Hawick 17 Glasgow Hawks 17
Hawick
Tries​McNeil 67, Renwick 71
Con​Renwick 67, 71​
Pen​Renwick 28
Hawick
Tries​Gormley 11, Lowe 80
Con ​Adamson 11, Gormley 80
Pen​Adamson 47

A last gasp, smash and grab try gave Glasgow Hawks a share of the points against Hawick at Mansfield Park. A try that was audacious as the robbery which had taken place.
The conditions for both sides were difficult on a heavy pitch which had taken a battering before the warm up. Hawks started off the better of the two sides as they adapted to the conditions more adeptly. Again the pack provided the platform for Dan Smart to control the game and when James Gormley went over for the try in 11 minutes it was justly deserved, with aspiring whistler Mike Adamson converting Hawks had in a deserved lead.
The Greens were unlucky not to narrow the gap immediately after the restart as Hawks infringed almost immediately after the resumption of play. Neil Renwick hitting the post with a penalty.
Hawks continued to pressurise the home side but Dan Smart received a yellow card for persistently feeding the scrum and this allowed Renwick to narrow the gap with a 28th minute penalty.
The second half was a very different affair. An Adamson penalty in 47 represented a reward for a very rare Hawks’ foray into the home territory. But other than that Hawick dominated every phase of play from the start of the half.
Hawick played all the rugby in Hawks’ 22, much of it camped on the visitors’ line. The Hawks’ defence were under immense pressure and held out until after a series of penalty infringements, all taken as scrums. Hawick lock Bruce McNeil went over for a well deserved try, which Renwick goaled.
The scores were now tied but Hawick were relentless as they launched another assault. Renwick himself was at the end of an excellent handling move which made a mockery of the conditions, goaling his own try.
With ten minutes to go Hawick looked capable of adding to Hawks’ torment and the visitors looked as if they’d be lucky to hang on. Then, as Hawick pressed, turnover ball saw an attempt run out of defence it was kicked into midfield and then hacked towards the terracing touchline. Haddon McPherson was first to the ball but had no time to gather it. So he hacked it forward cleverly angling it toward in goal and away from touch. A mad, muddy rains sodden dash ensued which saw Gavin Lowe over for the try, with Gormley converting a difficult kick. The scores were tied, the whistle blew and grown men wept…

This article was posted on 2-Nov-2013, 22:33 by Hugh Barrow.