Saturday’s Premiership clash at Mansfield Park, brought together two in form sides, as we welcomed Musselburgh to the Borders, having won our last 4 games and Musselburgh their last 3, the game was beautifully poised. It was however the men from the ‘Burgh who drew first blood and took the game to the Greens….
As the teams exchanged tries, with captain Shawn Muir crossing for Hawick, Musselburgh then hit a purple patch producing two further scores out wide, which saw the visitors close the half 10- 20 ahead.
Sometimes when games aren’t going your way, you have to find a way to collectively to change things……. and down 10 points kicking off the second half, this young squad….depleted as they were, dug very deep and produced the spirit and fight to get themselves back in the game. Firstly, earning Kirk Ford a long range penalty opportunity, which he duly converted, and then working the ball up the park before a typically gutsy break from Andrew Mitchell saw him cross for an unconverted score, pegging things back to 18-20.
A further long range penalty from Kirk Ford saw Hawick take the lead, however Musselburgh came back at the Greens and crossed themselves for an unconverted score, to lead 21-25, setting the game up beautifully as we entered the last 15 minutes.
Hawick were exerting a lot of pressure now and further penalties slotted by Ford, the second of which was won from a superb scrum in midfield when Hawick drove Musselburgh off their own ball, gave them a slender 2 point lead.
At 27-25 the nerves of the Mansfield Park faithful were on edge, and Musselburgh came so close to spoiling the Green’s day, as they broke through on the stand side and their winger chipped the ball towards the line. It came down to a foot race between the Burgh winger and Hawick’s #8 Jae Linton, who put in a peach of a tackle and was duly up on his feet to turn the ball over. An outstanding piece of play, which capped off a tremendous contest.
The Greens will now debrief on Tuesday evening and prepare to welcome Heriots to Mansfield Park next week, is a reversed fixture due to a Super Series clash at Goldenacre.
