Douglas keeps Hawick in hunt before late win

Kirkcaldy 29 - Hawick 33; at Beveridge Park. Hawick had again to dig into all their reserves of character for a win they just about deserved.

A concerted effort in 65 minutes got them back in front with a try from right winger Colin Murray which Gavin Murray converted before adding a penalty. However the Greens then had to withstand a late Kirkcaldy push which brought only a last minute penalty to Ben Price.

There were two fresh faces in the Blues' line up from those encounters. At stand-off they found Samoan international Quintan Sanft, who had missed the earlier matches, first through the injury he sustained at Murrayfield in the autumn international and then a pre-arranged trip to Italy.

While his appearance might have been anticipated, the Greens learned only at short notice that their renowned front row would be tested by the appearance for Kirkcaldy of the multi-capped "Scottish" international prop David Hilton. Indeed the other side of the home front row was also propped by the non-cap international Willie Anderson. Both were available as Caley had been unable to fix up a game.

Hawick got the chance to ahead in the second minute with a penalty from 30 metres after obstruction by Neil Stenhouse but could not take advantage and three minutes later they were trailing 7-0.

The first Hawick line-out throw had been pinched. Now it was squint. From the scrum home No 8 Craig MacDonald broke 60 metres. Subsequently the ball was rucked twice from a line-out and then Derek McCombe went over by the posts with Sanft converting.

In 10 minutes, the Blues deservedly went 10-0 ahead with a penalty by Ben Price. Three minutes later Stenhouse again missed a straight- forward chance but finally got Hawick on the score sheet.

When Keith Davidson returned the restart kick on the full, Kirkcaldy again attacked and after a McCombe thrust Price kicked his second penalty. But they could make nothing of John Mitchell's barge to the line soon after.

Instead Hawick came into the game. A good run by Stephen Cranston ended in a penalty put over by Stenhouse. Two minutes later good work by the Green backs ended with left winger Gavin Douglas cutting past three tackles for a try and Stenhouse's conversion tied the scores at 13-13.

When the stand-off added a third to put Hawick ahead, Kirkcaldy responded first in a two-try conclusion to the half. Sanft charged down Keith Davidson's attempted clearance and scored with Price converting. Hawick went straight up field and No 8 Daniel Landels went over from a scrum with Stenhouse's conversion ending the half with Hawick ahead by 23-20.

An already pulsating game became even more exciting in the second half. A penalty from Price tied the score, and one by Gavin Douglas after Stenhouse went off then eased the Greens ahead.

Then after good work by the home pack, Sanft dropped a goal as the third quarter ended to again tie the score.

Copyright 2001
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