THE SCOTSMAN WRITES

Watsonians 21 - 22 Glasgow Hawks: Hawks comeback blows 'Sonians away



Published Date: 09 March 2009
By Gary Heatly
at Myreside
GLASGOW Hawks went a long way to maintaining their top- flight status with a thrilling victory over Watsonians.
The team from Old Anniesland are now ten points clear of Stirling County and Hawick in the drop zone, but Watsonians are still in trouble, only six points above those two clubs.

Hawks will be delighted that they managed to fight their way back from 21-6 down at the break to snatch a one-point win by using the wind cleverly in the second half.

The visitors had started the stronger and took the lead in the tenth minute through a Mike Rainey penalty. Watsonians then fought back with a well- worked try from Scotland club international centre Doug Brown.

By the time Brown got his second score – showing good pace to outstrip the Hawks' defence on the 30 minute mark – the home side were 15-6 in front. It was even more comfortable for them after two more Mike Ker penalties took them 21-6 up, but as so often this season they threw away a promising position.

In 50 minutes Rainey reduced the arrears to 21-9 with his third penalty of the afternoon and then five minutes later winger Jono Wright displayed some clever footwork and good strength to nab a converted try.

Hawks, with second-rows Allan Kelly and Mat Whittleston to the fore, were just five points down when Watsonians' Torrie Callander was yellow-carded in the 62nd minute. During his spell off the pitch Rainey kicked two more penalties as Hawks held on for a crucial league victory.

Scorers: Watsonians: Tries: Brown 2. Pens: Ker 3. Con: Ker. Glasgow Hawks: Try: Wright. Pens: Rainey 5. Con: Rainey.

Watsonians: A Nash; T Saena, D Brown, B Di Rollo, M Learmonth; M Ker, J Blackwood; T Hawes, G Wood, K Coertze, T Callander, A Fisher, I Condell, A Tweed, M Fedo. Subs used: J Thrush, H Grant, S Kennedy.

Glasgow Hawks: C Gossman; J Wright, I Noble, G McDonald, S Murray; M Rainey, E Morrison; G Strain, J Maclay, G Mories, M Whittleston, A Kelly, G Francir, G Strang, G Harkness. Subs used: J Lohar, R Hamilton, R Hair, P Boyer.

Referee: R McHendry (Dumfries).

This article was posted on 9-Mar-2009, 08:28 by Hugh Barrow.