Oct
18
Match Report: Craig Dawson
Photos: Dave Patterson
Boroughmuir Rugby lost their encounter with Hawick RFC at Meggetland this weekend, going down 18-31.
Boroughmuir Rugby may be unbeaten on the road but our home record this season has not been great. Hawick arrived with revenge on their minds following our cup final victory over them and were looking for rare victory in this Hugh MacMaster Trophy game.
Hawick started strongly putting pressure on the Muir line but give up a penalty .Craig Marshall clears to touch but we lose the line out but the Hawick clearance kick is charged down by Greg Cannie who unfortunately knocks on with the Hawick line at his mercy.
From the resultant scrum Hawick clear to touch but once again they turn over the Muir line out and put up an up & under which Craig Marshall fields well to set up a Muir attack .Muir forwards put great pressure on the Hawick scrum to set up some good attacking phases but Hawick eventually clear downfield and set up a good attack .Muir give up a penalty which replacement centre Armstrong converts to make the score 0-3.
From the kick off Andy Rose makes a great midfield break but is tackled late as he makes an inside pass. From the resultant penalty Dougie Steele levels the score at 3-3
From the kick off Muir forwards loose the ball going forward Hawick kick ahead and Craig Russell wins the race to score in the corner.
Armstrong converts to make the score 3-10. From the kick off Hawick attack from some great link play to put South African centre Wiaan Greibenhaw in for a try in the corner which Armstrong again coverts to make the score 3-17. From the kick off Hawick keep up the pressure and put some great attacking phases together and are unlucky not to score again.
A great Muir scrum relieves the pressure and a penalty award sees Craig Marshall clear to touch. Once again the Muir line out is turned over and Hawick set up some more attacking phases however Muir win a scrum from which Callum Reid makes a great break but from a ruck Hawick turn over ball and with great handling put full back Ali Weir in for a try at the corner .Another great touchline conversion from Armstrong makes the score 3-24.
From the kick off Muir finally get into the Hawick half and put a few attacking phases together and eventually Hawick give a penalty which Dougie Steele kicks to make the half time score 6-24.
Hawick kick off the second half and Muir immediately set up a good attack winning a scrum on the Hawick 22.Unfortunaltly Hawick turn over the scrum ball and drive the ball up field setting up centre Wiaan Greibenhow for his second try under the posts which Armstrong converts to make the score 6-31.
From the kick off Muir are stung into action and the Muir forwards turn over Hawick ball and put pressure on their try line. Hawick give up a penalty and despite being dominant in the scrum and having a poor day at the line out opt to kick to the corner. Needless to say Hawick again turn over the line out and clear downfield however Muir field the ball and again put pressure on the Hawick line and send Callum Reid over for a try which Dougie Steele coverts to make the score 13-31. From the kick off Hawick attack put good Muir defence on the line with Andy Rose turning over Hawick ball which is cleared to touch. Hawick win the line out and again drive forward but give up a penalty which Muir run setting up a great Jordan Edmunds break who feeds Alex Cox who sends a great infield pass to Craig Marshall to score. Dougie Steele coverts to make the score 18-31.
Muir have finally woken up and again turn over Hawick ball and a great break from Greg Cannie could have resulted in a score if the right option had been taken. Hawick clear the ball up field but Jordan Edmunds fields and runs strongly to set up the Muir forwards. Callum Reid breaks and feeds Johnny Adams whose pass finds Craig Marshall who gets over the line but is held up. From the scrum Muir feed the ball wide by Alex Cox knocks on and from the scrum Hawick clear their line and claim a good win and the Hugh MacMaster Trophy in style.
A poor first 60 minutes but when Muir finally woke up in the last 20 some good rugby was played. The scrum was strong but our normally reliant line out was dreadful today.
Perhaps we are missing our forwards coach Ben Fisher but there were a couple of vastly experienced forward coaches looking on who could be persuaded to help out if asked.
We play Hawick again in the cup in January and I am sure we will not be so generous then. We have dropped out of the Top 4 for the first time this season but are only 7 points behind league leaders Ayr who we have beaten away.
Next up is Stirling County at home on Saturday. I am sure the guys will put this week’s disappointment behind them and go for a good win on Saturday and put us back in Top 4 contention.
To see further photos from the game by Dave Patterson, click here.
In other results and better news:
The Magic 2s had their biggest win of the season over Hamilton 2s 75-3. A very impressive turnaround from previous weeks and well deserved.
The Bears had another tough challenge as they travelled to Kelso A. The hosts unable to tame the Bears losing 10-17 in a tightly contested game. Well done Bears.
