ALAN CHRISTIE REPORTS IN THE SCOTSMAN

Hawks scored tries in 13 and then 19 minutes, the first by winger Joffy White, the second being a push-over registered by Hawks' No 8 Grant Strang.

West responded with a break into the visitors' 22, then unexpectedly pushed Hawks' scrum over their line for flanker Jack Walker to get the touch down.

In 33 minutes West lock Donald Gray finished off a lively attack with a try, but after the interval Hawks centres Dean Kelbrick and Tom Preece crossed the line in quick succession and Craig Gossman converted both.

West stand-off Conor Davis then charged down a clearing kick for a try he converted himself, but a late try from sub Sean Murray converted by Gossman who also kicked a penalty put a gloss on the winning margin.

Hawks' coach Peter Wright said: "It was a really good ding-dong game with West doing everything - not always legally - to stay in the match. My boys stuck in well, raising their game at the right times. We go forward to face Ayr heads up"

Home coach Keith Robertson noted: "I can't fault my boys for effort; we just didn't get the rub of the green."

Scorers: West: Tries: Walker, Gray, C Davis.Cons: C Davis 2. Hawks: Tries: White, Strang, Kelbrick, Preece, Murray. Cons: Gossman 3. Pens: Gossman 2.

West: A Fisken; K Matheson, R Dalgleish, M Horner, C McKenzie; C Davis, M Davis; S Longwell, D McKenna, A Hunter, D Gray, M Jenkinson, J Walker, D Young , C Morrison.Subs: E McLaren, G Haswell, J Harley, A De Ste Croix, C McConnell.

Hawks: C Gossman; J White, D Kelbrick, T Preece, R Hair; P Jericevich, P Boyer; A Smith, N Nyemba, G Strain, N Campbell, R Hamilton, A Hill, B Karalus, G Strang. Subs: P Henderson, S Cameron, A Kirkland, T Steven, S Murray.

Referee: A McPherson.

This article was originally posted on 21-Mar-2011, 07:18 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 21-Mar-2011, 07:29.