HAWICK HALT HAWKS TO MAKE IT TOUGH AT THE TOP
Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Hawick wrecked all remaining title hopes of Glasgow Hawks with a 19-17 win at Old Anniesland last night to set up a three-way battle for the league title and the two remaining British & Irish Cup slots.
League leaders Melrose have cemented their place in next season’s cross-border competition and will go head to head with second-placed, cup holders Ayr at Murrayfield this Saturday in the Premier Cup final.
Next weekend they repeat the fixture in the league.
A league win or draw for Melrose will see them lift the title at their home ground, the Greenyards, for the first time since 1997, when head coach Craig Chalmers was the stand-off for both club and country.
A home win would also leave Ayr fighting out the two remaining B&I Cup places Currie and Hawks.
 Tough at the top
1 Melrose
2 Ayr
3 Hawks
----------------------
4 Currie
70
63
61
---
60
Saturday 16 April Melrose v Ayr (Cup)
Saturday 23 April: Melrose v Ayr
Saturday 23 April: Hawks v Currie
Saturday 30 April: Ayr v Currie 
However, an Ayr win over Melrose on the 23rd could set-up a second successive championship deciding league weekend, the following Saturday between Currie and Ayr, providing Currie can overcome Glasgow Hawks with a bonus point on the day Melrose face Ayr.
With just one game left, Hawick’s surprise win has ruled out the Glasgow side’s championship chances, which means their B&I Cup hopes now hang in the balance of their must-win league match against Currie and the permutations of the Melrose, Ayr and Currie conundrum.
Needless to say, the climax to the 2010/11 season and the inaugural league split campaign and the scrap to represent Scotland in the B& I Cup makes for one of the most gripping season finales since Chalmers lifted the championship league back in ‘97.

This article was posted on 13-Apr-2011, 20:44 by Hugh Barrow.