WILL the players and fans of Hawick RFC get an extra hour to toast their success – or drown their sorrows – on Saturday night?

That decision rests with Scottish Borders Licensing Board which on Friday will consider a request for the Mansfield Park clubrooms to stay open until 2am for what officials hope will be a very special celebration.

Having endured some relatively lean years of achievement in recent seasons, the Robbie Dyes have again reached the pinnacle of Scottish club rugby.

And on Saturday night they will run out at Murrayfield in the final of the BT Scottish Cup to face Boroughmuir.

If the Teries are successful in emulating previous cup victories in 1996 and 2002, the triumphant squad is due to return to the town at around 11pm.

And with the clubrooms only licensed until 1am, club secretary Rory Bannerman is seeking the extra hour for a real homecoming party.

But his application for the one-off concession is not supported by the police.

“While it is accepted this function will provide significant entertainment, there is no reason why it cannot be accommodated within the current on-sale hours,” says Chief Inspector Andrew McLean in a letter to the licensing board.

Scottish Borders Council’s licensing standards officer Ian Tunnah also expresses reservations, but says if the board agrees to grant the extra hour it should insist that licensed stewards are on the door to control the noise and make sure the crowds are safely and quietly dispersed.