THE HERALD REPORTS TODAY
Glasgow Hawks 15 - 14 Boro’muir

HARRY McARTHUR December 11 2006

Hawks could hardly say that revenge was sweet but it was at least satisfactory. They have waited a long time to get their own back after the 51-21 thrashing they suffered at Meggetland in September.
The home players came out looking as though they really meant business and wanted to put right the wrongs of that Edinburgh trip. They even took an early lead, as they did in the first encounter.
However, for some reason they went off the boil and although they held a seven-point advantage at the interval, it was really down to superb defensive work. And they had to be solid, as 'Muir were excellent on the counterattack.
In fact, Hawks tried to be too adventurous in attack, tending to try to match the Edinburgh style of moving the ball.
Right after the break, Boroughmuir got the score their earlier territorial advantage deserved and they levelled the match. It seemed ominous that Hawks were going to slip up again.
But all credit to them, they buckled down and started to play their own style of rugby, tightening up around the rucks and mauls by the forwards and good punch running from everyone behind.
It took a penalty to edge them in front again but then in the 56th minute, the forwards fashioned a superb score through a perfectly controlled catch-and-drive move from 20 metres out which ended with Greg Francis getting the touch.
Murray Strang missed a conversion and when 'Muir hit back just after the restart with Ross Cook converting his own try which began almost from the Boroughmuir goal-line, the edginess crept in once more, but Hawks held out.
Boroughmuir's Eamon Jones expressed disappointment at the one-point defeat but declared that Hawks' David Wilson would have been similarly annoyed had his boys lost.
The Edinburgh side tried to play too much rugby in the second half when cold hands were finding it difficult to hold the ball.
As well as establishing themselves in the top half of the table, Hawks must feel pleased that their squad strength is beginning to pay off. Considering that their back division was deprived of the services of regulars Mark Adamson, Stephen Duffy, Rory Kerr and Kenny Sinclair, it is encouraging that the men who were drafted in were comfortable.
New boy Max Evans showed an appetite on the left wing while the versatile Stuart Low showed he has the pace and adventure to fill in at full-back.

This article was posted on 11-Dec-2006, 08:35 by Hugh Barrow.