Hawick 29 - Kelso 5
Sep
After last Saturday's good away victory at Stirling, the young Greens team
started this first of the many local derbies that will be staged this season
with confidence. Kelso also had a victory last week so both sides were eager
to keep the momentum going. Hawick had one change from the starting line up
at Stirling with Club Captain Kevin Reid replacing Rory MacPherson at
scrum-half.
With the match still only in the first minute, Hawick caught Kelso off
guard and a space opened up for John Coutts to score at the posts with Neil
Renwick slotting the simple conversion. Hawick had most of the play in the
opening quarter and as last week the young pack were all playing prominent
roles. A Neil Renwick penalty extended Hawick's lead to 10-0 until the
pressure eventually told and a speculative kick ahead from Kevin Reid was
gathered by John Coutts who strolled in for his second try of the afternoon,
the conversion was narrowly missed but Hawick reached halftime with a 15-0
lead.
Kelso started the second half strongly but good defence from Hawick kept
the visitors from scoring. Hawick worked their way up into the Kelso 22 and
from a lineout, a driving maul was set up and Sean Linton emerged with the
ball to crash over for a great try near the posts which Renwick again
converted. With the match now into the final quarter, the ball was worked to
John Coutts who in turn found much improving fullback Neil Renwick on his
left, with play still in the Hawick half, Renwick broke away to outpace the
Kelso defence and score under the posts, the same player converted to give
Hawick a comfortable lead by 29-0. With the game now won, Kelso to their
credit never threw in the towel, and were awarded a consolation try but
Hawick emerged convincing and worthy winners by 29 points to 5 which sees
them top of their league on ten points from their two bonus point wins.
Team:- 1. Nick Little 2. Hue Scammell 3. Sean Linton 4. Kieran Willison 5.
Michael Robertson 6. Gary Lowrie 7. Ross Gibson 8. Bruce McNeil 9. Kevin
Reid (Captain) 10. Dean McCracken 11. Lee Armstrong 12. Chris Ritson 13.
John Coutts 14. Greg Anderson 15. Neil Renwick
16. Ali Marsh 17. David Lowrie 18. Rory MacPherson 19. Gary Johnstone
