DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT SUFFERED ON SECOND CUP VISIT TO HAWICK

GHA RFC MATCH 119: HAWICK RFC 29 – 12 GHA RFC 

2006/2007: Scottish Cup 5th Round

Hawick eased into the Sixth Round of the National Cup with a comfortable victory over GHA last Saturday.

In front of a small crowd, due to the kick-off time clashing with the international in Paris, the Greens maintained their recent good run of results to record their sixth straight win. GHA, who have just recently secured promotion to the Premiership, were expected to provide the hosts with a stern test, but apart from a strong performance from their forwards, Hawick were always in control, and the victory means that the Robbie Dyes are at home to Stirling County with a place int he quarter-finals up for grabs.

Playing with the strong wind at their backs, GHA began the match with plenty of gusto, but Hawick took the wind out of their sails with some sterling defensive work to repel a series of forward-dominated attacks. The Greens then gained the upper hand, driving their opponents back. In an energy-sapping move which took the hosts deep into the visitors’ half. This was followed by a multi-phase attack which eventually saw Barry Sutherland chisel his way through a gap to grab the opening score, which he also converted.

The Glasgow side were aided by a fussy referee who repeatedly penalised Hawick for infringements, and this helped the visitors pin the Greens in their own half for long periods of the half. The whistler then awarded GHA a penalty try following a series of scrum collapses on the Hawicki line. Jim Noonan added the conversion to tie the scores.

But straight from the kick-off, Hawick were given a great chance to regain control through the boot of Sutherland, who needed no second invitation as he landed successive penalties to give the Greens a six-point interval cushion.

With the elements now in their favour, Hawick always looked favourites to complete the victory int he second period. However, for the first six minutes they took their foot of the gas, and GHA were given the chance to half the defecit, but Nicky Barrett saw his penalty attempt strike the upright. Bruce McNeil caught the rebound before taking off on a rampaging 35-metre run upfield, he then found Scott Forrest who made good ground into the GHA half, after which the visitors were penalised and Sutherland stepped up to slot his third penalty.

From there Hawick never looked back and continued to collect points at regular intervals, with a lovely score in the 62nd minute from Forrest the pick of the afternoon’s entertainment. Kevin Reid launched the move with a quick break from the base of a scrum, he then found Scotland 7s star Forrest who had pace to burn as he left the GHA defence in his slipstream to score. Sutherland converted to take Hawick 16 points clear.

Sutherland added a further two penalties, while GHA enjoyed a rare moment of glee when left wing Ross McClymont set up opposite wing Rory Watson for a touchdown in the corner.

Source: The Hawick News & The Southern Reporter, Wednesday 21st March 2007