This game was played before a big home crowd attempting to intimidate the Green clad visitors at Hay Lodge Park on Friday night but all attempts by the Auld Reekie post coders at mastering the TD9 brigade fell flat as our lads deserved this very tough fought victory. Played amongst the televised matches from France’s RWC 23, you would expect that there might be greater entertainment on tv with teams from all round the globe on show but instead there were several examples of world rugby on show in this hard-fought Border Junior League derby held on the banks of the Tweed.
The young Force side were first on the scoreboard when after an opening quarter tighter than Adam Bell’s failing belt the visitors sliced through for a deserved try. With Finn Douglas and Sean McMichan, Habana like in their running, far faster than their opposite numbers it was only a matter of time before the Peebles defence was breached. After quick handling along the line with James Delaney running rings round his opponents like a Ringrose, supported by Ronan O’Gara lookalike Justin Tait, it was the latter who dived in under the posts to score a try converted by Cian Riddell. Riddell himself had to be replaced shortly after having been thrown to the ground with a ‘tackle’ move more like Japanese Judo and the theme continued as the Force’s own Sumo powerhouse Chocky Graham was injured and had to be subbed much to the travelling supporters’ disappointment. The home side hit back with a try, despite fine defensive tackling, and the lads went in at half time 7 to 5 ahead. No isotonic drinks, exercise bikes or jersey changes for the Force just a rollicking from our very own Fabian Galthier and a quick squirt of tepid water before the lads were ready to go again.
Injuries necessitated the introduction of two experienced subs and Hawick’s very own Dan Carter Weir came on to steady the ship and slot a further conversion and a penalty, whilst game changing All Black Charlie Lomu Welsh brushed off attempted tackles with an excellent try from 25 yards out. When talking of Kiwis, mention has to be made of Sean Fitzpatrick who is soon coming to the club’s 150th Dinner but young Fergus Bell showed many of Fitzpatrick best qualities especially in his lineout throwing which was more accurate than a Gary Anderson 9 dart check out. Much has rightly been made of the return of Ben Scott and this livewire scrum half has all the hallmarks of a Borders’ Antoine Dupont and not just in the ability to get injured department. He reacted, quicker than a Nathan Murray pint challenge, at the base of the scrum to dart over for a well-deserved try and extend the lead. Although the hosts were peppered with first team players, especially in the pack, they could only muster one second half try and never came close to victory.
This was a fine win by the Force and though the side still has a bearded Glen Radradra Welsh and firsts bound Robbie Linton to return there were many standout performances worthy of an ITV4 live showing. Corbyn Cumming may have rolled down the bus home better than Beth Tweddle but he was simply brilliant at the lineout and though easier to lift than Johnny Gray he won several against the head. The standout forward showing of Captain Sam Frizzell was clearly a copyright of Jamie Ritchie and if the call comes from Matty Douglas or from Gregor Townsend he would not be out of place taking on and knocking back every break that Peebles tried to throw at our youngsters. However, whilst the travelling support may not number those watching Darcy in Marseille none of them could have been more impressed than with Justin Tait in the shadow of the Beltane Bell. He was at the heart of everything that the Force did, he was solely responsible for the tackle that won the scrum for Scott’s try, he tackled and ran harder than any and he was intelligent in his use of the ball. In 2019 Pieter du Toit was named World player of the year, the Column writers, Pundits and Commentators on Friday night were unanimous in naming Tait as World player of the night in the midge infested gloom of a Tweed Valley evening where the Teviot proved to have a stronger flow.
