THE SUNDAY HERALD REPORTS

Greens are pack leaders
Hawick 24 / Glasgow hawks 13
Alan Lorimer at Mansfield Park
HAWICK REMAIN at the top of Group A in the Scottish Hydro Electric Super Cup after achieving a deserved win over Glasgow Hawks at Mansfield Park yesterday, but the Greens must now wait for the outcome of the final game between Ayr and Boroughmuir to know whether they will have a place in the final.

On a glutinous surface that inhibited over-the-ground rugby, the game was always going to be decided in the trench warfare of the forward struggle. In the event, it was the Greens' eight who emerged the better pack with an all-round display that kept Hawks on the back foot for much of the game.

"The front row were magnificent and I think we now have a very good blend in the back row," suggested Hawick coach Jim Hay.

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He added: "We've got young players behind the scrum showing good form. We've been through tough times this season but hopefully we've turned the corner."

Among the young Hawick backs to impress was teenage full-back John Coutts, who again showed why he might attract notice from higher levels of rugby, after showing maturity in his play and taking his try with what seemed a simple elegance.

For Hawks this was, in the words of coach Dave Wilson, "a disappointing display". The former centre said: "We have to learn to adapt to different pitches. But on the day Hawick deserved to win. They were hungrier."

It was Hawks who looked more match-ready in the opening minutes but Hawick's defence stood firm and in the event the only dividend for the Old Anniesland men was a penalty by stand-off Murray Strang.

Hawick responded in the best possible manner with a half break by stand-off Barry Sutherland, support from lock Will Campbell and hooker Hue Scammell and then a thrust to the line by No 8 Michael Robertson for the game's opening try.

Hawks had a chance to regain the lead with an attempt at goal by Strang but this time the stand-off was wide of the posts with his kick. Having missed this chance, Hawks then conceded a second score, teenager John Coutts touching down under the posts after dummying to winger Keith Hedley and then veering infield. Sutherland added the conversion for a 12-3 lead that looked to have been stretched when Robertson was bundled over the line, but the ball was adjudged to have been held up.

Then, after Steven Duffy had made a massive territorial gain with a break and chip ahead, Strang popped over his second penalty goal with a simple kick to reduce Hawick's lead to just six points at the break.

Hawks looked more purposeful after the break with clever short passing but, again, Hawick's defence was up to the mark. Having defended well, Hawick then went on the attack, capitalising on a Hawks' mistake behind the try line to earn a scrum that gave Robertson his second try and a second conversion for Sutherland.

Hawick's aim was now the bonus point and it was not to escape them. A clever kick by replacement Greig Thomson gave Hawick another five-metre scrum and the launchpad for a series of drives that ended with lock Will Campbell claiming the all-important fourth try.

Pride was now all that remained to play for as the Glasgow side came to terms with what was effectively the end of their Super Cup dreams. And that pride was exhibited with a late try by winger Max Evans and conversion by Strang - but by then Hawick were turning thoughts to a possible final.

Hawick: J Coutts; C Murray, R Hutton, G Hogg, K Hedley; B Sutherland, K Reid; M Landels, H Scammell, W Blacklock, G Petrie, W Campbell, N McTaggart, A Wilson, M Robertson. Subs used: G Thomson, R Armstrong, Z Bruce.

Glasgow Hawks: S Murray; J Kerr, R Munday, S Duffy, M Evans; M Strang, K Sinclair; N Cox, J Maclay, G Mories, A Kelly, A Dale, N Caddell, J Fitzpatrick, A Maclay. Subs used: R McKnight, S Gordon, S Warnock, D Malcolm.

Referee: T Coutts (Watsonians).

This article was originally posted on 4-Mar-2007, 08:29 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 4-Mar-2007, 08:31.