THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

Watsonians 16 - 16 Glasgow Hawks: No winners as weather dictates the story



A DRAW was a fair result in a match where both sides attempted enterprising rugby to mock the conditions.

The start went along the lines scripted by the weather with Hawks kicking off with the elements behind them and the Watsonian recipient knocking on the wet ball.

Hawks kept the early pressure on, taking a scrum against the head, and Stephen O'Donnell kicked two penalties in the opening six minutes. Watsonians' first venture upfield brought a successful penalty for Michael Ker.

These awards were evidence of the number of penalties referee David Walker was finding at the break down and after a general warning he sent first Hawk John Maclay and then the visitors' captain Torrie Callander to the sin bin.

O'Donnell added a third penalty but Watsonians, with a second from Ker, then seemed to have hunkered down awaiting their chance with the elements. But two minutes before the interval, Hawks got their line-out drive working to rumble over from 15 metres. Grant Strang was awarded the try and O'Donnell converted from touch to let Hawks turn leading 16-6.

Ker put over his third penalty in 50 minutes but Hawks appeared set for the win until, with six minutes left, Ker chipped deftly to the posts, the ball sat up and Dougie Brown was first to it with Ker converting.

This article was originally posted on 26-Oct-2008, 08:39 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 27-Oct-2008, 08:15.