Chieftains banish heartbreak of 2023 with victory in tense finale
Cairns’ 14 men spoil hosts’ bid for the double double
CURRIE CHIEFTAINS banished the heartbreak of last year’s Premiership final by beating Hawick in a tense affair at Mansfield Park. The home side were chasing a double double having won the Scottish Cup last week on top of the league and cup double last season.
But Currie were the side who came out on top and ended Hawick’s fiveyear record since they were last beaten at home.
The visiting side were reduced to 14 men before half time, but they showed incredible character to hold on when under serious pressure during the second half and take the trophy back to Currie for the first time since 2010, when current head coach Mark Cairns was a player.
Currie started brightly and were threatening in the opening few minutes and took the lead after sustained pressure.
Rhys Davies was the man to cross the line before Jamie Forbes converted from wide in a perfect start for the visitors.
Hawick got themselves on the scoreboard immediately after when Kirk Ford kicked an easy penalty. Forbes then kicked one of his own for Currie to keep in control of the scoreboard and in the opening 12 minutes, they were the dominant team.
Hawick thought they had a try when Gareth Welsh looked to have touched down, but he was adjudged to have knocked on and Currie survived.
The home side were growing in confidence though and they were dominant in the breakdown at this stage.
A scoreless period followed before a further Forbes penalty had the Chieftains in complete control heading towards the end of the hardfought first half.
That delighted the visiting supporters who were making plenty of noise and aiming a few jibes at a home support who were aiming plenty of criticism towards the referee as their frustrations grew.
Hawick had an opportunity to cut the gap shortly before half time, but decided to kick for the corner instead of taking a simple penalty.
It worked in their favour as a lineout maul saw Callum Renwick drive right over the line with Ford then kicking the conversion to bring the scores to 13-10.
Forbes then kicked another penalty, but the first half came to an end with the visitors being reduced to 14 men for the rest of the game after a red card for scrum-half Gregor Christie.
He was punished after a tip tackle on his opposite number Welsh and dropped him on to his neck. A moment of deliberation was needed from the referee and his assistant but a decision was made and Christie had no complaints.
It did not seem to affect Currie at the start of the second half though and they immediately put themselves further in front when a brilliant line bursting run from Forbes eventually found its way to Cammy Gray and the centre crossed the line and the conversion gave Chieftains a 13-point lead.
Unsurprisingly, Hawick were dominating territory and possession in the second half with the extra man, but they were struggling to get themselves on the scoreboard with 25 minutes to go.
Their home record was under
Hawick escaped a red card of their own when the referee missed a tackle that would not have looked out of place in the WWE, much to the frustration of Currie
threat and with them needing two converted tries to get back in front, they were kicking for the corner instead of taking a couple of easy penalties.
They eventually got themselves a try back through Charlie Welsh. They had tried to force their way over the line with the strength of their forwards, but eventually decided to go wide and switched the play through Bailey Donaldson, who handed it off to Welsh to score with Ford converting and making it a onetry game with 20 to go.
Forbes kicked a simple penalty to extend the visitors’ lead again and just keep the scoreboard ticking, which was all they wanted to do at that stage of the game.
Hawick escaped a red card of their own when the referee missed a tackle that would not have looked out of place in the WWE, much to the frustration of Currie.
With 15 minutes to go, it just did not feel like it was going to be Hawick’s day despite escaping that card.
But they did cut the deficit again when Renwick got his second try to make it a two-point game with 10 left on the clock.
Hawick chased and huffed and puffed trying to find a way to get themselves in front, but it was not to be as Currie held on to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and despair for the home support.