THE SCOTSMAN

Published Date: 04 October 2009
By Stuart Sutherland at Old Anniesland
HERIOT'S coach Bob McKillop said: "We won it in the first half-hour playing into the wind. It was probably the best spell of controlled rugby I've seen Heriot's produce in the four years I've been working with them."
That first quarter was characterised by Heriot's dominating possession and inching their way upfield through pick-and-drives. Despite great Hawks defence, the pressure finally told and Wullie Blacklock was driven over. Hawks replied straight away with a try by Duncan Weir which he converted and shortly afterwards extended Hawks' lead with a penalty. Just before the break two successive tapped penalties let Craig Gossman dart over to stretch Hawks' lead to 10 points.

Heriot's pulled back a try soon after the restart when Jason Hill burst clear and when Andy Douglas scored a try to which Graham Wilson added the goal points, the visitors looked set for a comfortable win. But it took a further 20 minutes for Heriot's to notch their bonus point try after Michael Maltman broke clear. Wilson converted, but then Heriot's had to withstand a great Hawks finish in which they ran everything, albeit to no avail.

This article was posted on 4-Oct-2009, 06:49 by Hugh Barrow.