Date: Saturday, 26th August 2006
Kickoff time: 15:00
Against: Heriots
Team: Hawks 1st XV
Location: Away
Competition: Premiership Division 1
Final score: 22 - 41 (lost)

Heriot’s 41 Glasgow Hawks 22 The new club season got off to a dramatic start at Goldenacre today as three-time champions Glasgow Hawks were on the receiving end of a six tries to three defeat by Heriot’s. The introduction of Fijian World Cup Sevens winner Apolosi Satala at half-time and the dismissal of Hawks scrum-half Stephen Biggart for stamping after 60 minutes were significant elements in the hosts’ success, albeit it would be flawed to attribute their victory simply to those factors. Heriot’s lineout looked more reliable than it had last season with the catch and drive a profitable tactic in gaining territory, while the pick and go in open play – with new recruit Kenny Blyth from Murrayfield Wanderers making an impact – also bore fruit. Hawks, too, had their moments up front with Nick Cox a dynamic ball carrier but the ankle injury that restricted Ally Maclay to 50 minutes did not help their cause, even before Biggart’s departure. A satisfying first match then for Heriot’s new coach, Bob McKillop who reflected: “It’s always a big thing to beat the three-time champions. They are still the benchmark for Scottish club rugby but I think a lot of teams are catching up.” Heriot’s did have to come from behind in the first-half following Graham Wilson’s fifth minute penalty miss. A good advantage from referee Rob Dickson enabled Michael Adamson to go in at the right flag and the full-back’s first penalty – after Heriot’s were adjudged offside 43 metres out – took Hawks to 8-0. Cox was yellow-carded for some handbags after the whistle on the 23rd minute and it seemed as if Heriot’s would benefit from that transgression as Wilson’s penalty and conversion of Blyth’s try – reward for opting for a scrum rather than a penalty and Roddy Deans’ powerful clear-out at the subsequent ruck – gave Heriot’s a 10-8 lead. Cox’s deputy at prop, Gavin Mories, however ensured that the final minute of the sin-binning ended on a happier note for the visitors as he crossed on the right following Murray Strang’s intelligent dart into space on the left. Adamson converted for a 15-10 half-time lead to Hawks. Satala replaced Pete Eccles in the Heriot’s back-row for the second-half and the home support – perhaps recalling how the Fijian had contributed a match-winning hat-trick during Hawks’ last league visit to Goldenacre – settled down in eager anticipation. Satala’s first contribution wasn’t what they expected. His missed tackle on Strang after a lineout just outside the Hawks 22 saw the stand-off escape, link with John Fitzpatrick who off-loaded superbly for his fellow back-row forward Sandy Warnock to canter in for a cracking try, which Adamson converted to give Hawks a 12 point cushion. Satala then took three minutes to make amends, dotting down on the left from James Thompson’s slick handling after Heriot’s had done well to retrieve a lineout that looked to have gone awry. As spectators berated the referee for an offside penalty, Mr Dickson’s second fine application of the advantage law was appreciated most by Heriot’s winger Marc Teague who fastened on to his stand-off, Huw Goodwin’s diagonal kick for Heriot’s third try in the 50th minute. Wilson’s conversion brought the sides level. On the hour Biggart was sent-off after stamping on Deans at a ruck and it wasn’t long before Heriot’s collected their bonus point try. Tam McVie and Gareth Hann had embellished possession from a lineout and Goodwin found space to send Cameron Goodall over the whitewash. Wilson converted. Hawks attempted to rally but Heriot’s close-range defence stood firm and in the closing minutes the hosts added tries through McVie and Thompson, Wilson adding the extra points to the flanker’s score. No team list has been added yet.

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