There was great relief in both camps yesterday, when Hawick arrived at Malleny Park to take on Currie Chieftains in the twice postponed Premiership fixture, to find the ground bathed in winter sunshine.

The large crowd who had waited for this much anticipated fixture since late November, were not to be disappointed when two teams who know each other very well, finally faced off, in what was to be another terrific advert for Scottish Premiership Rugby.

Early pressure by the Chieftains was repelled by the Hawick side who worked their way up the park and from a line-out drive scrumhalf Deaglan Lightfoot, ducked blind and evaded the cover defence to open the scoring. Kirk Ford converting from out wide. Hawick continued to press and from an attack just outside the Currie 22, looked to have worked the extra man only for the final miss pass to be intercepted and the Currie winger to outstrip the Hawick defence. 7-7.

Hawick were to the fore in this first period with some outstanding defence halting Currie at every turn. Then following a scintillating break from his own 22, Ronan McKean took play deep into home territory and after working the phases, Hawick swung the ball wide to Kirk Ford who’s dummy to McKean was bought, and allowed him to cross for the score, duly converting his own try.

As the whistle blew for halftime with the score at 7-14 both sides were still very much in the contest, however 10 minutes into the second half Andrew Mitchell, who had been put into the gap on the Currie 10m line by a deft McKean pass, showed his trademark power and pace to break the line. A valiant attempt from the Currie wing brought him down just short of the line, however Mitchell who wasn’t held in the tackle, had the presence of mind to rise up and dive over for the score. Ford was once again bang on target with the conversion taking Hawick out to a 7-21.

At that point, the Greens supporters may have thought their side would kick on, however Currie Chieftains to their credit showed how formidable a side they are at home, and during the next 20 minutes played some fine rugby, stretching the Hawick defence across the park. Two scores out wide, one being converted brought the score to 19-21 and the vocal Malleny support to full voice.

Then from a late attack they once again worked an extra man out wide and their lock forward dived over to give the home side a 24-21 lead.

Currie were in full flow now, however this Greens side having been through an intense campaign last season, were not about to relinquish their spot at the top of the table without a fight, and ever calm in pressure cooker moments, tightened their game up.

Winning a penalty in midfield Hawick took the play into the Currie 22 and as they drove and probed, Currie were caught offside as they desperately defended.

Up step the ‘Ice-man’ Kirk Ford to slot the penalty, making it 4 from 4 for the tee on the day, and tying the scores at 24-24.

As the final whistle blew, doubtless both sets of players and their coaches would feel they could/should have won the game, however after a terrific physical contest played in the true spirit of the game, the the draw favours the Greens, keeping them ahead of the field and in the knowledge that as they now head to Stoneyhill next week, they know exactly what they must do.