EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN ([email protected])

Watsonians 39 Hawks 37
WATSONIAN recruit Malasia Mialo today praised the discipline of his new colleagues despite conceding five tries in an amazing comeback win over champions Glasgow Hawks in a Premiership humdinger.

There were still five minutes, including injury-time, remaining when 'Sonians finally clawed their way back from 0-24 to snatch the lead for the first time.

And nobody knew better than the Samoa A centre how easy it might have been to then relax and be caught off guard with Hawks pouring forward.

Mialo who was making his home debut, said: "Myself and [player/coach] Cammy Mather kept telling the boys to keep the head, be positive and give away no penalties."

The 28-year-old painter and decorator is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and is on his first overseas trip.

He added: "We didn't panic, which was impressive - as was the speed of the game overall in Scotland." Indeed, having paced themselves magnificently to hit back - along the way overcoming two potentially-devastating sin-binnings - the temptation must have been enormous for 'Sonians to drop their guard.

But their resolve was strong and the overall winners were those privileged to watch one of the most remarkable contests in the 33-year history of competitive club rugby.

The icing on the cake was the dignity shown by a Hawks side who were entitled to feel gutted but whose coach, David Wilson, summed up the sportsmanship in their ranks.

Perhaps still trying to catch his breath, Wilson paid tribute to the quality of the rugby while understandably making a case for Hawks being worth more than their eventual haul of two bonus points for tries and finishing within a single score.

He said: "I thought we played some excellent rugby and it was to Watsonians' credit that they moved the ball well. Watsonian second row Jeff Nicolson romped in under the posts in proving a fairly rapid unit who cuts good lines.

"I also noticed that Mialo was influential and strong when offloading passes as well as being hard to put down.

In summary it was a match where there were no losers and those spectators who took their leave when 'Sonians fell 27-37 behind with 10 minutes remaining deprived themselves of as thrilling a rugby climax as is imaginable.

Maybe, though, they should have taken a hint that something special was in the offing from the way Nicolson had hauled 'Sonians back to within a try minutes earlier when his flowing sprint enabled replacement Sam Paulo to link with Will Rowley, who crossed.

If that was impressive then it was nothing to the angle which then saw Nicolson burst on to a pass and explode under the posts for the try which, with Mike Ker's conversion, brought Watsonians back to 34-37.

The aforementioned Paulo was to be mentioned in dispatches as "brilliant" by player/coach Mather but that adjective could have been applied to so many.

Indeed Mather himself was the player who provided the turning point when his fearless dive at the feet of several opponents secured the loose possession which ultimately led to Mialo dummying his way over.

Arguably the greatest counter-offensive in the history of Myreside had begun and Mather, nursing an egg-sized bruise on the bridge of his nose, could not conceal his pride.

He said: "The most pleasing thing was that, even in the second half, when scoring was tit-for-tat, we kept our self-belief."

Even the sin-binning of sub Torrie Callander who was spotted clambering into a ruck and Mialo for a high tackle was seen as a positive in the home ranks.

"The sin-binnings contributed to us developing a siege mentality," joked Mather.

Earlier, with another glint in his eye, the former Scotland ace had tried to insist the victory plan was devised from the Vladimir Romanov book of sporting stimuli.

"I told the players if they didn't win they'd all be transferred to Dunfermline!" said Mather.

Given that 'Sonians had lost their three previous matches, such jocularity was clearly in order although it remains to be seen if their defensive shortcomings will stop them hauling themselves back into the title race.

In the first flush of success Mather was entitled to savour the moment, saying: "We take heart from scoring three tries while we had players in the sin-bin even if operating short-handed for 20 minutes didn't help our cause.

"We have been playing fluidly without getting tries. Maybe this is a starting point for a new beginning, while recognising how difficult it is likely to be at Heriot's on Saturday."

What Watsonians will take to Goldenacre by way of a major strike weapon is a line-out that had Hawks coach Wilson near apoplectic at the inadequacy of his side in competing.

By the end 'Sonians were winning possession at will along the touchline and this, more than anything, was at the core of their revival.

Who could have predicted such a denouement, however, when, after two minutes, Hawks centre Ricky Munday grabbed an interception from Mike Ker, who was later to atone by posting his century of points for the season, and romping in at the posts, Mike Adamson converting.

Worse was to follow as 'Sonians then conceded a penalty to Adamson, who also landed conversions of successive touchdowns by John Fitzpatrick.

If Watsonians were trying to lull Hawks into a false sense of security, they could not have done a better job especially with Callander now cooling his heels.

By half time 'Sonians had bounced back to 12-27 with tries by Mialo (his first for the club) and Kian Coertze (his first of the season).

When Andrew Skeen screeched in for his eighth touchdown for 'Sonians and Ker converted, the visitors were thankful for the breathing space provided by a Gavin Mories try and Mialo's sin-binning - the latter incident coming after a Ker penalty.

Cue more home commitment exemplified by Rowley's try and, although Steve Gordon added try No.5 for Hawks, it was to prove no insurance against never-say-die spirit.

Over went Nicolson for his converted try and, with the tension almost tangible, the same player gave the scoring pass out wide for Craig Sorbie to set-up a famous win even if it was ultimately sealed by brave and disciplined defence down the home straight.

But is the really encouraging aspect for 'Sonians the fact that import Mialo feels he is only going to get better? "So far so good," said the Samoan, adding: "I've been particularly impressed by Cammy Mather and Andy Skene, who I'm confident I can form an even better centre partnership with as our communication develops."

This article was posted on 6-Nov-2006, 12:32 by Hugh Barrow.