Edinburgh Accies 13

Hawick 20

ATHOLL INNES @ Queensferry Hub

HAWICK picked up the win they needed to confirm their place in the play-offs this season, but they did it the hard way by picking up two yellow-cards along the way. Accies, meanwhile, managed a losing-bonus point which could be crucial in their fight for survival at the other end of the table.

The wind played a major role in the match and Hawick failed to fully capitalise on their second-half pressure when the gale, with driving sleet and snow showers, was at their backs. behind them.But two scores from Wiann Griebenow, who showed his power and strength, snatched a crucial victory and won him the man-of-the-match award.

“It was a hard earned win,” said Hawick’s director of rugby Garry Douglas. “I am not sure we played the conditions the best, but at the end of the day we got the win, confirmed our place in the play-offs, and we’re pleased with the result. Wiann made all the difference to us.”

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Bob Easson, Accies’ Rugby Director, said he was disappointed with the result, but getting a losing bonus point was some consolation.

Richard Mill again proved key for the ‘home’ side with his tactical kicking putting Hawick under pressure, but the Greens started off with a bang even into the wind, taking the game to their opponents.

It was against the of play, and in their first attack, that Accies stormed in for the opening try as Callum Ramm took advantage of hesitancy to touch down in the left-hand corner and Mill converted. The score lifted Accies, and when Mill stretched the lead with a penalty, Hawick knew they had a game on their hands.

Hawick gained some momentum, and they won a penalty which allowed Ali Weir to narrow the deficit. Then, close on half-time, Hawick aggression up front led to Jae Linton going over and Weir converted to level it at 10-10 at the break.

Hawick stepped up their game but a combination of rugged defence and lack of control near the goal-line initially denied them another score.

Craig Bachurzewski was the first to incur the wrath of the referee, who also dispatched Angus Inwood to the sin-bin after the same incident. And when Gareth Welsh was also yellow-carded, the Greens were down to 13. But they dug deep and Griebenow used all his strength to break the Accies barrier with two scores.

It gave Hawick the initiative, but their lack of discipline continued to cost them as Mill banged over his second penalty, leaving them holding out during an anxious final few minutes.

Accies showed much better form than they showed when losing 33-0 in Hawick last month, but they still have much to do to retain their spot in the top league.

Teams –

Hawick: K Ford; R McKean, W Griebenow, A Mitchell, L Gordon-Wooley; A Weir, G Welsh; S Muir, M Carryer, C Bachurzewski, A Piotrowski, S Fairbairn, J Linton, B McNeill, S Graham. Subs: C Renwick, D Johnstone, J Rowley, B Donaldson, M Bannerman.

Edinburgh Accies: B Appleson; M Cairnes, R Campbell, R Mill, C Ramm; R Bonner, M Love; C Imrie, S Crombie, C Lacour, A Inwood, D Dinnen, C Thomson, J Sole, J Bruce. Sibs: C Black, D Anderson, R McConnell, M Sinclair, W Stephen.

Referee: J Penirenna.

Scorers –

Edinburgh Accies: Try: Ramm; Con: Mill; Pens: Mill 2.

Hawick: Tries: Griebenow 2, Linton; Con: Weir; Pen: Weir.

Scoring sequence (Accies first): 5-0; 7-0; 7-3; 7-8; 10-10 (h-t) 10-15; 13-15; 13-20.

Yellow cards –

Edinburgh Accies: Inwood

Hawick: Bachurzewski, Welsh.

Man-of-the-Match: Hawick centre Wiann Griebenow, whose powerful running and strength in defence set the platform for the Hawick success and broke hearts of Accies, was the stand-out player on the park.

Talking point: The fact that this game was played at all with so much at stake for both clubs in such cold and blustery conditions was a credit to both teams. But both sides worked hard on a type of pitch many will not have played on in the past.

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