Hawks heads go down

A disappointing second half performance at Bridgehaugh saw Glasgow Hawks slip back into ninth in the league when they didn’t manage to take a point from the match and Hawick beat Melrose at home.
Not a good day at the office for Hawks.Not a good day at the office for Hawks.
Not a good day at the office for Hawks.

Hawks’ pack had dominated the first half and had been rampant in the scrummage and the lineout.

The first try came from a set-piece. The ball was quick enough to give Paul Ramsey the slightest hint of space. County were committed to covering the outside leaving Horne with a straightforward conversion. (0-7)

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County finally sent the ball wide to full-back Jamie Urquhart who was over for the 5 points. Unfortunately he missed the conversion. (5-7)

Urquhart made amends with a penalty. (8-7)

Hawks then had a strong period when the pack were dominating. Eventually, after another couple of set scrums, County could breathe a sigh of relief when they cleared after a penalty.

A major defensive lapse by Hawks allowed Jonathon Hope make a break as Jamie Urquhart put over the conversion. (15-7)

Hawks finally had a break after another tremendous line-break and solo run from outside centre, Brendan McGroarty, who scored close to the posts just before the half hour. When George Horne then converted it was back to the narrowest of leads for County. (15-14)

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Tom Steven burst onto the ball at pace and was over right in the corner to give Hawks a 4 point lead as Horne missed a difficult conversion. (15-19)

Even in these last few minutes Hawks were rampant and ended the half deep in County’s 22.

For Hawks’ the second half was poorer. County Stand-off, Fraser Lyle, made a break from the half way line dodging the disappointing Hawks’ cover. In close support Lyle took the ball in the 22 and was over for a straightforward score. As it went unconverted County’s 1 point lead seemed still as fragile now as it had done earlier. (20-19)

Hawks were pressing County in the home 22 when Jack MacFarlane made a tackle which the referee and most who witnessed it thought was dangerous. Certainly, Mr Wells did not hesitate as he pulled out a red card and MacFarlane was to play no further part in the match.

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Urquhart was to add to the pain with a penalty in 62 minutes. (23-19)

Whilst Hawks attempted to play in their opponents faces, it was a struggle to bring balance although County were unable to put the seven man pack under much pressure.

Hawks seemed to tire as their tackle count mounted. When County winger, Matt Lamb went over for the home side’s fourth try with ten minutes to go the 9 point gap was just too much of a gulf. County had turned the match on it’s head. (28-19)

There were more woes as Hawks went down to 13 men when Andy Kirkland was yellow carded and the possibility of a fourth try to secure 2 bonus points evaporated.

As the side talked through events on the field word arrived that Hawick had enjoyed a derby victory against Melrose and Hawks had dropped back to 9th try to secure 2 bonus points evaporated.

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