Nathan Brown put the winger in at the corner.
Billy Simpson was next on the score-sheet. The forwards made good carries after the Hamilton backs had taken play in the 22, James Howatson and Adams made inroads before ball was swung wide to Simpson, whose power carried him over for a 10-0 lead.
Hamilton’s third try was a thing of beauty. Scott Alexander took possession from kick-off and ball was quickly recycled to Adams, who slipped a soft pass to Max Crumlish, who had space to break clear.
Handling and backing up was strong, as the Bulls’ players found a man on their shoulder with each tackle, and at the end of the move it was the man who started it as Adams charged over under the posts.
For the first time that afternoon, McLeish was successful with the conversion, and two minutes later Brown was in for his second try.
Hamilton were awarded a penalty at the ruck and kicked deep. Whitecraigs stole the ball, but Adams was on hand to rip it back and, after three phases of forward drives, ball was released left and Brown cantered in.
With the bonus point secured and a lead of 22-0, Bulls might have been excused for taking their foot off the pedal, but they were immediately back on the attack, and only spilled ball prevented them from going further ahead.
However, ball was moved left to right and when it went back across, Howatson showed great footwork to go over out wide.
From kick-off, Hamilton gave Whitecraigs a foothold and they went on the attack, but Brown spotted an obvious attack, intercepted, and ran the length of the park for his hat-trick and a 34-0 lead.
Craigs pulled a converted try back at this point, but that sent Hamilton back on the attack, and when Brown was stopped a metre short of the line, quickly recycled ball found Andy Wilson and he crashed over under the posts for McLeish to slot the conversion for a 41-5 half-time lead.
Hamilton continued to attack in the second half and Crumlish again took a great line to break through, taking play close to the line, but a promising attack failed when ball was dropped; this was to be a feature of Bulls’ play.
From a five-metre line out Hamilton moved ball to the centre, where Adams was able to crash over for a converted try, but that was it for the visitors.
Whitecraigs instead capitalised on some careless Hamilton play and scored two converted tries, aided by Scott Whitelaw being yellow carded.
However, it was ‘job done’ for Hamilton, who took the full-point win back to Lanarkshire.
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