Lismore 8
Hawick Linden 26
EAST DIVISION ONE
LINDEN finished off their league campaign with a bonus-point victory over bottom team Lismore.
Playing against a blustery wind in the first half, Linden conceded a penalty in the early stages, which was converted. This did not deter Linden who quickly took play to Lismore’s line.
A quickly-taken penalty by flanker Craig Smith was shipped out to Graeme Anderson, who side-stepped his opponent to shoot in at posts for a try, converted by Gavin Stirling.
Linden kept the pressure on and after some desperate defending by the home team, and several scrums, No.8 Graeme Colville picked up and drove over at the posts, with Stirling again adding the extras.
Some slack play by the visitors allowed Lismore to pick up an opportunist try, leaving the half-time score standing at 14-8 to Linden.
The second half belonged to the Teries but poor finishing let them down repeatedly. However, midway through, full back Nathan Murray, whose speed had been causing Lismore a lot of problems, left the home defenders all at sea to touch down in corner.
After this Linden allowed their hosts more into game. With time running out, however, an attempt by Lismore to run from their own line proved too much and a dropped pass allowed Steven Bouglas to pick up and race in at posts for Stirling to convert.
This victory allowed Linden to finish mid-table and, with the second part of regional reconstruction coming in next season, North Berwick’s game against Lismore this weekend will decide which league Linden play in.
Hawick Linden: N. Murray; S. Campbell, G. Anderson, S. Bouglas, G. Stirling; S. Renwick, L. Robson; S. Harkness, C. Telfer, T. Skeet, S. Hinton, C. Mitchell, G. Cunningham, C. Smith, G. Colville. Subs: C. Turnbull, J. Scott, M. Knight.