Relegated Linden go down gallantly in Hawick derby

Bottom played title chasers as the Linden took on the Quins at the Volunteer 3G.

With the Quins having won the reverse fixture 52-5 earlier in the season, there could surely only be

one winner.

As it turned out, the Quins did indeed triumph. But it’s doubtful anyone, not even of a Royal Blue persuasion, foresaw the Linden pushing their visitors all the way, coming within eight minutes of pulling off what would have been East 1’s shock of the season.

Coming off the back of the previous week’s 84-0 disaster at Linlithgow, the Linden raised their

game to a whole new level.

Chris Shand was short with a long-range penalty attempt for the Linden in the second minute.

The Quins gained the upper hand in the tight but were put under pressure when in possession and made several handling errors.

On 17 minutes, the home team opened the scoring. Following a break by Rory Graham, carries by the forwards, with the Hair twins heavily involved, created some space out wide.

Kieran Scott gave the scoring pass for prop Aiden Fairbairn to crash over at the corner.

Just on the half hour, the visitors gained a foothold in the Linden 22 and their strong scrum gained a couple of penalties. When a quick tap was stopped by Dai Swailes, the wing forward was sent for a 10-minute break.

Quins opted for another scrum which was driven forward for Gary Rodgerson to claim the touchdown. Dean Gillan’s conversion put the Quins in front.

It became 14-a-side for a short while when flanker Rory Smith was carded for backchat and Shand slotted the penalty goal to edge the Linden back ahead 8-7, a lead they held until the break.

The Linden supporters were delighted at their team’s display but thoughts of an unlikely

victory were probably still far from their minds.

Three minutes into the second period, though, the lead was extended. A Shand diagonal kick into the 22 caused problems and, when James Parker collared full-back Paul Goldie, the Linden replacement showed his power to rip the ball clear and run round behind the posts.

Shand added the extras and the Linden were now more than a converted score ahead at 15-7.

Failure to take opportunities to clear their own lines resulted in the Royal Blues being penalised and this gave away field position.

The Quins kicked to the touchline and their forward power showed again when skipper Steven Mabon went over from short range, with Gillan’s kick bringing it back to a one-point game.

Soon after, Bruce Campbell became the second Quins player to be sent to the naughty step.

The home team couldn’t exploit the numerical advantage on the scoreboard but, with the game into the last 10 minutes, they were still in front. That was to change on 72 minutes. A Rikki Kiore scrum pick was worked wide to send winger Nathan Murray racing up the cricket field side to touch down and put his side back in front.

Surely there would be no way back for a Linden team that had already given everything?

Somehow they dug deep into the tank and Liam Sharkey surged off the back of a scrum just

outside his own 22.

His offload found centre Matthew Mallin, who went flying through a gap, racing over half way and into the Quins 22.

Just as it looked like he might go all the way, a half tackle was just enough to check his momentum, to allow a great cover tackle to be made

and save the day for the visitors.

With a minute to go, Quins missed a penalty kick at goal. The Linden managed to get

themselves up the other end and gain a penalty of their own deep in opposition territory.

Four points behind, they ran it and went through several phases in the Quins 22 as they chased what would have been, at that stage, the winning try.

However, when play broke down, Goldie burst away and his hack on looked like it would produce a score at the other end – until Craig Glendinning won the race to touch down and that was that.

Credit to the Quins for doing enough to get over the winning line on what was an off day for them, keeping themselves in the title race with the aid of Haddington losing to Forrester.

Given the season the Linden have had, and what had gone before the previous week, in particular, this was a turnaround of enormous proportions.

Every player in a Royal Blue jersey put in a mammoth effort and showed what they are capable of.

The defeat may have sealed what had appeared for some while an inevitable relegation – but there was so much to take out of the game to give encouragement that they will be fighting at the other end of the table next season in East 2.

Hawick Linden: L. Stormont, K. Rowley, M. Mallin, C. Shand, C. Glendinning, R. Graham, E. Wood; A. Fairbairn, M. Boyle, S. Spalding, S. Hair, E. Hair, L. Sharkey, D. Swailes, K. Scott. Subs: J. White, J. Smith, J. Frew, J. Parker.

Hawick Harlequins: P. Goldie, N. Douglas, G. Douglas, G. Lowrie, N. Murray, D. Gillan, B. Campbell; N. Little, C. Kyle, I. Thomson, S. Mabon, K. Gobby, R. Smith, R. Linton, G. Rodgerson; Subs: I. Elliot, F. Stevenson, R. Kiore, J. Delaney.