Hawick 24

Glasgow Hawks 17

Atholl Innes at Mansfield Park

A JOB well done – but not finished... that was captain Bruce McNeil’s view of Hawick’s stunning performance against the odds to ground the Hawks in the snow on Saturday at Mansfield Park.

And the victory takes the Greens above relegation rivals Gala.

Hawick may have taken a major step towards Premiership status next season, but McNeil, who was shown his second yellow card (which equalled a red) in the final stages of a gripping contest, warned that the job was not yet completed.

However, Hawick hung on in the final minutes to avenge a heavy defeat earlier in the season and McNeil handed out plaudits to the players and the supporters.

“We played some fantastic rugby. It was a great team performance and the crowd was outstanding,” he said.

“It is great to have them behind the team.

“We kept fighting to the end. Our tackling in final minutes was vital. We never do things the easy way.”

McNeil also thought that the team’s fitness, after games against Gala and Jed-Forest over the festive season, was crucial as Hawks felt that they were rusty after the break.

After their 78-13 defeat at Anniesland earlier in the season, Hawick, even without any professionals, scored first, trailed by 10 points just after the interval, and hit back with two tries in the final 10 minutes to seal a remarkable win.

Kicking was crucial, too, with Ali Weir banging over three conversions and a penalty to one conversion by George Horne.

Scotland under-20 player Darcy Graham was a constant threat, scoring two tries from deft chips from Rory Hutton and Lee Armstrong. The winger gave Hawick an early lead, Weir converting, before Ross Miller forced his way over the line and Horne converted,

Andy Hill put Hawks back in front with a score and Hawks turned around 12-7 ahead. Brendan McGroarty extended the lead with McNeil in the sin-bin before Hawick started to master the conditions.

Graham won the race for his second try on the goal-line and Shawn Muir put the icing on the cake, Weir converting to add to an earlier penalty.

Hawks made one final charge with McNeil following Stephen Leckey into the sin-bin with his second yellow card. But Hawick held on defiantly to dent Hawks’ challenge and boost their own hopes of staying the Premiership with visits to Currie and Melrose to follow and a home clash with Gala.

Hawick: L. Armstrong; D. Graham, R. Hutton, G. Johnstone, K. Ford; A. Weir, G. Huggan; S. Muir, F. Renwick, C. Mackintosh, D. Lowrie, K. McNeil, R. Gibson, B. McNeil, S. Graham. Replacements: M. Landels, G. Douglas, S. Fairbairn, K. Brunton, W. Hamilton.