Yesterday we saw the true pride and passion that rugby instills in Border folk…. A Hawick vs Kelso derby….a tasty affair on any occasion, however with a place in the Premiership Play-off Final for the victorious, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.

With queues to get in to Mansfield Park a sea of Green & White and Black & White, and turnstiles clicking frantically, Hawick who finished the regular season sitting on top of the pile, took on a rejuvenated Kelso who, from a tentative Premiership start have grown in confidence and belief as the season has progressed and taken noteable opponents scalps along the way. It was Premiership 1st vs 4th but with no quarter asked or given it was winner takes all.

The game opened with Kelso throwing everything and Hawick and looking to knock the Greens out of their stride. Kelso indeed had the better of the early exchanges and with penalties exchanged led 3-6. Hawick then gained territory and following a series of drives Jae Linton made ground before passing right to Kirk Ford who drew his man and released Charlie Welsh to dot down in the corner. Ford duly nailed a peach of a conversion to make it 10-6.

Fraser Renwick looked to have gone over for Hawick’s second try following a further attack, but was unluckily adjudged to have grounded the ball just short of the line.

Kelso struck back once again before the half when Hawick discipline slipped, and Dwain Patterson converted his third penalty goal. Half-time 10-9.

Oh to have been a fly on the Hawick dressing-room wall at halftime, because the Greens came out with renewed desire and focus. Kyle Brunton didn’t come out fir the second period following a knock on the knee, and he was ably replaced by the inform Bailey Donaldson, who slotted in at fullback with Kirk Ford moving to #10. (Pics The Greens went to work gradually wearing down the Kelso defence and although the men from Poynder Park tackled like terriers, Hawick raised the anti, attacking in waves culminating in swift inter passing between the Renwick brothers, and when Calum was halted, captain Shawn Muir zipped the pass out to Ronan McKean who went over in ‘McKean Corner’.

Although Kirk Ford was wide of the mark with the conversion he nailed a long range penalty soon after to extend the Hawick lead to 18-9.

Following drives by Jae Linton, Connor Sutherland and Stuart Graham, Lee Armstrong spun over the line however the referee ruled there was crossing and the score was chalked off.

Hawick were now in full flow and as they emptied the bench they maintained the tempo. Calum Renwick had the crowd on their feet, when from a Connor Sutherland pop pass in midfield, he took off with a 40 yard run, only being hauled down just short by a terrific Kelso tackle.

Renwick was to go close again soon after, crossing the line from close range only for the try to be disallowed for an infringement in the build up.

Scrum-half Gareth Welsh saw yellow with 15 minutes to go when he misjudged a tackle on the Kelso winger as he caught a high ball. However Hawick were in no mood to concede again and managed the 10 minutes down to 14 men very well? Welsh wasn’t to return and when the time came Deaglan Lightfoot came on at #9 slotting in comfortably.

As Hawick continued to set siege to the Kelso line, there was still time for another attack from which Lightfoot took the ball blind feeding Dalton Redpath to go over in the corner to score Hawick’s 3rd try which Kirk Ford duly converted from the touch line to make the final score 25-9.

With Currie Chieftains victorious over Marr in the other semi-final, we are now set for a repeat of last seasons breathtaking finale between the two top teams n the Premiership.

Before then however we will have to wait until the Scottish Cup plays out , and the Inter-District Championship is completed, before we can confirm the date for the final…..but I for one….can’t wait 😉🏉💚