First win of new rugby season for Hawick Linden but ’Quins lose out
Hawick’s two Arnold Clark East Region League Division 2 rugby clubs enjoyed differing fortunes on Saturday, with one losing for the first time this season and the other claiming their first win at the fourth time of asking.
Losing out for the first time since a 59-0 defeat away to Corstorphine in February were Hawick Harlequins, beaten 59-22 on the road by Edinburgh Northern, letting slip a chance to replace out-of-action Earlston at the top of the table in the process.
Saturday went better for Hawick Linden, however, as they registered their first victory since their 34-10 national bowl semi-final knockout of Lomond and Helensburgh back in April, that long-awaited win arriving away to Dalkeith in Midlothian by 73-24.
Those results leave head coach Neil Douglas’s ’Quins as they were in the table, still in second place, now on 19 points from five fixtures, and lift opposite number Keith Hedley’s Linden up to fourth, on six points from four matches.
Cammy Hill’s Earlston retain possession of pole position, on a 100% haul of 20 points from four fixtures, and Northern stay third, on 16 from four.
Earlston and Linden both play Edinburgh opposition this coming Saturday, respectively away to second-from-bottom Leith and at home to basement side Forrester, with kick-offs at 3pm, but ’Quins have got the weekend off.
Harlequins’ try-scorers in the capital were full-back Stuart Delaney at the double and inside-centre Elliot Stanger, with Delaney adding a penalty and two conversions.
Linden’s tries were scored by lock Harley Bryson and replacement Ryan Ali at the double, right-winger Logan Robertson, No 4 Kieran Murphy, No 8 Graham Colville, Riley Muir, loosehead prop Aiden Fairbairn and full-back Jordan Garcia, with fly-half Muir also kicking seven conversions and three penalties.
’Quins’ next game is away to Dunbar in round two of this season’s national shield on Saturday, October 31, with kick-off in East Lothian at 1.30pm, and Earlston are at home to Forrester in the same competition at the same time.