Scottish Premiership Play-Off Final

Hawick 24 - 26 Currie Chieftains
Saturday didn’t quite go to plan for the Mansfield Park faithful, as the Greens were unable to complete what would have been an historic ‘double double’ by retaining the Premiership crown, as 14 man Currie Chieftains managed to hold out for a deserved victory at Mansfield Park.

Coming straight into this game, from last week’s hard fought Scottish Cup triumph at Murrayfield, it was perhaps a bridge too far for captain Shawn Muir as his Greens squad were asked to ‘go to the well once more’, to endeavour to overcome a very strong Malleny Park outfit.

A tremendous crowd gave voice as both teams took the field, through a combined Hawick & Currie ‘Mini’s’ Guard of Honour, and it was the Chieftains who hit the ground running scoring an early converted try, before penalties were traded, to leave the score at 3-13 to the visitors, the ever reliable Kirk Ford hitting the target for the Greens.

Hawick then stepped up and from a penalty to the corner, their driving maul was unstoppable as Calum Renwick was credited with the try, duly converted by Ford, 10-13.

A further infringement from the Greens resulted in a third Currie penalty before a mistimed ‘tip tackle’ on Hawick scrumhalf Gareth Welsh just before half-time, resulted in his Currie counterpart being shown a red card for the dangerous tackle.

Half time score, Hawick 10 - 16 Currie Chieftains.

The second half opened with a rare defensive lapse by the Greens as the Currie standoff broke the line taking play deep into the Hawick 22. Quickly recycled ball gave the visitors the opportunity to stretch the Hawick defence further and go over for a converted try 10-23.

Hawick then summoned all their reserves to set siege to the Currie line, and following a series of carries by the forwards the ball was swung wide through the hands for Charlie Welsh to step inside his opposite number and score, the conversion was successful from Kirk Ford 17-23.

Currie to their credit kept their structure and continued to play, forcing a further penalty which was duly converted giving them a 17-26 cushion.

Hawick then gave the home crowd something to cheer as Lee Armstrong stepped inside his man and shrugged of the tackle to pass to his centre partner Andrew Mitchell, who drew the fullback and fed back inside for the ever present Calum Renwick to dive over under the posts for his second try of the day. With Kirk Ford’s conversion bisecting the uprights, and the scores at 24-26, the Greens threw everything at Currie in the last few minutes, however a repeat of last seasons incredible finale was not to be, and with the referees final whistle, Currie had held out to claim the Premiership

playoff Crown.

The obvious disappointment on the players faces after the game demonstrated how far this squad have come and how much they wanted to top off what has been a phenomenally successful season with this final victory.

This is a truly gifted group of lads who, having all come through the Hawick Youth system, continue to demonstrate just how proud they are to wear the Green jersey. 🏉💚