Hawick YM 46
Dunfermline 15
NATIONAL DIVISION ONE
ROB HILL reports from Mansfield Haugh
THE Redskins swept aside a disappointingly-poor Dunfermline side in emphatic style as they finally cemented top spot in national one, and with two games left are in pole position to take the title.
Dunfermline were first to strike in 11 minutes with a penalty, but straight from the restart a clearance kick by Dunfermline was brilliantly taken by Michael Graham, who then set up the move which led to a Craig Robson try.
Ali Weir converted and added a penalty before John Coutts latched on to a chip-through from Weir in the 26th minute to score YM’s second try.
By this time the game had been reduced to uncontested scrums, but even at this Dunfermline couldn’t gain any advantage they might have hoped to achieve.
But, as the game drifted on towards half-time with YM 15-3 in front, the referee seemed to find an additional seven minutes and Dunfermline pulled a converted try back. Seconds later, though, Ryan Hogg burst through from broken play to dot down for YM’s third try and make the half-time score 20-10 in favour of the reds.
The second half saw YM pull away with further tries by Hogg, Ali Weir, Stuart Graham and John Coutts, with Weir slotting three conversions. Dunfermline had the final say with a try before the referee made up for his first-half faux pas by blowing for full-time six minutes early.
With Musselburgh now confirming a shield semi-final slot, the next two matches will be as tough as it gets for the YM with both clubs still having everything to play for.
Hawick YM: C. Ritson; M. Graham, J. Coutts, D. Mccracken, G. Desport; A. Weir, B. Campbell; B. Lilly, G. Douglas, W. Blacklock, G. Petrie, R. Hogg, C. Robson, R. Scott, S. Graham. Subs: S. Mcleod, A. Turnbull, S. Mabon.