Forrester 31
Hawick Linden 6
EAST DIVISION ONE
AFTER an excellent start at Forrester, the Linden fell away and the home side secured a bonus-point win.
The Royal Blues were quickly on the with a second-minute Barry Sutherland penalty. The home side were next to score with an equalising penalty for offside but the Linden response was immediate as they won the kick-off and Terry Skeet’s surge set up Sutherland for a well executed drop goal.
Forrester then lost a player to the sin-bin but the Linden could not capitalise. With the first half well into injury time, Chris Telfer took a loud knock which caused great concern. However, as play continued, the home side, back to full strength, went over for a converted try with the last play of the half. Half time score: Forrester 10 Hawick Linden 6.
The second half started badly for the visitors as a missed tackle after a line out allowed the home centre to go over at the posts and a harsh call for an early scrum engagement saw Forrester take advantage with their No8 going over for try number three. Both were converted.
The Linden continued to try hard but they could not turn their efforts into points.
Shortly before the end, they ran from deep and just as the move was looking threatening, an interception saw the delighted home side go over for the bonus-point try and the conversion put a cruel slant on the final scoreline.
Hawick Linden: L. Robson; S. Renwick, C. Smith, S. Bouglas, G. Thomson; B. Sutherland, S. Campbell; T. Skeet, C. Telfer, S. Harkness, B. Willison, J. Tait, C. Mitchell, G. Cunningham, G. Colville. Subs: C. Turnbull, M. Knight.