Hawick 23-16 Glasgow Hawks: Three-try burst lifts Hawick out of the doldrums


By Alan Lorimer
at Mansfield Park
Hawick 23

Glasgow Hawks 16
THREE tries in a nine-minute scorefest during the final quarter gave Hawick a bonus-point victory over Glasgow Hawks at Mansfield Park to lift them from their perilously low position in the Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership.

Hawick had two of their players sin-binned but with their loose forwards, among whom Nick McTaggart put in a massive shift, winning the back row tussle and veteran scrum half Kevin Reid exerting a huge influence, the Greens gradually took control of the game.

If there was a weakness in the Hawick game yesterday it was goal kicking. "We missed 17 points in front of the posts. That's a lot in this Premiership" said Hawick coach Jim Hay.

For Hawks, this was another disappointing result in a season that has not gone well so far. But they could not be accused of playing one-dimensional rugby, such was their willingness to move the ball wide as often as possible.

Hawks, who had been playing with the wind in the first half, led 6-5 five minutes into the second period, with a penalty goal from Mike Adamson and a drop goal from Ian Noble to a try by centre Graham Hogg.

Then 10 minutes into the second half, Hawick's young stand-off Ali Weir gave his side the lead with a penalty goal. The advantage was extended as full back John Coutts made the running for a try by Colin Murray, winger Steve Anderson grabbing try number three. Flanker Dave Lowrie scored the bonus try but Hawks came back with two late tries by Sean Murray and Paddy Bower to claim their own bonus.

This article was posted on 19-Oct-2008, 13:04 by Hugh Barrow.