SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY REVIEWS



Published Date: 22 February 2009
By Alan Christie
The third National II side contending the two promotion places, Hawick YM, had home advantage to take on Stewart's Melville who lie second top in Premier II and who won 27-7.
AFTER being devastated by the weather it was time to bring some order to the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup with six games in round five but also 14 still contesting round four.

The winners from this latter tranche of ties go into action again in a week when the last 16 on the march to Murrayfield Finals day will be known.

In round four Boroughmuir, four time finalists and three times winners, visited one of the top National II sides, Linlithgow – at short notice since the home side had been due to play St Boswells who in mid-week were moved down to the Shield by Murrayfield diktat.

In a ding-dong opening spell Matt Dixon gave Linlithgow an early lead with two penalties, Muir then got into the expected lead but back came the hosts to lead 18-17.

However Muir had too much class and moved away to a 41-21 half time lead which was stretched to a final winning score of 58-26 that takes them through to a fifth round derby of a tie at home to Watsonians.

Muir's ten tries fell to Tom Bury (2), Greg Cottrell, Ross Bradford, Angus Martyn, Malky Clapperton, Fred Lait, Bronson Ross, Stu McGee and Joni Hare, with a variety of feet adding the conversions.

Linlithgow's tries were scored by Chris Bredin, Steve Dobbie and Mikey Walker with Dixon adding 11 points.

Another former Cup winner Hawick had a long trip to Aberdeen in round four to take on Gordonians from the lower reaches of National III and the expected gap in class resulted in a 68-3 win for the Premier I club.

The Borderers, who led 26-3 at the pause, failed initially to stick to the game plan but once they got focused they ran in a total of 10 tries, so spread around that only John Coutts, with a brace, touched down more than once.

The visitors had first use of the strong wind, which was to prove important. They soon scored tries through Richard Borthwick and Jed Gordon.

YM dug in only to leak tries to Nick Wood, Adam Broach and Hayden Lingard close to half time to turn 27-0 in arrears.

YM gave the visitors a bit of a fright in the second half but it was stoppage time before they got on the score sheet with a try from Mark Young converted by Gregor Welsh.

There was nearly an upset on the North Inch where late tries for Jason Hendrie and Fraser Harkness seemed to have sealed an away win for Premier I Selkirk over Perthshire of Premier III.

However there was still time for Craig Walker to add to a touchdown to James Fleming's hat-trick which meant the locals won the try count 4-3 but Selkirk advance by 34-30.

GHA led Lasswade only 7-6 at half time at Braidholm but thanks mainly to the exertions of James Noonan – a try, three conversions and a penalty – the hosts got home by 39-6.

Ardrossan Accies, for whom Alan Wilson with a try, two penalties and a conversion was the hero, lost out to Aberdeen Grammar 27-23 thanks to a last minute try.

Premier I Glasgow Hawks were shocked at Cupar by runaway leaders of National I Howe of Fife who won 27-17 having led 17-7 at the turn.

Premier I West of Scotland came through their examination at Premier III Dunfermline by 30-7, thanks to tries from Gordon Bulloch, Andy Park, Richard Dalgleish and Kyle Matheson.

This article was posted on 22-Feb-2009, 08:04 by Hugh Barrow.