The Hawick force squad travelled up to Edinburgh on Saturday, for their rearranged fixture against league leaders Heriots Blue’s 2’s, knowing that the men from Goldenacre were still smarting from the defeat the Force inflicted on them in the reverse fixture at Mansfield Haugh earlier in the season.
Although unable to muster a full bench, the Force side looked strong and well balanced on paper, and it was to prove the case as the Hawick lads showed a terrific spirit in the face of a very vocal and animated opposition who were certainly ‘up for the game’.
Going behind to an early Heriots try, the Force worked their way up the pitch and after forcing a penalty, James Delaney deftly slotted the ball between the sticks to reduce the deficit to 5-3.
Hawick then lost hooker Liam Graham to an injury, and a quick pack reshuffle saw the livewire Glen Welsh come on into the back row and the ever dependable and versatile Robbie Linton move in to prop, as Matt Carryer seamlessly moved to his accustomed position of hooker.
There then followed a period of pressure from the Heriots forward, which was countered by stern defence by the young Hawick back division, of Stanger, Douglas, Delaney, Tait, & McMichan, ably marshalled by the experienced heads of Huggan and Lightfoot. However this period of pressure ultimately forced a penalty from the visitors which the ‘Nails’ were glad to convert, taking the score to 8-3.
Hawick’s resolve never diminished however, and Heriots were becoming increasing frustrated as their penalty count was mounting, in no small part due to the Hawick back row jackals, Brogan, Welsh, Linton and captain Frizzel, who forced penalty after penalty for holding on to the ball in the tackle.
It was at this point where, but for a little inaccuracy with their last pass, and in not finding touch from penalties, Hawick could have pulled a score back. However the young Greens weren’t able to keep consistent pressure on Heriots line and the score which they searched for eluded them.
On the stroke of half-time, Heriots managed to rumble over for a third try, after which stand off Justin Tait saw yellow, as he tried to extricate himself from a couple of bodies on the floor.
With the halftime score at 15-3 and Hawick now down to 14 men, things could perhaps have got away from the Force, however the lads just rolled their sleeves up and tackled everything that came their way. The Heriots back line, true to form, moved the ball coast to coast all afternoon, but couldn’t find a way through a very plucky and committed defence. Indeed their frustration was compounded when a wayward pass was intercepted by Elliot Stanger who turned on the gas and cruised in from halfway to reduce the deficit to 15-8.
At this point the decibel level on the Goldenacre touchline dropped markedly, as they knew they were in a game. However the intense pressure the Force were under started to tell, and no sooner was Justin Tait welcomed back into the pitch, Hawick found themselves down to 14 once again with the influential Matt Carryer carded for a perceived high, no arms tackle.
Hawick were the reduced to 13 when Hughie Donaldson, tossed aside his opposite number and was carded for a dangerous tackle.
Again…..at this point the signs weren’t great, however the Hawick lads threw themselves into every tackle and pulled together as they have done all season, to produce an awesome defensive effort. Heriots were also caught out more than once as Deaglan Lightfoot from scrumhalf started to snipe and probe from deep, causing no end of problems.
The Force did concede a third try when numbers out wide just overcame them, however with Heriots throwing everything including the kitchen sink at the Greens in the last 10 minutes, in an desperate attempt to secure a try bonus, the Hawick lads, now restored to 15 held firm.
Off the bench in the second half Graeme Colville and debutant Fergus Bell, showed up well, and slotted in seamlessly to the Green defensive line. Young Fergus looked at home in senior rugby, and we will look forward to watching the youngsters development.
Matt Carryer, Andrew Ford, and Hughie Donaldson carried well into the Heriots line all afternoon, giving the Hawick lads a target, with Murray Renwick securing good line out ball from which Hawick could always look to build.
Overall this was a tremendous performance from the Force, away from home against arguably the strongest side in the league. Final score 22-8 to the home side.
I can’t speak highly enough of these lads who, before, during, and after the game, were always there for each other…………even when Fergus Bell started to sing on the bus home!!!!
