Stewart’s-Melville FP 31 Glasgow Hawks 89

The Inverleith announcer had an apology to make before today’s National Cup quarter-final got underway. There had been a visit from the “local neds”, he said, who had made off with the scoreboard. Perhaps they had a premonition of what was to unfold for the home support as Hawks, stronger and sharper in every department, blasted aside their hosts 13 tries to five.

What a difference a year makes. Just over 12 months ago, Hawks, as Scotland’s champion club, visited Inverleith and saw Stewart’s-Melville inflict only one of three defeats they suffered that season . . .and even that wasn’t enough for Stew-Mel to avoid relegation.

Today Hawks were clinical and although their coach Davie Wilson’s twice-voiced observation “no contest” referred to a specific moment when a Hawks wing was confronted out wide by a home prop, other spectators were inclined to a different view.

Hawks had scored their first four tries inside the opening quarter, out-muscling their opponents both up front and in the backs and with Kenny Sinclair the orchestrator supreme, they also had just too much ingenuity to be challenged.

Three more Hawks tries were added before the interval and although Stew-Mel scored either side of the break – when Hawks’ prop Nick Cox was in the sin-bin – to bring the score to 19-49, the rather farcical sight of David McCall being yellow-carded after some handbags and hair-pulling with Rory Kerr which wouldn’t have made the under-card at Madison Square Garden, gave the visitors’ try blitz some added impetus.

Home full-back Richard Borthwick, on the day that he surpassed 500 points for his club, should be commended for his commitment and there were similar honest shifts from Colin Goudie and Stephen Dalgleish but it’s not a day that many of their other chums will remember fondly.

Hawks, twice previous winners of the Cup, scored tries through John Fitzpatrick (2), Rory Kerr, Niall Caddell (2), Stewart Smith (2), Kenny Sinclair (2), Steven Duffy, Stephen Gordon, Richie McKnight and Ally Maclay. Murray Strang converted 12 of the 13 tries.

Stewart’s-Melville saw tries from Colin Goudie (2), Pete McLean and Borthwick (2), the full-back also notching three conversions.

Joining Hawks in Tuesday’s Cup semi-final draw are West of Scotland, Edinburgh Accies and Boroughmuir, conquerors of Dundee HSFP, Hawick and Aberdeen Grammar Rugby respectively.

This article was posted on 7-Apr-2007, 21:58 by Hugh Barrow.