Date: Saturday, 25th March 2006
Kickoff time: 15:00
Against: Stewarts Melville FP
Team: Hawks 1st XV
Location: Away
Competition: Premiership Division 1
Final score: 7 - 21 (lost)

A touchdown double by Jed Gordon was the launchpad for Stew-Mel's 21-7 success against the Hawks at Inverleith. Richard Borthwick was also in prime form, slotting a conversion and a penalty treble to snuff out the challenge of the champions. Ally Maclay pounced for the Hawks' consolation try, converted by Murray Strang. THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS COLIN RENTON AT INVERLEITH Stewart's-Melville 21 Glasgow Hawks 7 IT WAS a day of goodbyes at Inverleith, with forwards coach Stewart Bennet in charge of the pack for the last time and the front-row men Hotili Asi and skipper Paul Wharakura making their final appearances before returning home to Tonga and New Zealand respectively. But the Edinburgh side are not yet ready to bid farewell to BT Premiership Division 1. A battling win over champions Glasgow Hawks, the latest in a remarkable run during the second half of the season, leaves them in limbo until the outcome of the Heriot's v Boroughmuir encounter is known, with either Stew-Mel or Boroughmuir going down. A touchdown double by Jed Gordon was the launchpad for Stew-Mel's success. Richard Borthwick was also in prime form, slotting a conversion and a penalty treble to snuff out the champions' challenge. The commitment was evident from the start as the hosts survived an early onslaught from Hawks before taking the lead through a Borthwick penalty after 15 minutes. They stretched the gap to ten points at the break when Gordon hurtled over at the corner after a clever break by stand-off Nicky Wood and Borthwick slotted the conversion from wide. Hawks have had to display resilience on their way to three successive titles and have overturned many deficits in that time. They looked poised to do so again when Ally MacLay gathered on the home ten-metre line, battered past three defenders to score and Murray Strang converted. With their survival hopes dependent on a win, the home side regained control and nudged further ahead with two more penalties from Borthwick, and completed the job in the final minute when Gordon raced in for his second score to spark scenes of jubilation among the home support. "I don't think we could have done any more," said Stew-Mel coach Grant MacKenzie. "If you look at the league table, only a couple of teams have won more games than us. If there is any justice - and sometimes there isn't in sport - I'd like to think we'll stay up." His Hawks counterpart Dave Wilson said: "We struggled to show any structure and we couldn't keep the ball. We have Stirling County at home next week and we are not going to finish our season like this." Scorers: Stewart's-Melville: Tries: Gordon 2. Con: Borthwick. Pens: Borthwick 3. Glasgow Hawks: Try: MacLay. Con: Strang. Stewart's-Melville: R Borthwick; P McLean, A Cox, G Shiel, J Gordon; N Wood, E Clark; P Wharakura, S McMurchy, H Asi, A Clarke, S Dalgleish, P Hendry, S Clark, G Lind. Subs used: A Statham, B Leathes, S Samson. Glasgow Hawks: S Low; R Munday, S Smith, S Duffy, A MacLay; M Strang, I Monaghan; P Dalton, M Smith, G Mories, S Warnock, R Maxton, G Francis, N McKenzie, M Sitch. Subs used: G MacFadyen, S Fell, R McKnight, E Milligan. Referee: I Heard (Gala YM). No team list has been added yet.

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