Hawick got their Premiership campaign back on track with a solid if not spectacular bonus point win against Musselburgh at Mansfield Park on Saturday by 31-5. 

The Greens scored 5 tries to 1 in a game where both sides looked to play expansive rugby, in cold but perfect conditions which were a sharp contrast to the previous days storm.

Hawick came out of the traps quicker than the Stoneyhill men and were rewarded when, from a scrum Gareth Welsh broke right, and dummied his way through the defence, driving over for a try and a 5-0 lead.

The second Hawick try was warmly greeted as young hooker Fergus Bell, on his first start for the Dyes, capped of a fine performance when, from a copybook peel from a strong Hawick maul, he broke and powered over to the delight of his teammates and the large  home crowd. Ford duly converted to make the score 12-0.

The young Musselburgh side to their credit played their way back into the game, however any opportunity they carved out found the Hawick defence up to the task, either forcing the error or with solid defence. 

As for the Greens a degree of frustration was apparent as the sharp and accurate handling from last week, seemed to have deserted the lads, however Andrew Mitchell decided to take matters into his own hands nearing halftime when, receiving a pass in midfield, he spotted the gap and took off. Although surrounded by the Musselburgh defence he drove on and ultimately carried 3 defenders with him as crossed for Hawick’s third. Kirk Ford splitting the uprights for a second time to take it to 19-0 at the half.

Following the restart Hawick all but put the game beyond the visitors, when following a sweeping move down the stand side, a series of mauls took play to the visitors line, and a pick-up and drive by the impressive Connie Sutherland at #8 brought the bonus point try, Ford converting for a 26-0 lead.

There then following a period of parity as both sides tested each other out, both in defence and attack, and following a period of good possession by their forwards, the young Musselburgh backs were able to create an opening on the right for their winger to go over. 26-5.

As the half progressed, both sides rung the changes and using their benches to maximum effect pushed for further scores. Hawick’s changes saw Henry and Riddell on for Welsh and Brunton at half back, and the new partnership thought they had worked an opening for Charlie Welsh, alas, what looked like a sublime miss pass from Cian Riddell was adjudged marginally forward by the referee. The Greens supporters didn’t have long to wait however, and after another attack they saw right wing Morgan Tait work hard to appear on the left and finish of a fine move to to score Hawick’s fifth.

Job done with a full 5 point haul, although the lads will know they have room for improvement……and they will. The lads will take a break from Premiership duty this week as they prepare to take on old rivals Gala in the SBPC Border League on Friday evening before returning the following week for a mouth watering Premiership Border League double header against Selkirk at Philiphaugh.