Hawick Force brushed off the holiday cobwebs and in doing so, secured a fine win over Tynedale Raiders at Mansfield Park this weekend.

In front of an excellent crowd, (which was bolstered by those of the ‘Greens Faithful’ who about turned on the A7, on hearing of the ridiculously late postponement of the 1st game up at Currie), Captain Sam Frizzel and his team took to the field for their first foray of the New Year.

After a well observed minutes silence, held in respect of the young Tynedale player Rory Cramb, who tragically died on Christmas Eve following an earlier fall, Tynedale kicked off under a clear blue sky and playing towardas the low winter sun.

This game turned out to be a great test for the Force squad, against a big and physical Raiders side (Tynedale 2nds), who ply their trade in the CaNDY (Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham & Yorkshire) Div 1. From the whistle the Hawick lads immediately showed how resilient and miserly their defence has been this season, as the visitors retained ball well and pressed for an early score, but it was to no avail. Indeed the young Greens only allowed their opposition a solitary second half score, whilst they themselves were clinical in attack.

Two first half tries through Fergus Bell and captain Sam Frizzel, saw the Force head in for the break 14-0 up. These early tries were complimented by a further two tries in the second half, by winger Fin Douglas and the industrious Fergus Bell, who is currently in a rich vein of form, crossing a his second, with Bailey Donaldson, the Man of the Match slotting a couple of conversions and adding a late penalty goal.

So it’s a great start to the year for the lads in green, final score Hawick Force 27 - 7 Tynedale Raiders.💚🏉