Heriot’s do just enough

● Errors galore in thrilling capital derby leaves both coaches tearing their hair out

0 Edinburgh Rugby professional Junior Rasolea breaks through to score his try for Heriot’s. Watsonians produced a powerful second-half display aided by a strong wind and two substitutions to take maximum points and leave Hawick, who led 13-3 at the interval, anchored at the foot of the table, writes Atholl Innes. Even Stirling County supporters were tipping their tiles to the quality of opposition after being beaten pretty soundly, but that did not resonate with Melrose head coach Robert Chrystie, writes Martin Laing.

Instead of any smugness, the Borderer expressed concern at parts of his team’s performance, despite this comprehensive victory.

“To come here and get five points is good,” said Chrystie. “But we caused ourselves a bit of stress at times.

“The first 15 minutes were really good and our accuracy was good but we gave away too many penalties. We had 13 or maybe 14 penalties against us.

“Stirling have improved massively on where they were two years ago and look like they’ve got a hungry bunch of players. But we our aim is to get a complete performance. We were far from that. We had 27 points against and that’s not great.”

Chrystie’s assessment was a little harsh. This was a

CURRIECHIEFTAINS GLASGOW HAWKS 29 27

This was some game for Adam Hastings to make his comeback in – and it was some comeback from Currie Chieftains too, as they recovered from a 27-0 deficit to snatch a dramatic victory, writes Stuart Bathgate.

Hawks scrum-half George Horne outshone his fellowglasgow Warriors professional in the first half as the visitors secured the try bonus point with barely 30 minutes on the clock, but the Chieftains crucially got a try back just before the break.

Then in the second half the home team grew in selfbelief with every score, and loosehead prop John Cox claimed the fifth and decisive touchdown with just a couple of minutes to go.

“It was really good fun,”

Coach Steve Lawrie praised his players after they scored four tries in only 12 minutes.

“It was a tough game. Even with the wind, we looked after the ball,” he said. “I never said anything at half time. It was down to the players to turn it round and the mentality of the boys saw us through.

“I am pretty conscientious as a coach, but there is only so much we can do, and we game his side were never in danger of losing.

They stormed into a commanding lead courtesy of tries from Fraser Thomson, Ally Miller and Sam Pecqueur, two of them converted by skipper Craig Jackson.

But County edged their way back thanks to a try by Matt Lamb that Jonny Hope goalled, the captain also nudging over two penalties.

However, on the stroke of half-time, Miller dived over for his second score, Jackson again adding the extras to give Melrose a commanding lead at the interval.

Ross Mccann stretched the advantage, Jackson converting, before Stirling again hit back when Lewis Wynne touched down, Hope chipping over the resultant kick.

Comeback hopes were stopped in their tracks three minutes later when Miller notched his hat-trick, Jackson chipping the extras as Melrose again pulled away.

County did manage a final late score when Craig Robertson touched down.

Stirling head coach Graeme Young said. “Melrose showed us why they’re top of the league and head and shoulders ahead of the rest.” said Hastings, for whom this was a first outing since gashing his leg while playing for Glasgow against Connacht.

“I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better game to come into. To be honest, we weren’t ever really worried,” the Chieftains stand-off continued.

“We had a lot of the ball first half and we were cutting them apart in phases. I think it was just the wind was actually very strong. We all said at half-time‘we’vegotthewind this half ’ – a bit of a cliche, but it seemed to work.”

While the Currie players celebrated a fantastic recovery, Glasgow Hawks coach Finlay Gillies was left spitting feathers after his side’s collapse.

“It wasn’t a 27-point wind – discipline was the difference,” he said. “We gave away one penalty in the first half, two yellow cards and a million penalties in the second.” came out in the second half and did the jersey proud.”

Watsonians brought on Rory Drummond and Chris Dean at the interval and they added pace to the team.

Hawick director of rugby Brian Renwick said: “We showed great spirit to come back. I am not critical of the players’ commitment. We need just to work hard and it will come right.”