It is good to welcome our friends from Marr, President Tony Peters, Keith Quinn, Melrose man Head Coach Craig Redpath, the team and supporters who have left the county of our National Bard to travel “the lang Scots miles” crossing “the mosses, waters, slaps and stiles” that lie between Troon and Hawick. Our teams had two epic contests at the tail end of last season. Today’s visitors just came out on top on both occasions and went on to win the Premiership for the first time in the Club’s history. We congratulate them on this achievement. Hawick won the close encounter at Mansfield last season and the boys, fresh from a great win at Braidholm against GHA last Saturday, are raring to go against the champions this afternoon. To continue the Burns theme Marr will no doubt have in their ranks today some “tousie tykes, black, grim and large” but they won’t find any “wee, cowrin, tim‘rous beasties” in the green jerseys.
We have had quite a few visitors to Mansfield in recent weeks. It was good to welcome Ian Hamilton and the BBC Scotland “My Kind of Town” production team to the Club. Lisa Thomson was also there to be interviewed and to participate in a wee game of walking rugby. Watch out for the programme which is due to be broadcast on BBC Scotland on Thursday, November 24th.
We have also managed to catch up with Hawick’s other Scotland Womens’ internationalist Lana Skeldon to make a presentation to her in recognition of her winning her 50th cap. We are very proud of what Lana and Lisa have achieved and they very much appreciate our support. If you haven’t seen the photos of our female internationalists look out for them on the wall in the Trophy Room. The girls are now in New Zealand for the World Cup. Our Captain and Vice Captains, once they had overcome their giggles, sent them a good luck message from our boys. Scotland are in a pool with Wales, Australia and New Zealand which couldn’t be much tougher but we know that Lisa and Lana will give it their all. When you get home tonight set your alarm to be up to shout your support for them as they take on Wales tomorrow morning. The game is being broadcast on ITV at 5.45 am.
Christine Suddon and her family were very appreciative of how they were treated a fortnight ago and the icing on the cake was Hawick beating Heriot’s to be the first holders of the Norman Suddon Memorial Shield. Then last Friday we welcomed “Great Rugger Run” fund-raiser Tim Tunnicliff who was on the penultimate leg of a twenty-five day, 500 mile run taking in 104 Scottish rugby clubs raising money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. We gave him a cheque from the Club and he greatly appreciated the soup and sandwich Debbie conjured up for him to eat while we tried to dry most of the gear he’d run in through horrendous rain from Philphaugh – his socks had to be wrung out! He left us as more “rattling showers rose on the blast” to run to Riverside Park.
Saturday, October 22nd – we are having our postponed first hospitality lunch before the game against Glasgow Hawks. Colin Henderson, former referee and Ex-Kelso Laddie is our speaker and Davie Chapman is coming to sing. Contact Eileen on 07703575825 to book your place.
Coming back to today’s match. Enjoy it. It has all the makings of being a cracker.
