Phil Leck got his career
as Hawick coach off to a losing start at Poynder Park as
the Greens crashed to defeat at the hands of Kelso.
The visitors got off to a flier after just a few minutes
when Keith Davies intercepted a kick through and ran the
length of the half to open the scoring. Neil Renwick
converted but Kelso were back on level terms almost
immediately when former YM player Lewis Mallin finished
off a break by Richard Minto and Mark Chester converted.
Renwick slotted a penalty, which saw Donald Seed sent to
the sin bin and Michael Robertson - in for Bruce McNeil
who was ill - dived over in the corner. It was just what
Hawick deserved after a dominant first half. But with
five minutes to go until the interval the complexion of
the game changed when former Hawick forward David Lowrie
chased a loose ball through and Chester added the
conversion to take the hosts to within a point. Kelso
18, Hawick 14.
Things got worse for the Greens after the restart as
Stuart Lowrie found the finishing touch to some
persistent Kelso pressure and Chester added the extras.
Renwick kicked a penalty but Kelso hit back and Gregg
Minto crossed, while the home stand off made it four
from four with the boot. Gary Johnstone made a break
through the middle but it was Kelso who increased their
scoring with a Chester penalty. Hawick tried desperately
to find a way back into the match and a swift move
involving Nick Mactaggart and Davies almost paid
dividends when Steven Bouglas rose to claim a high pass
inside the '22, but he was barged to the ground by the
home defence. Captain for the day Greg Cottrell thought
he'd burrowed over but was held up and it was a similar
story for Lindsay Gibson as his efforts were halted by
referee Malcolm Changleng. With 30 seconds to go Davies
scorched over for his second try o the afternoon,
converted by Renwick. But it was to be too little,
too late for Leck and his charges.
Final score Kelso 31,
Hawick 25. |
