Lifting the trophy after victory over Cartha Queen’s Park at the weekend made up for missing out on promotion on the last day of the 2008/09 season and Keith Robertson, the head coach, believes good times are ahead with the player a year older and wiser and all coaches from the youth teams upwards working to the same plan.
“The guys were quite down in the early weeks of pre-season, but they soon picked themselves up and knuckled down to the job in hand,” Robertson said. “Guys like captain Stuart Ross and Stuart Rose have been great performers for us in the back-row and I think we have a good blend of youth and experience in the ranks to build on for next season.”
In a tough division – which for long spells was a three-way title race between Hillhead, Falkirk and Howe of Fife – the key results for Robertson’s men were a 17-13 home win over Falkirk in November and a 31-18 away win at Howe in February.
“There are lots of good teams in Premier Three and on their day anyone can beat anybody else so we had to be on our game every week,” he said. “We managed to get a bit of momentum before Christmas and I was really pleased with how hard the guys worked over winter.”
The club’s second XV have struggled however, finishing bottom of the Reserve League National One, but given that they have been playing against a lot of Premier One second string outfits the players have gained valuable experience. “We realised two years ago that we needed to have more twos players who were able to make the step up when required and we have seen that come to fruition in the last few months,” added Robertson. “Huge credit must go to the twos coaches and players who have battled away despite being up against it most weeks.”
The 2A’s side have fared better than the twos, still in with a chance for promotion from Reserve League West Three, and Robertson is also exciting about the teenage talent that is playing their rugby at Hughenden at the moment. “We are hopeful of setting up an under-18 team that will be made up of a lot of good 16- and 17-year-olds and we are hopeful of getting their training integrated with senior training so that they get used to the older players and the way the club works. This should stand us in good stead for the coming years.”
The club’s ladies team also still have a chance to win their league – their last match is at home to RHC Cougars on Sunday, April 25 – and all of these factors leave Robertson looking forward with optimism.
“There is a real feel-good factor around the club at the moment that we have to continue building on,” he said. “Hopefully our promotion will help attract more players to Hillhead/Jordanhill at all levels.
“We know Premier Two will be tough for us with trips to the Borders and up to Aberdeen and such like, but you have to set yourself goals and we will be looking to compete. The hard work starts now.”
