HAWICK 25, WATSONIANS 16

Hawick got their 2007-2008 season off to the best of starts with an excellent performance against much fancied Watsonians at Mansfield Park. Shouted on by a large and vocal local support, Hawick never let their opponents settle, being more than a match in the backs and surprisingly also in the forwards against a much bigger and experienced pack. Both young props, Little and Linton, put in a power of work and came through with a lot of plus marks.
Playing against a strong breeze in the first half, Hawick kept the Watsonians attack at bay for most of the 40 minutes, only occasionally did the visitors threaten the Hawick line. Watsonians were first on the scoreboard with a penalty after 12 minutes but Hawick through Craig Neish who had a good afternoon with the boot, levelled the scores with a similar effort after 17 minutes. With neither side able to breach the defences, Watsonians reached halftime leading by 9-6 with another couple of penalties to Hawick's one by Neish.
With Hawick now playing towards Denholm with the elements in their favour, Craig Neish gave Hawick the lead with 2 quick penalties before Watsonians scored a breakaway converted try to take the lead by 16-12 going into the final quarter. Another Neish penalty narrowed the deficit to a point. Only desperate defending kept the Watsonians line intact but the pressure final took its toll and following a scrum, Danny Landels broke away and scored under the posts unopposed. A final Neish penalty finished the scoring and opened their account with a hard fought but thoroughly deserved win by 25 points to 16.

Team, John Coutts, Colin Murray, Graham Hogg, Craig Neish, Neil McColm, Rory Hutton (Capt), Greg Googfellow, Nicky Little, Matt Landels, Sean Linton, Gavin Petrie, Michael Robertson, Nick McTaggart, Danny Landels and Andy Wilson.
Subs:- Kevin Reid, Neil Renwick, Greg McLeod, Gavin Cameron and  David Lowrie.