Melrose 13
PREMIER ONE
KEVIN JANIAK reports from Mansfield Park
ON the day Hawick Rugby Club announced their plans to harness the power of the River Teviot, they tried to turn the tide in Premier One.
Click here to see full post-match interviews.But, much like King Canute, they found themselves fighting against a more powerful force, and lost the battle.
It wasn't for the sake of trying, though.
Indeed, for almost the entire first 45, Melrose never found out what life was like in Hawick's half. The tenacious Greens enjoyed nearly all the possession and territorial advantage, but all they were able to glean from it were three Craig Neish penalties.
And when Melrose did manage to cross the halfway line, they scored a try – prop Stan Williams taking the ball over from a close-range ruck, with Scott Wight converting.
The Melrose skipper added a penalty eight minutes into the second half to take the lead and Jordan Macey notched a drop goal with seven minutes left.
In contrast to the first half, Hawick struggled to keep hold of the ball and their best chance came from fullback John Coutts, whose kick ahead was intercepted by Macey.
Melrose coach Craig Chalmers told TheSouthern: "Hawick deserved to get something out of the game because of the effort they put into it.
"They just didn't have the cutting edge to get through and didn't at any point threaten our line.
"The one chance we got in their 22 we scored a try."
Hawick coach Deke Armstrong was full of praise for his brave charges.
He said: "It's hard to take. I'm gutted and proud of the lads at the same time.
"I thought Melrose were a bit average. We stopped their big ball-carriers, we got up in their faces and defended well.
"We just didn't take our chances in the first half.
"It would have been of massive importance if we had won today, because I think it would have given us the springboard to stay up.
"Now, we are hanging by a thread, but we will keep on fighting. That's the way Hawick is.
"I would take these lads any time before I would take the foreigners that are playing for the other sides.
"They are a great bunch of boys and I can't praise them enough."
Hawick: J. Coutts; S. Anderson, G. Hogg, C. Neish, R. Scott; A. Weir, K. Reid; N. Little, M. Landels, S. Linton, G. Petrie, M. Robertson, D. Lowrie, K. Millar and N. Mactaggart. Subs: B. Campbell, C. Murray, J. McDevitt, M. Howe and R. Hogg.
Melrose: J. Macey; C. Anderson, J. Lew, J. King, D. Whiteford; S. Wight, S. McCormick; S. Williams, W. Mitchell, R. Higgins, G. Dodds, S. Johnson, B. Wallace, R. Miller and J. Dalziel. Subs: L. Gibson, J. Bradburn, D. Crawford, A. Jessop and D. Dodds.
