December 15, 2024
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There was a palpable sense of disappointment in the Greens huddle after the final whistle blew at Goldenacre on Saturday. Heriots, and their heavyweight pack ultimately took the spoils however Hawick’s game plan saw them play some excellent high tempo and fluid rugby for large periods of the game, creating opportunities and scoring three fine tries.
Heriots came out of the blocks the quicker and were 12 points to the good scoring two tries in the first quarter. Hawick will feel themselves hard done by during this period, with full back Kirk Ford being shown a yellow card for a thumping tackle which stopped the Heriots attack in its tracks, however it was in the referee’s judgement deemed to be dangerous.
The Greens however managed the 10 minute sin binning very well, working their way up the pitch before creating an opportunity for Andrew Mitchell on the left. The Hawick centre with two defenders on him, shrugged them off in copybook style to go over in the corner.
Hawick then restored to 15, and with their tails up, exerted more pressure to score a superb try, running the Heriots defence back and forth before working an opening for winger Matt Reid to cross, bringing the score to 12-12. Unfortunately for the Greens, in drawing his man to give the scoring pass, Andrew Mitchell was tackled late and high, resulting in his having to leave the field for attention, together with his tackler who was shown a yellow card for the offence.
Heriots frustratingly managed to get their noses in-front once again on the stroke of halftime, with a third try to turnaround 19-12 ahead.
As the light started to fade the second half got underway with the Heriots pack asserting themselves once again. From a scrum on halfway, a training ground move was executed very well by the hosts as they chipped the onrushing Hawick defence and went in under the sticks.
The Greens once again rallied and weathering the pressure broke their way up field, and with another high tempo passage of play going through multi phases, winger Charlie Welsh acrobatically squeezed in for a try in the corner, taking the score to 24-17.
With the game finely balanced Heriots we’re able to call on a strong bench to further sap the strength of the Greens defence, and they managed to score a further try to take it to 31-17.
Hawick then threw everything at Heriots in the last quarter dominating possession in this period, as they probed to find an opening, they emptied their bench in the process with promising youngsters Fergus Bell and Aiden Cannon gaining valuable time and experience packing down against the powerful Nails pack.
Unfortunately the score wouldn’t come and to add insult to injury Heriots we’re able to take the game back up the pitch and score a further try before full time. Final score 38-17.
The lads will now break for a well earned rest and once the festivities are over, all thoughts will turn to the visit once again of Currie Chieftains to Mansfield Park for the Premiership ‘Friday Night Lights’ match which will be televised on BBCAlba.