Hawick Wanderers 60-0 Gala Wanderers The Hawick boys came flying out the traps from the start and quickly had Gala deep in their own half, however, a spilled ball gave the visitors the chance to clear their lines but the kick, although long, failed to reach touch and was collected by Matthew Mallin on the left wing. After gaining a few meters his long pass inside found Darcy Graham who took play towards the stand side where he released Logan Gordon-Woolley, and the young winger showed a clean pair of heels as he tore down the line to touch down in the corner. Kyle Brunton added the conversion from the 22 and the Wands had a 7-0 lead with only four minutes on the clock. Two minutes later Matthew Mallin was unlucky as he raced down the far touchline, only a last man tackle halting his run. He didn’t have long to wait for a score though as the Wands attacked down the stand side, play was quickly spread across the field where Grant Huggan used his strength to take on two players before releasing Darcy Graham to exploit the gap. His strong run was backed up well by Jack Scott who in turn gained five meters before finding Matthew on his outside and he had more than enough gas to power over near the corner. Kyle Brunton saw his conversion go wide but nine minutes in and the Hawick Wands led 12-0. Gala then had a good spell of pressure, but although gaining good ground, their final ball was letting them down and time and again they were turned over which allowed the Wands to clear their lines. After soaking up the Gala pressure the Wanderers again went on the offensive and on the 20 minute mark were awarded a lineout 25 meters from the Gala line. A good clean take allowed the Wands pack to gather and push Gala back to within five where Fraser Renwick broke from the back of the maul to drive hard before finding Deaglan Lightfoot three meters out and he crashed over at the base of the posts. Kyle Brunton converted from in front and the Wands led 19-0. From the restart the Wanderers were on the front foot once more, attacking in numbers, spreading play well and using the whole width of the pitch. The defending from Gala was holding for the time being and more than once they managed to turn over the ball, but their offence was well marshalled by Hawick and the home goal line was rarely threatened. On the half hour the Wands seemed to up the pace again with hard, committed attacking play, rolling Gala back down field with some well worked plays. After losing the ball, Gala sent a big clearing hoof down field where Matthew Mallin collected confidently, and quickly found Darcy Graham who took off from deep in his own half before cutting through the heart of the Gala team and running in a tremendous solo score five meters right of the posts. Kyle Brunton’s conversion sailed just wide and the Wanderers took the halftime whistle with a healthy 24-0 lead. The second half saw Luca Nardini introduced and Dean Gillan make his return after breaking a collar bone pre-season. As the game restarted the Volunteer Park boys were immediately on the attack, and following a scrum in centre field, Deaglan Lightfoot gained a few meters before unleashing Logan Gordon-Woolley on the stand side where he again showed too much pace for his opposite number and he touched down five in from the corner flag. Dean Gillan took up the kicking duties but his first attempt sailed agonisingly wide. 37 minutes gone, 29-0 Wands. Gala had a spell of possession soon after, trying first to break through the middle but the home defence was standing firm, then, when they tried down the left wing they found Luca Nardini in no mood to be overrun as he dealt well with a 2 on 1, bundling the Gala player into touch. Five minutes later he was again faced with the overlap, this time however Matthew Mallin was on hand to back up his young team mate and another Gala attack was thwarted. The Wands increased their lead on 45 minutes, and, after some good play down the right wing the ball was brought back infield where Reece Hartdegen picked up play on the Gala 22 and he displayed pace and strength to run in five meters wide of the posts, crashing through three defenders en route. Dean Gillan struck a sweet conversion to push the score to 36-0. The Wands were looking dangerous every time they got ball now, Dalton Redpath showing great fitness and stamina carrying time and again to keep the pressure on Gala and within four minutes he was to get his reward with a fine score. From the last scores restart the Wanderers set up an attack down the stand side before popping a kick over the Gala defensive line, the chase was good but Gala managed to scramble the ball infield before clearing their lines with the kick. Grant Huggan took the catch well before breaking a couple of tackles then setting Dalton away from 30 meters out, and he showed good pace to run in midway between post and corner flag for a well deserved score. The conversion from Dean Gillan just lacked length, 41-0 Wanderers. On 52 minutes Jordan Rutherford took his Volunteer Park bow at no.9 and Cameron Johnstone entered the game in the pack. A mistake by Gala at the restart gave the Wands a scrum on the centre spot where they pushed Gala back with a pick and drive. The award of another scrum saw the home side repeat the move and as they closed in on the goal line Robbie McLean broke off the maul from around 3 meters out to dive in for the score. Dean Gillan made no mistake from out left on the 22, Wanderers 48 Gala nil. As the hour mark came round the play was all Hawick’s, and it seems unfair to only mention three but Robbie Linton, Fraser Renwick and Reece Hartdegen were really impressing with the work rate and commitment they were showing at this stage of the game. 62 minutes on the clock and Gala were being pressed hard in their own 22, and, as they set to clear, the ball was knocked on giving the Wands a scrum 10 meters from the their line. A solid Hawick scrum set the platform for the pick and go and as they closed to within five, Fraser Renwick picked and drove in low about four meters from the corner for the score. Dean Gillan produced a beautiful conversion to give the Wands a 55-0 lead. As time ran down the Wanderers mounted one last attack, Logan Gordon-Woolley racing down the stand side before chipping the ball over the advancing Gala defence. The play looked to be lost as cover arrived for the visitors but Logan never gave up and threw his body at the loose ball before his team mates arrived and secured the piece. Jordan Rutherford fired a quick ball to his back line who shipped the ball wide for Darcy Graham who chipped ahead over the defence and dotted down in the corner. Dean Gillan was a couple of meters short with the conversion but, as the ball hit the turf, the ref blew for full time and the Wanderers ran out very comfortable winners by 60 points to nil. A very impressive display from Hawick Wanderers who looked capable everytime they got ball. The pace of their attacking play at times was immense and they allowed Gala no time to settle on the ball when defending. Gala would have come with raised expectations following recent results but, on the day, they had no answer to what Hawick produced. Great to see Dean Gillan back on the field after his enforced absence. A home debut for Jordan Rutherford which the young man took in his stride and although playing out of position, Luca Nardini was solid as a rock on the wing, very impressed with his defensive play. Cameron Johnstone was assured and strong in the forwards and can be very pleased with his contribution second half.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 02:01:31 +0000
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