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HAWICK got their Premier B survival fight
off to a stuttering start at Mansfield Park with the
honours even at the end of 80 frustrating minutes
against Stewart's Melville. The Greens enjoyed the
lion's share of possession but couldn't find that killer
touch and had to rely on a late Neil McColm try to take
anything from the match.
Hawick started with plenty purpose and
Neil Renwick had a chance to put them ahead after three
minutes when the visitors were penalised for off-side.
But the full-back's kick sailed wide. Still the Greens
maintained the momentum and so it was a complete
surprise when Stew Mel made a quick break and flying
full-back Liam Steele touched down for the opening score
in the corner. Michael Hanning added the conversion and
the Greens looked shell-shocked. But they took the early
blow in their stride and replied almost immediately when
the visitors were penalised from the restart and Bruce
McNeil took a quick tap. The big forward made 20 yards
before eventually being stopped, but when the ball was
shipped through the backs, McColm was on hand to sneak
in at the corner. The conversion was missed by Renwick
but he was at his defensive best when Scott Riddell
burst through a Gary Johnstone tackle in midfield and
appeared destined for the corner. Renwick, however, had
other ideas and bundled him into touch inches short of
the line. All the rugby was being played in the Stew Mel
half, but the visitors were defending well and were
happy to run the ball at every opportunity. With
half-time approaching Renwick could have given Hawick
with a penalty but he hooked it just to the left.
The second half could hardly have started
any worse for the hosts as McNeil was yellow carded for
killing the ball and Hanning furthered Stew Mel's
advantage from the subsequent penalty. Despite being
down to 14 Hawick kept up the pressure and winger Steven
Anderson just failed to collect a clever chip through
from Johnstone. Greg Cottrell was next to make a break
but the referee brought them back for a Stew Mel
knock-on when advantage should maybe have been played.
And when Lee Armstrong spilled a pass with the line
beckoning it added to the frustration. The Stew Mel
defence was under the cosh but Hawick couldn't find a
way through. McNeil was held up and pick and drives from
Michael Robertson, Rory Sutherland and Cottrell all met
a stubborn brick wall. And when McNeil did finally cross
it was chalked off for an accidental off-side. On a rare
foray into Hawick territory, Hanning missed a penalty
for Stew Mel before Steele was carded. The Greens
desperately looked to capitalise and a break through the
middle had supported off their seats as Keith Davies
skipped past would-be tacklers and passed outside to
Anderson, but his path to the line was blocked. McColm
then looked as if he would level things up when the ball
was worked out wide but the winger stumbled at the
crucial moment and the chance was lost. He atoned for
this moments later though as he took advantage of a
Renwick break to score. With both teams locked on ten
points, however, the latter watched on in agony as his
conversion attempt came back off the upright. Still
Hawick pressed for the winning points but Stew Mel
survived the onslaught to claim the draw. |
