Hawick make it 4 wins in a row but Melrose defeated in BT Premiership



George Graham (pictured) has steered Hawick to a fourth successive win in the BT Premiership following another last-gasp victory at Mansfield Park, beating Glasgow Hawks 14-12. It was a penalty try that gave them the win but an early Matty Carryer try gave them a seven point lead at the start of the game.  With 19 points out of 20 in their last four matches the Greens are now off the bottom of the table and clear in eighth. The two teams below them, Marr and Boroughmuir did battle on Saturday and it was ‘Muir, led by another former Scotland Prop, Peter Wright, who came up victorious, winning 20-12. The match between Hawick and Boroughmuir next month will be an intriguing encounter with the winner possibly avoiding a relegation play-off against the team which finishes second in National League 1, but Marr look destined for automatic relegation unless they can “do a Hawick” and start stringing some wins together.  Watch TV report on Hawick v Glasgow Hawks here.

Melrose lost their second match in a row at Currie 24-15 but still remain 11 points clear at the top of the Premiership. Craig Jackson and Grant Shiells scored Melrose’s two tries. With four games remaining before the play-offs they are still favourites to earn a home tie semi final but will certainly be out for a good win at home to Stirling next Saturday.

All other Borders teams in the National League won at the weekend. Jedforest swept past Stewart’s Melville 64-7 with a 10-try haul including braces for Gregor Young, Darren Gillespie and Robbie Shirra-Gibb whose National 1 total now climbs to 17 for the season.  Gala won 16-6 at Cartha Queens Park, Kelso shocked Dundee High on the road 15-10 while Selkirk took the scalp of Falkirk 46-7 on the road.  In Division 3 St Boswells kept up their promotion chances with a 38-5 win at Perthshire. Watch highlights of Jedforest v Stew Mel here.

In East League 1 Hawick Harlequins beat Linlithgow 26-12 to go top of the Borders Rugby Handicap Rankings List for the first time this season and remain at the top of East League 1. Duns lost at home to Portobello in the same division, while in EL2 Langholm scored another century, beating RDVC 106-10. Hawick Linden beat Inverleith 59-10 while Gala YM were heavily defeated at home to Ross High.