Hawick Harlequins 6
Hawick Linden 18
RBS EAST DIVISION TWO
STUART CAMERON reports from Mansfield Park
FRIDAY rugby certainly sits well with the people of Hawick.
Almost 800 supporters turned out for a junior derby between the unbeaten Hawick Harlequins and Hawick Linden, who this year have been matched together in the same division.
Quins’ talented fly-half Scott Peffers opened the scoring on six minutes and for the next half-hour, despite plenty of effort and a lot of action, no further points came.
That was until Linden’s Greg Cunningham took a pass 15m from the line and ran in under the posts. Barry Sutherland converted and stretched the lead with a penalty deep into stoppage time.
Ten minutes after the break, they stretched the gap with another penalty from the reliable boot of their captain before Peffers kicked his second penalty goal to get within seven points.
Both sides were throwing the ball about, and when Craig Russell came off the bench he certainly made an impact for Linden, causing Quins plenty of problems with his darting runs. He created his side’s second try by breaking through the defence and throwing a pass out on the left for full back Greg Thomson to gather and dive over in the corner for a try.
Despite much effort from Quins at the end, Linden deservedly held out to win and it is hoped that the reverse match will also be played at Mansfield Park later in the season.
Hawick Harlequins: C. Ritson; A. Hall, R. Anderson, G. Lothian, N. Douglas; S. Peffers, C. Rogerson; D. Johnstone, G. McLeod, Stuart Robson, A. Pretswell, F. Stevenson, R. Smith, H. Murray, R. Kiore. Subs: N. Anderson, S. Glendinning, L. Gibson, R. Nichol, A. Birnie, A. Bell, Scott Robson.
Hawick Linden: G. Thomson; G. Bouglas, S. Bouglas, B. Sutherland, C. Gracie; S. Renwick, R. Hamilton; C. Turnbull, B. Merger, K. Mabon, B. Willison, S. Fairbairn, G. Wardle, B. Irving, G. Cunningham. Subs: M. Butler, S. Harkness, C. Russell, G. Anderson, W. Barker, M. Knight, S. Williams.
z Match highlights are on Borders Rugby TV are at www.BordersRugby.net