Watsonians cash in after game gets go-ahead

The fact that this match was played at all was a credit to everyone at Mansfield Park, writes Atholl Innes.

On a day of driving sleet and a gale, both clubs contrived to put on a display to satisfy the supporters who put rugby ahead of Christmas shopping – and strengthened the argument for summer rugby.

“It was a tough game and the effort from both sets of players was fantastic,” said Watsonians coach Steve Lawrie, who 24 hours earlier had been appointed coach of the club’s Super Six squad.

“All credit to Hawick for getting that game on,” he added. “They got the covers down and we got it played. Either team could have won, and in the end it was a very fine margin.”

George Graham, the Hawick coach, said: “We did not play particularly well in the first half, when we stepped away from what we can do. However, Watsonians are a very good side. The conditions played a part and we’ll need to manage our squad over the next couple of weeks as Shaun Fairbairn has dislocated his shoulder.”

On a day, which was not conducive to running rugby, Watsonians made the best possible start when Josh Rowland sent in James Miller for the opening try and Ewan Fox converted.

A Fox penalty stretched the lead before Fairbairn went over and Lee Armstrong converted. But Fox added a second penalty on the stroke of half-time for a 10-7 lead.

Both sides defended well until Greg Walker’s try in injury time, but the conversion attempt by Armstrong, which might have gone over on a better day, was short and wide of the mark.