Hawick just too strong for Livi
Livingston gave a great account of themselves but ultimately fell short as they suffered a 28-17 loss at home to East League Division One promotion challengers Hawick Harlequins.
The visitors kicked-off knowing that a win would secure their position at the top of the league and soon had Livi defending for all their worth.
Quins were awarded a succession of penalties but a spirited defence from Livingston kept the scores blank.
The pressure finally counted when the visitors bundled themselves over the line for the opening try, which was converted.
The score seemed to shock the home side into action as it was now their turn to have the better of the play and they reduced the deficit with a well-worked try as Ally Williamson off-loaded to Cameron McLeary who burst through to score out wide. The conversion was missed to make it 7-5 to Quins.
The sides traded tries as the visitors went into the break with a slender lead at 14-12 after Livi again fought back from conceding with McLeary proving too hot for the Harlequins defence to handle and the winger won good ball and ran at the visiting defenders.
He was able to brush them aside to touch down in the corner.
Shortly after the restart, Livi got themselves in front for the first time in the contest and it appeared that a real upset could be on the cards.
The hosts charged down their own kick and the backs managed to evade the Quins defence with winger Kristjan Gamble being the beneficiary as he scored Livi’s third try in the corner.
The missed conversion made the score 17-14 to the hosts but the away side showed just why they are sitting at the top of the table with a fightback to take the points.
The visitors’left-winger was able to go untouched down the sidelines after being fed the ball from a scrum with the conversion making it a four point game in favour of Hawick as the clash entered the final stages.
Livi tried valiantly to get back into the game and their efforts deserved at least a share of the spoils, but it wasn’t to be despite having the better of the play before an injury caused a length stoppage which seemed to suck all of the momentum out of the hosts.
When the game re-started, Livi were shown two quick yellow cards that effectively put a halt to any hopes they had of getting back into the game and Quins would make the most of their numerical advantage with one final try to give the score a harsh look for the home side.
Despite taking on one of the better sides in the division, it is a game that Livi will look back on as one that got away but it was yet another spirited performance from the team who have adapted well to life in the division.
The Almond Park side don’t have a fixture this weekend and are back in action on December 2 as they have an away day against a Portobello side sitting two places below them in the East League Division One table, but level on points.
Livingston sealed a narrow 31-29 victory at home when the two teams met in September and it’s sure to be another closely fought affair.