And what can we say about this game?

Well, for a start we can acknowledge that Hawick have a lively team who
may well develop into real winners with a season or two behind them.
It's a long time since I've seen such a youthful looking team -
particularly at half back. I thought it was young looking policemen are
a sign of age? They were a credit to the town in their efforts - even
though they never looked like breaking through they had their heads up
from start to finish. Bags of raw energy and enthusiasm.

And what of Hawks, with their fractured lineout - I've never seen so
many free kicks and started to wonder if the referee had a job lot to
dispose of? I'm sure that Hawks weren't the only infringers.

Turnover ball for Hawick seemed to be coming from a pile up of the Hawks
backline under the ruck while the forwards stood off. If we are starting
to use a pod system I'll be glad when it gels.

The first points on the board came from a penalty to Hawick, 15 minutes
in, and that was the way it stayed for three quarters of the game.
Murray Strang, excellent at keeping the Hawks slightly, though only
slightly, in the ascendant with quality tactical kicks and the
occasional break missed two sitters - Mike Adamson being booked for a
game on Monday evening. Nevertheless a solo effort from Hawks flanker
Fitzpatrick, developing well, put the ball down behind the posts for the
simple goal conversion. It was against the run of play maybe but when
the chance is presented, and taken, then you have to acknowledge that
someone is wide awake.

Hawks 7 : 3 up and never really threatened for the rest of the game. The
stats must have looked incredibly dull with most of the play taking
place around the half way line or just edging into Hawick territory.

The game finally developed tension deep into injury time when Hawick
made a late challenge for the Hawks line. The referee decided that
first one, and then two Hawks should have early use of the soap.

MYF fizzed and fretted as he then continued to give penalty followed by
advantage followed by penalty followed by yet more advantage until it
seemed as though he was keeping them on the pitch until Hawick scored.

Eventually Hawick's Greg Thomson was able to grab a high ball and dive
over under the posts for the simple goal.

Hawick 10 : Hawks 7 the referee blew even before the ball hit the ground
- and if he didn't it seemed that way.

So where do we go from here? Played four and won 1.

With Currie sweeping all before them and Watsonians pressing hard
there's little doubt that Hawks will be missing out on league honours
this year, that leaves the cup at any rate, but more pressing is the
need to start moving towards the middle of the table.

Although the lads still have to face a rampant Currie they also have
what might be more manageable games with Ayr, Boroughmuir, Dundee and
Melrose. They were a little unfortunate at Heriots and still had
Saturdays' game for the winning - if even one of those two kicks had
gone over.

The key ingredient, missing at the moment, seems to be nous. Some
self-belief might not go astray either. There is a settled backline
available that has shown itself capable in the past of real cutting
edge. The forwards have a couple of potential stars but as yet they're
not pulling their weight. Nick Cox is well worth seeing on the brainge
but he's one man, and anyway the problem seems to be at the lineout and
breakdown.

I'm quite convinced that a good win is going to give the pack the kick
start that they need but along the way they have to start competing for
the ball. Seeing Peter Wright watching with interest I wondered whether
to ask him what he thought - somehow it didn't seem like the right time
though.

Back to the studio now for Linnekers' bambi impersonation.

regards

The Green Phantom

This article was posted on 18-Sep-2006, 10:12 by Hugh Barrow.