Jed 2nds 21 Hawick Force 19
The Force arrived at the Riverside Stadium on Friday night expecting to leave with 4 or 5 points in the bag. However, a Jed side who clearly train together and more regularly than their visitors had other ideas and deservedly won a typically tousy encounter.
The conditions were perfect for hard tackling and fast running and it was exactly that sort of game that the large travelling support watched. Back from his latest retirement the side were bolstered by Liam Lawrence and his experience was a valuable addition to the enthusiasm of the youthful backline. Whilst Cian Riddell and James Delaney, both players destined for long first team careers, were often to the fore it was the Jed defence that remained mainly on top. Both sides scored 3 scorching tries and this was an end-to-end match where the hosts, in particular, were relentless in their work rate. Slick handling from both sides was on view and in particular forward carriers David ‘coach’ Lowrie and Liam Graham were always willing. The Force scored both first and last tries of the contest with man of the match Rab Linton putting in yet another energy packed performance that will see him join brothers Sean and Jae as a first team regular at some point in the future. Sadly, for the Teries they did not show quite enough cohesion and composure to get that extra winning try though they pressed hard right up to the end.
