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HADDINGTON 18, HAWICK 26
The end of this Season’s League campaign is in sight
with only four matches left including this difficult
trip to Haddington. The home side are fighting to avoid
the drop and Hawick are looking more than likely to be
promoted to Premier One as runners up behind Stirling
County. Having comfortably defeated Haddington by forty
points at Mansfield Park back in November, the visitors
were looking for another bonus point win but Hawick were
in for a rude awakening as Haddington controlled
proceedings and had Hawick on the back foot for long
spells of this match and they can consider themselves
very unfortunate not to earn at least a point for all
their efforts. Hawick had to dig deep at times and it
was not until late in the game that they got clear of a
very determined and up for it Haddington team. Ali Weir
who was drafted in for the injured John Coutts, opened
the scoring with a penalty but Haddington replied with a
well taken try. Bruce McNeil then burst away from a maul
to crash over for Hawick’s first try. Haddington
finished the scoring in the first half with a penalty to
tie the scores at half time at 8 all.
Haddington started the second half where they left off
in the first and were asking serious questions of the
Hawick defence. A converted try gave the home side a
15-8 lead. Winger Michael Graham finished off a move to
score in the corner but Haddington extended their lead
with another penalty to 18-13. Hawick then had Charters
and McCracken yellow carded in quick succession and
Haddington must have sensed an upset was on the cards.
Hawick managed to get through the next ten minutes
without conceding any points and another Weir penalty
reduced the deficit to two points. With the match
entering the final five minutes Hawick put in a final
big effort. A well taken drop goal from Graham Hogg gave
Hawick a single point lead at 19-18. At this stage it
was all Hawick, with the forwards picking and driving
but being held by good Haddington defence. Finally it
was again Graham Hogg who went over at the posts for a
try that was converted by Weir to seal a hard fought
victory at 26 points to 8.
Team:- 1.
Bruce McNeil, 2. Hue Scammell, 3. Ali Marsh, 4. Kieran
Willison, 5. Craig Charters, 6. Ross Gibson, 7. Gary
Lowrie, 8. Michael Robertson, 9. Kevin Reid, 10. Dean
McCracken, 11. Steven Anderson, 12. Graham Hogg, 13.
Gary Johnstone, 14. Michael Graham, 15. Ali Weir
16. Matt Landels, 17.
Keith Miller, 18. Chris Ritson, 19. Greg Anderson |
