Hawick’s Premiership Hopes Will Go Down To The Wire



Hawick weren’t able to back up their magnificent cup win against Ayr seven days ago, and lost 33-19 to the same opposition but this time at Millbrae. They nearly came away with a losing bonus point but a late score from their hosts put paid to that. Dalton Redpath scored a brace of tries with Bruce McNeil getting the other, again just short of a bonus point. Marr, who everyone tipped for automatic relegation, collected a remarkable away win at Currie 24-20 to give them five crucial points, and with Stirling County and Boroughmuir both picking up points on the day, the Greens are going to have to get something special from their last game at home to Melrose in two weeks so as not to rely on results going their way in a tight and nervy end to their Premiership campaign.  Glasgow Hawks are also now in the mix with one game to play. The foot of the table looks like this ..

7 Glasgow Hawks 30pts (Mar 3 – Home to Boroughmuir)

8 Hawick 29pts (Mar 3 – Home to Melrose)

9 Boroughmuir 28pts (Mar 3 – Away to Glasgow Hawks & Mar 10 – Home to Heriot’s)

10 Marr 24pts (Mar 3 – Home to Stirling County)

Melrose, who will finish top of the league at the end of the 18 matches before the play-offs, coasted to a 21-0 lead against Heriot’s yesterday, scoring a penalty try and touchdowns from Russell Anderson and Murdo McAndrew. Despite comfortably sitting at the top of the table there is absolutely no hint that they will rest players for the Hawick game to concentrate on the Play-Offs. As Fraser Thomson told us, it is important for the squad to keep the momentum going right through to the knockout stage of the BT Premiership. Watch the TV report from Melrose v Heriot’s here. Picture by Douglas Hardie courtesy Melrose RFC shows Bruce Colvine getting the ball away against Heriot’s.

In BT National 1 Gala slumped from 3rd to 6th place in the table after they lost 46-7 to Edinburgh Accies at Raeburn Place, John Turnbull getting their only try against the unbeaten league leaders. Watch highlights from Edinburgh Accies v Gala here. Jedforest, in second, were 40-7 up on Aberdeen Rugby courtesy of six tries but took the foot off the gas in the latter stages, eventually winning the game 40-26.  In the derby Selkirk came from behind to beat Kelso 42-29 at Poynder Park winning the try count 6-4.  St Boswells turned over Murrayfield Wanderers 27-14 in Division 3 while in the East Leagues there were victories for Duns, Hawick Harlequins, Hawick Linden and Gala YM.