Stirling County 17

PREMIER DIVISION ONE

Fiona Scott reports from Mansfield Park

A LARGE crowd turned out at Mansfield Park on Saturday despite the Baltic conditions.

And the Hawick worthies were not to be disappointed as their team's victory ensured their Division One status next season.

Hawick showed their intent straight from the kick-off, collecting the ball in the Stirling 22 only to be stopped by a bad challenge from the opposition. Craig Neish slotted the resultant penalty and after only a minute the hosts had points on the board.

Stirling replied five minutes later when Brian Archibald's kick from just inside Hawick territory sailed sweetly between the posts. And shortly after that Archibald doubled his team's tally with an easier effort right in front of the Hawick sticks.

Determined not to let the opposition get too far ahead Hawick came straight back with a try that warmed the hearts and hands of their supporters. A neat inside pass from the dynamic David Lowrie found Ryan Hogg waiting to dive over the line. Neish converted to increase the gap.

Stirling were unlucky to have a try disallowed after the RFU referee decided the ball had gone forward but play remained in the Hawick half for a spell and the young Greens did well to prevent a score. Indeed, it was the hosts who scored next when a spell of pressure of their own ended with Steven Anderson latching onto an inside pass from Colin Murray to stroll over the line.

With just minutes of the half remaining Stirling chose to kick a penalty into touch five metres from the Hawick line and, following a forward battle, the visitors made it across the line but were prevented from grounding the ball. Once again the Greens defence stayed solid resulting in Stirling opting for a kick at goal right on 40 minutes. Brian Archibald made no mistake and minutes later the whistle sounded leaving the half-time score at Hawick 15 Stirling County 9.

Three minutes into the second half Hawick stretched the lead further when a Neil Renwick break allowed Anderson to go over for a second. Renwick made the conversion. Anderson was unlucky not to score again shortly afterwards when his own charged-down clearance bounced into the dead ball area just before the versatile winger got to it.

With 15 minutes remaining Archibald reduced the deficit slightly with a penalty but the Stirling side suffered a blow soon after when Craig Dacons was sent to the sin bin. Hawick needed no further invitation to go for glory, with Geoff Cross showing a surprising turn of speed for a prop to touch down for the bonus point try which Renwick converted.

All credit to the visitors who continued to press for a score in the dying minutes and were deservedly rewarded when Justin Matheson went over in the corner.