West of Scotland 12 - Hawick 45
Sep
While Hawick can consider themselves most unfortunate to emerge with just a meagre three bonus points from their Premier One League matches this season, pressure is mounting on both players and coaches to start turning these good performances into league points. With West of Scotland just two points above Hawick at the wrong end of the league, this was a must win game.
Hawick were soon on the attack and were awarded two very kickable penalties which Rory Hutton failed to convert. With Hawick now having all the play, a move which combined both forwards and backs, found Sean Linton in the clear who touched down at the posts which Hutton converted. Hutton then made a break from within the Hawick half which found Stuart Hogg who beat the West defence to touch down in the corner for a fine try, Hutton again converting for a 14-0 lead. Not to be outdone, older brother Graham who had a fine match at fullback, crashed over for a try to give Hawick a deserved lead at half time by 19 -0.
The second half as the first was virtually all one way traffic, Stuart Hogg touched down and converted a try under the posts following a break by Bruce McNeil. Rory Hutton then found very little West opposition to score and put Hawick out of sight at 31-0. A break by scrum half Cottrell found livewire second row Keith Davies up in support to score yet another try which Neil Renwick converted. Sean Hogg then rounded off another fine performance with his third try of the afternoon which Renwick again converted. Hawick then seemed take their foot off the pedal and allowed West to control the last quarter of the match. This allowed the home side to score two consolation tries but Hawick ran out worthy winners by 45 points to 12.
THis was a match that Hawick never looked like in any trouble and in which all players played their part. Prop Sean Linton was everywhere and had a great game in the loose and again young Stuart Hogg continues to improve with every match he plays.
Team:- 15. Graham Hogg, 14. Gary Johnstone, 13. Stuart Hogg, 12. Alex Dunbar, 11. Steven Anderson, 10. Rory Hutton, 9. Greg Cottrell, 1. Bruce McNeil (Capt), 2. Matt Landels, 3. Sean Linton, 4. Craig Charters, 5. Keith Davies, 6. Nick McTaggart, 7. Danny Landels, 8. David Lowrie.
Replacements:- 16. Neil Renwick, 17. Gary Lowrie 18. Michael Robertson, 19. Alistair Marsh, 20. Lindsey Gibson
