SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY REPORTS

GLASGOW 32-12 HAWICK
SANDY STRANG AT ANNIESLAND
HAWKS recapured their title momentum with an improved, if still somewhat unconvincing, performance against a valiant but weakened Hawick. Having won just once in their last three outings - and even then only in injury time - after a splendid autumn run of 12 successive victories, this was a crucial encounter for the Glasgow men.

\"First and foremost I must be happy with a win\", admitted a relieved Hawks coach David Wilson, \"although I am well aware Hawick were seriously under-strength.


\"There were snippets of impressive play, but we are still not sustaining this for longer periods, and a lot of work still has to be done to bring up the urgency and the hunger. However, it was confidence-boosting to capitalise in the second half and consolidate the win.\"

Defeated Hawick coach Jim Hay remained strongly upbeat: \"You are never happy when you are defeated, but I was delighted by the way our inexperienced lads up front handled a man\'s job, and at times too our backs looked dangerous, although ultimately we lacked that cutting edge.\"

Hawks had responded instantly to Wilson\'s pre-match exhortations with a brilliant first-minute try from winger Stuart Low who touched down in the left corner after an incisive break by centre Stewart Smith.

Weakened Hawick, forced to field a comprehensively recast front five with only hooker Matt Landels remaining from last week\'s starting line-up, struggled to keep eager Hawks at bay in the first quarter. Full-back Mike Adamson was unlucky to have a score disallowed by over-officious referee Andy Ireland for alleged crossing before Adamson himself slotted a twenty-metre penalty on 25 minutes to stretch the Hawks lead to ten points.

Undaunted, battling Hawick fought back, and on 35 minutes for a cute cross field chip by centre Ross Armstrong Winger Keith Hedley won the race to touch down on the right.

Stunned into action, Hawks responded instantly, and a Steve Begley drive carried on by the impressive Mark Sitch released winger Ally MacLay to give the Anniesland men a 15-5 interval lead.

Hawks lost Steven Duffy on the re-start, yellow-carded for handling in the ruck, and from the resultant penalty Greens\' No.8 Steven Lowrie struck a magnificent 40-yarder to reduce the leeway to 15-18. Faltering 14-man Hawks were then fortunate to escape as Hawick winger Colin Murray almost wriggled through.

Still struggling to recover their earlier rhythm, Hawks then benefited from Hawick losing a man when flanker Zander Bruce was yellow-carded for illegal use of a hand, and almost immediately Adamson slotted a straightforward penalty for an 18-8 lead, before hooker Matt Smith dived over, Adamson converting, to give Hawks a comfortable cushion at 25-8 after 65 minutes.

Man of the match Sitch then deservedly secured a fourth-try bonus point after a fine break and feed by centre Duffy, Adamson converting with his fifth successful kick.

It was arguably appropriate that the final hurrah belonged to the visitors as Lowrie drove over in stoppage time, with Craig Neish converting splendidly from the right touchline.

Hawks will be satisfied just to get back to winning ways, but the uneasy feeling prevails that all is still far from well, and this Premiership race could yet see some further twists as it enters the final straight.

Glasgow Hawks: M. Adamson, S.Low, S. Smith S. Duffy A. MacLay ; M Strang S. Biggart ; E. Milligan M. Smith G. McFadyen S. Begley R. Maxton S. Warnock N. McKenzie M. Sitch, reps S Fell G Mories S Forrest R McKnight

Hawick: G Hogg, C Murray, C Neish, R Armstrong K Hedley ; B Sutherland, K Reid ; M Parr, M Landels, K Geddes, R Hogg, R Hush, Z Bruce, D Landels, D Lowrie reps G McLeod B Pow B Keown D McCrackan

Referee: Mr Andy Ireland (Grangemouth)

Scorers: Hawks Try Low, McLay, Smith , Sitch Cons Adamson (3) Pens Adamson (2) Hawick trys Hedley, Lowrie Con Neish, Pen, Lowrie

This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=67272006

This article was posted on 15-Jan-2006, 09:21 by Hugh Barrow.