May I express my thanks to the many people who contributed to make Saturday such an unforgettable day.
I cannot put into words the pride I felt as Hawick RFC President when in the dramatic last seconds of the game utter despair turned to euphoric joy. Firstly, my thanks go to the players who have been magnificent in remaining undefeated all season. They are a band of brothers including the Force boys and have all been a credit to their families and the town. The coaches have worked so hard to instil the winning mentality into the team and deserve huge plaudits. Our fitness and medical staff have been simply wonderful in keeping our players fit and well. The committee though few in number have been tireless in their support all year. We could not function on game days without the valued help of our volunteers and all those who do the unglamorous jobs behind the scenes. The game would not have happened without the hard work of many townspeople who responded to our SOS to help lay and then remove the covers which were mammoth tasks not forgetting our hardworking groundsman. Our supporters have been so loyal all season but on Saturday it seemed the whole of Hawick came down to be the “16th man”. Our hospitality events have been such a success all season thanks to Debbie and Lyndsey and their staff who again did a great job on Saturday. The Minis are now a regular feature on game days and the guard of honour added to the occasion as did the children with their home-made banners providing the family atmosphere which has been a feature of Mansfield Park this season. The Hawick Scout Pipe Band added to the excitement and the face painting was fun. No game can happen without the referee and officials and we were honoured to have the SRU President to present the medals. Currie Chieftains gave us a very hard game which I am sure they thought they had won but they reckoned without the resilience and refusal to accept defeat of the Robbie Dyes. Our sponsors provide us with valuable financial assistance which is needed to run this great Club.
Good luck messages and then congratulations have come from many Hawick Clubs and Institutions and from individuals not just locally but from across the globe. The season is not yet finished as we are still in the Cup playing Edinburgh Accies at Raeburn Place on 25 March. The show moves on …….. No one privileged to be present will ever forget the pulsating climax to Saturday’s game when the Greens became Scottish Premiership champions once more.
What a day, what a finish, what a team!
Salute with me the men in green,
What a triumph theirs has been,
Hail! The mighty Green Machine
Who brought us victory
Ian W Landles
Hawick RFC President
