Hawick club round up
Oct
HAWICK 24, JEDFOREST 24
After some excellent displays in the last four matches, especially last
week's result at Biggar, expectations were high prior to this Border derby
against Jedforest, but as was evident in the last local derby match against
old rivals Gala, the form book can be forgotten about and results can go any
way on the day.
Indeed, it was Jedforest who were calling the shots in the first forty
minutes. Hawick's display can only be described as inept, dropped passes,
turnovers, missed tackles and unforced errors saw Jedforest take full
advantage, and as in the Gala match, Hawick were deservedly three converted
tries behind at the interval with Jedforest leading by 21 points without
reply.
Gerry McGuinness must have had some stern words with his players at half
time and Hawick emerged a different side. A mass brawl in front of the stand
got the passions aroused and Jed now knew it was game on. A barnstorming run
from Bruce McNeil from the 22 saw him going over for a try near the posts
which was converted by Neil Renwick. With David Lowrie in the thick of the
everything, he bulldozed himself over the line but was deemed not to have
grounded the ball. Not to be denied, he again powered himself over the line
and Renwick slotted the simple conversion to take Hawick to 14-21 behind. It
was now all Hawick who must have scented victory and another powerful run by
Bruce McNeil resulted in another try for the captain, the conversion tied
the scores at 21 all. With Hawick now piling on the pressure, Jed strayed
offside and Neil Renwick slotted the penalty to give Hawick the lead at
24-21. The match was now well into injury time and Jed fought their way up
field, Hawick's defence was holding firm but when they illegally turnover a
ball on their own 22, Jed had the chance to tie the score. The well taken
penalty was never in doubt and the spoils were shared. Hawick's downfall was
not the final penalty but the disastrous first half exhibition.
Team:- 1. Bruce McNeil, 2. Hue Scammell, 3. Ali Marsh, 4. Keiran Willison,
5. Craig Charters, 6. David Lowrie, 7. Ross Gibson, 8. Danny Landels 9. Rory
McPherson, 10. Dean McCracken, 11. Greg Anderson, 12. Craig Neish, 13. Lee
Armstrong, 14. Michael Graham, 15. Neil Renwick
16. Gary Johnstone, 17. Colin Murray, 18. Nicky Little, 19. Sean Linton
HAWICK 2nds 34, HAMILTON 9
A minute’s silence was observed before the match at the request of the
referee, Ian Rogerson, following the death of well known former whistle
blower Jimmy Lipscombe.
Unfortunately, the wet and windy conditions at Wilton Lodge Park resulted in
a series of scrums and close contact play which resulted in Hamilton slowing
down the pace of the game.
With the scored tied at 3-3, Neil McColm’s penalty cancelling out an earlier
one for the visitors after 25 minutes, the home side took the lead. Alex
Norrie intercepted on half way and drew the full-back and freed John Coutts
for a 30 metre run to the posts, McColm converted.
Two penalties to Hamilton, one either side of half time, narrowed the lead
to 10-9 as the game followed the same pattern as the first.
Slowly the Hawick forwards began to dominate and started to build up the
pace of the game, allowing the backs to come more into the game, resulting
in a second try from Coutts after an outside break by the centre.
McColm couldn’t convert but he had no problem minutes later when following a
controlled set of phases, Bruce Campbell scored under the posts to put the
homesters more than a score clear at 22-9 with 15 minutes still left to
play.
Having failed to pick up the bonus point in their last two fixtures, the
Greens sought a fourth try and Keith Davies showed the old adage of play to
the whistle. Hamilton knocked on and stopped while the No 8 picked up on
half way and ran u p the 5-metre line to score in the corner.
Finally, after good interplay between the forwards and backs, Andrew
Howieson broke through to score at the posts and McColm’s conversion brought
the final whistle.
Team:- 1. Dale Johnstone, 2. Matt Landels, 3. Garry Douglas, 4. Keith
Millar, 5. Rhuari Taylor, 6. Craig Patterson, 7. Gary Lowrie, 8. Keith
Davies, 9. Bruce Campbell, 10. Ali Weir, 11. Craig Russell, 12. Neil McColm,
13. John Coutts, 14. Scott McLeod, 15. Ross Williams
16. Alex Norrie, 17. Andrew Turnbull, 18. Chris Turnbull
