Round up

ABERDEEN 14-35 GLAS HAWKS

GLASGOW Hawks bounced back from two early season defeats to launch their title challenge when they swept a limited Aberdeen side off the pitch in a one-sided match at Rubbislaw.
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The Glasgow side dominated throughout but dealt their northern opponents a hammer blow on the stroke of half time when winger Steven Gordon gave them an 18-7 lead.

There was no way back for the homesters who were their own worst enemies missing tackles, throwing loose passes and generally failing to compete. Ironically it was former Grammar player stand-off Murray Strang who caught the eye orchestrating the show with his astute kicking and handling so it was the return to form of the Hawks front row which made the difference.

Fullback Mike Adamson had a field day kicking three conversions and three penalties to keep the beleaguered home side on the back foot.

Adamson launched the assault with two early penalties before converting a Kenny Sinclair try in the first half to a try from Martin Stanning converted by stand-off Keith Oddie.

Hawks continued to run the show in the second half adding tries through Grant Mories and Rorie Kerr. Adamson increased his tally with two conversions and one penalty. Oddie completed the scoring with a try which he converted.
HAWICK 13-14 AYR

AYR staged a remarkably comeback to win at Mansfield Park. Hawick seemed set for victory when they led 13-0 after 43 minutes. But Ayr finished the stronger and Ben Colley's try in the final minute, converted by A J McFarlane sealed a famous success. Two tries either side of half time was just reward for almost intense homeside pressure in the first half, but Hawick passed up scoring opportunities and were left to rue these chances. Bruce McNeill was held up on the line twice and Colin Murray was stopped short. Ayr weathered the storm, but Hawick broke through in injury time when Zander Bruce was held up short, and with the Ayr defence stretched, Kevin Reid sent Neil Douglas over in the left hand corner. Two minutes after the break, Hawick scored again, this time Barrie Keown was at the end of a move orchestrated by Michael Robertson. Jonathan Kee was yellow carded for persistent offences and Craig Neish stretched the Hawick lead with a penalty. It was game on in 63 minutes when Ryan Holland sent Cammy Taylor over and Scott Dalgleish converted. Ayr kept up the pressure and the final try left Hawick still looking for the first win of the season.

BOROUGHMUIR kick-started their BT Premiership campaign by edging out Melrose in a see-saw encounter at the Greenyards.

The lead changed hands no fewer than five times before Muir got their noses in front when it mattered most through a Ross Cooke penalty. The visitors' tries went to Rory Couper and Malcolm Clapperton, with Cooke banging over a spate of kicks. Craig Edwards and Jamie Murray went over for Melrose, the former claiming the rest of their points with the boot.
MELROSE 21-23 BOROUGHMUIR

GLOUCESTER produced a magnificent second-half performance to run out comfortable 31-21 winners over Harlequins at the Stoop.

After trailing by ten points at half-time, the visitors looked a completely different side in the second period, as they scored tries through Peter Richards, replacement hooker Olivier Azam and No.8 James Forrester.

Former Otago Highlanders fly-half Willie Walker, playing in place of the injured Ryan Lamb, collected two conversions and four penalties.

Meanwhile, Jonny Wilkinson had a scan on his right knee yesterday amid fears he has sustained medial-ligament damage.

The Newcastle Falcons fly-half left the field in Friday's 20-19 victory over Worcester Warriors. The club will release a statement tomorrow once the scan results have been analysed.

This article was posted on 10-Sep-2006, 10:29 by Hugh Barrow.