Champs take advantage of weather to build lead

Only two games on yesterday’s Premiership card beat the weather – but both were potentially crucial fixtures as the race for the play-off places reaches its climax.

Champions Hawick began the day just four points clear at the top of the table, but they now have a nine-point cushion after a comfortable 28-0 win at Musselburgh.

Three first-half tries more or less wrapped the game up, and the bonus point was secured two minutes into the second 40.

“I’m chuffed to bits with that performance,” Hawick head coach Matty Douglas (inset) said.

“I think we maybe left a few opportunities out there, but credit to the boys for their second-half performance. Our defence was outstanding.”

The Mansfield Park side are not yet officially guaranteed a home semifinal, but with just two games of their regular season to play they are in a stronger than ever position.

A big home win would have taken Musselburgh into the play-off places, but they never looked like pulling off a shock, and now have it all to do in their remaining games if they are to climb from their present position of seventh into the top four.

Edinburgh Accies are up to fourth after their 17-17 home draw with Kelso, but in reality the two points each earned from the draw did neither team any favours. Accies have now played a game more than Heriot’s Blues, who are behind them only on points difference. Kelso are two points behind the two Edinburgh clubs in sixth place but, like Heriot’s, still have three games to play. The postponed games included the fixture that had looked like being the match of the day – second-placed Currie Chieftains against third-placed Marr. Heriot’s against Selkirk and Jed-forest versus Glasgow Hawks were the other games called off because of frozen pitches.

The Celtic Challenge tournament resumes next weekend after a bye week. Glasgow Warriors will be out to break their duck after three defeats when they are at home to Ireland’s Clovers on Saturday, while Edinburgh, who have won two out of their three games so far, are away to Gwalia Lightning in Cardiff on Sunday.

The six-team women’s competition has two regular rounds of games to go, then three rounds of play-offs will decide the final positions.