East Lothian Courier | Sport

Published: Thursday, 18th October, 2007 09:00

Rugby Round-Up

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Hawick Linden 26 Ross High 14

PLAYER/COACH Graham Paris was once again left to rue his team’s poor form on the road.

The visitors started in determined mood, but a turnover on halfway allowed the Hawick backs to run the ball in for a 20th minute converted try.

Soon after, a loose clearance kick from flyhalf Dean Jones saw the home three-quarters put the ball through the hands for their winger to finish in the corner.

The score wasn’t converted, but with Jones missing two kickable penalties, the Borderers still went in at the break 12-0 ahead.

Another loose kick produced a virtual carbon copy of Linden’s second touchdown, this time converted.

Ross High’s persistance eventually paid off when flanker Greig Torley broke a tackle 25 metres out and rounded the full-back to score a fine try under the posts. Jones added the goal points, but the door was slammed shut moments later as the Hawick No10 converted his own try.

The visitors – who host North Berwick on Saturday – grabbed a consolation score at the death through a penalty try after winger Bob Bailey was deliberately taken out.

Haddington 40 Hillhead/Jordanhill 7

Haddington returned to the top of Premier 2 after a convincing win over bottom side Hillhead/Jordanhill.

Six tries were scored to take maximum points against a Glasgow outfit that never gave up and played some excellent rugby throughout.

Haddington were still without the injured Mark Morrison and a late change meant the withdrawal of Craig Harrison to be replaced in the front row by Graham Waugh.

On 21 mins, a pick-and-drive from the scrum by No.8 Nico Maybury set up second-row Bob Snodgrass to dive over, Jamie Peters added the extra points.

Straight from the re-start, Hillhead were left mesmerised as Quinten Caulfield collected the kick off, the ball was moved wide to Callum Cockburn who stretched the defence before Callum Mark sent full-back Brock Gibbon in under the posts for a great try.

Peters again kicked the conversion for a 14-0 lead.

It was not too long until Gibbon picked up his second try of the day. Haddington had two quick rucks, which created space out wide for the full-back who finished superbly by kicking over the cover defence before gathering to score under the posts. Peters again converted for a 21-0 lead.

Again from the kick-off, the Scarlets took the ball deep into Hillhead territory. The visitors were penalised as they scrambled back and Callum Cockburn cleverly took a quick penalty to send centre Mark clear who unselfishly drew the last man to send Rhodri Thomas in under the posts. The conversion by Peters gave the home side an unassailable 28-0 lead going in the break.

It was more of the same in the second half with further tries from Brown, and Thomas again. Hillhead’s Blackburn scored a consolation try.

After the turnaround the game was still played at a tenacious pace and it was soon Haddington’s turn to play with 14 players after Peters was binned for a ‘Phil Vickery slide tackle.’

Hillhead tried to capitalise but the Scarlets defence stood strong and when Peters returned he made amends almost immediately. From a neat chip ahead by the stand off, he collected the ball and sent the impressive Paddy Brown in for his maiden try of the season.

The conversion was missed but the Scarlets were well clear at 33-0. Haddington had all their subs on giving them precious game time for the last 20 minutes, however, Hillhead to their credit never gave up and deservedly scored a try through prop Gavin Blackburn, although a weak tackle making his try a bit easier than it possibly should have been. Kern Boyd added the extras to trail 33-7.

The Home side had the final say on the stroke of full time when Thomas went in for his second try after finishing off a great move straight from the training field, again the provider was Callum Mark. Jamie Peters kicked the conversion for a resounding 40-7 win.

This week Haddington travel down to the Borders for their next league match against Kelso.

Musselburgh 11 Kelso 15

A LATE try from the Borderers stole victory from the Burgh, in what was a decidedly scrappy affair.

For an early season game, fear of defeat was far too prominent.

A missed tackle saw Kelso’s full-back Common open the scoring in 6 mins, Minto converted.

Kelso’s tails were up and, after stealing ball from a Burgh line-out, they won a penalty to go 10-0 ahead.

There was hope for the hosts when a kick ahead saw Wells pick up and give to Cameron who nipped over to score. The conversion was short.

Just before the break, Kelso’s replacement hooker was sin-binned following a “wee scrap” and Wells narrowly missed the penalty. Half-time: 10-5 Kelso.

Musselburgh looked lively in the second period and, after a period of pressure, Talac won a penalty which Wells converted.

Wells split the posts midway through the half to put Burgh ahead for the first time (11-10).

Kelso were piling on the pressure and, with just a couple of minutes to go, Ponton raced over to restore their lead. The conversion missed.

The Burgh camped on the Kelso line at the death, but it was bit to be. They travel to West of Scotland tomorrow (Saturday).

North Berwick 32 Hawick Harlequins 10

A TRY by centre Dudgeon saw the hosts take the lead, and that advantage was extended to 10-3 at the break after Garret Hughes barged over.

Winger Armstrong touched down under the posts and the result was put out of doubt when centre Andy Scott made a decisive break, leading to Lauder scoring a converted try to put NB 24-3 ahead.

A speculative reverse pass did present Hawick with some hope and seven unnecessary points.

But, eventually, the visitors conceded a penalty which Craig kicked to take the score to 27-10. Then, in the closing minute, winger Armstrong was stopped short of the line but Andy Scott was on hand to score a well-deserved try for all his efforts in the game.

Broughton 24 Dunbar 19

Although Dunbar suffered defeat, this was a vastly improved performance on previous weeks.

Kicking down the slope, Dunbar went on the attack and Broughton deliberately knocked on. Keiran Donnellan converted the penalty.

However, Dunbar suffered a setback when the Broughton scrum-half eluded a couple of players on the blind side and passed to the winger who scored in the corner.

Dunbar dominated play for the rest of the first half, spreading the ball wide with great aplomb. They were rewarded with a penalty for a late tackle which Donnellan again converted and the stand-off was key when his crossfield kick was collected by James Kelly who scored.

Another penalty was awarded to Dunbar, after Calum Jeffrey speedily followed up a kick ahead towards the Broughton fullback who failed to release when tackled. Donnellan again added the points.

The second half was a catalogue of missed opportunities for Dunbar against a Broughton side who used the slope to their advantage through their mauling power and deft kicks into the corner.

Broughton scored their second try, narrowed the gap through a penalty, then went ahead via a converted try, followed by a drop goal.

Kelly scored a consolation try for the visitors, who travel to Leith on Saturday.

East Kilbride 19 Preston Lodge 14

PRESTON LODGE were quickly on the attack, but the good work was undone when a penalty was conceded on the 22, which East Kilbride’s Blackwood had no trouble converting.

He doubled the lead after 10 mins when Graeme Patterson was caught offside. Elusive running by Greg Kinross forced the hosts to concede a penalty, which was kicked to touch in the corner. However, PL’s usually safe lineout malfunctioned and the ball was cleared.

And it was East Kilbride who extended their lead to 9-0 after 15 minutes through another penalty.

PL started to make inroads into the lead after a good forward drive caught East Kilbride offside and Patterson made no mistake with the kick at goal. The lead was reduced to just three points after 33 minutes when pressure in the scrum from PL’s young front row resulted in another Patterson penalty.

But it was the PL scrum that was to break down right at the end of the half, leading to forwards being caught offside and Blackwood kicking the penalty for a 12-6 home lead at the break.

The game of cat-and-mouse continued in the second period as PL kicked another penalty. However, the try deadlock was finally broken as East Kilbride’s Scott Dalgleish retrieved his own chip and some missed tackles helped his passage through the PL defence to score under the posts for a 19-9 advantage.

The visitors dominated the rest of the half – Greg Kinross grabbing a well-deserved try.

In the dying minutes, it was Kinross who did his best to get the try that would level the scores as he burst down the wing and passed to Wood, but a foot in touch ended PL’s hopes.

The losing bonus point was the least that was deserved. PL take on RHC at home on Saturday.

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