Hard fought win for Under 13’s at Hawick
Hawick 19 – 33 Linlithgow
Saturday 1st March 2025
Report by Stuart Taylor
They say the arrival of March can either come in like a lamb or a lion? While the idealic spring conditions that welcomed the visiting team to the banks of the Teviot were lamb-like the rugby match that unfolded was certainly more lion than lamb!
The proud borders town of Hawick have a rich heritage and well-deserved rugby reputation having produced some of the finest players to ever play the game. It was clear to see from the get go in this fixture that the S1 Hawick team were determined to keep the clubs reputation intact.
The referee was tested from the first whistle, with some hefty tackles from both teams. Jay was instrumental in setting the teams stall out with some heroic tackles however Hawick broke the deadlock with a successful counter ruck which then lead to a converted try.
Linlithgow put Hawick under considerable pressure but unfortunately didn’t capitalise on this with points on the board. The Reds were in the opposition 22 on numerous occasions and Hawick showed their strength with consistent turn overs and good defensive management.
With the ball moving through the hands of the Reds pack a grateful Callum charged through the Hawick line and ran around diving defenders to dot down below the sticks. Max stepped up and converted to leave things all square at the break.
The referee carved up the game into three short sessions with two welcome breaks, allowing the players and the referee to catch their breath, during the 13 a side fixture played on an enormous pitch.
Early in the second session the ball broke free and Callum showed excellent footballing skills to keep the ball in play with 3 grubber kicks taking the Reds well into the Hawick 22 before he landed on the ball to retain possession. Linlithgow raleighed round and started to find better shape than earlier periods of the game with successive phases.
Struan making his Reds debut carried well supported skilfully by Lucas, Ruairi, Logan and Scott who all more than matched the physicality of the Hawick forwards.
Callum inspired the Reds throughout the match with strong running, excellent tackling, superb rucking and line breaks aplenty. In fact it didn’t take Callum long to add to the score sheet with his second try of the day, sealing his man of the match performance.
With the conversion kick falling just wide of the post Linlithgow were ahead for only a short time as Hawick took the wind out of the visitor’s sails with a well worked try which was the product of quick rucking and quicker passing. All square again it was starting to feel like one of those games that couldn’t be put to bed.
Despite Hawick’s refusal to succumb to Linlithgow’s pressure, the Reds dug deep and showed great maturity to stay in the fight something that the team have struggled with in previous away fixtures against tough opponents. Blair, Harvey, Brodie C and Jack frustrated Hawick and prevented the home team from dictating the pace of the game by holding their positions and offering good supportive running throughout the game.
The teams composure and belief was rewarded when excellent running from Tom and effective rucking from Joe and Scott, leading to a quick ball finding its way to Finlay whotook off like a rocket up the wing evading defenders with silky footwork before crossing the try line and dotting the ball down below the goals. Nathan stepped up and slotted the ball over to leave Hawick trailing by 7 points at the second break.
With a converted try separating the 2 teams at the start of the final session the match was too close to call. Setting things up for a very anxious climax for the team and their travelling support.
The Mighty Ducks had the bash brothers, the U13 Reds have Lucas and Callum who repeatedly made text book tackles on advancing Hawick players. Impressively getting to their feet well before Hawick could regroup and find any sort of momentum from their ruck.
All credit to Hawick they latched on to the slimmest of opportunities. A clumsy off load from Linlithgow was quickly intercepted by Hawick and before anyone could blink, Hawick were back level again.
The 2 tiring teams had given an enormous effort and remained closely matched with 7 minutes left on the clock. The Reds crept closer to the Hawick 22 and were repeatedly marched back by the physical Hawick pack. The ball broke free from Hawick hands and Tom quickly passed to Scott who cradled the ball smashed through the Hawick line and accelerated towards the sticks for a thoroughly deserved try which Rory converted. Surely Linlithgow had done enough to clinch victory?
With 4 minutes left to play the visiting support growing more anxious by the second as it looked like Hawick were far from finished, chasing an equaliser battering away at Linlithgow’s defensive line. The fear of the inevitable was creeping in and the Reds were on the ropes. Having absorbed significant pressure from Hawick with 2 minutes on the clock the Reds fullback Joe displayed remarkable sangfroid to clear the ball towards the side line with the Hawick attack closing in around him. The spectators watched with hearts in mouths as the ball danced its way to the side line, only for it be kept in play by a gravity defying dive and flick from Finlay H whose well intentioned attacking instincts had kicked in.The Hawick recipient of the ball ran towards the line and was brought down by a try saving tackle from Lucas. Joe was on hand for the resultant turn over and made good ground, before offloading to Rory who travelled beyond the half way line before his well-timed pass found its way to Tom who sprinted towards the try lining breaking away from the last of the Hawick defence to cross the line, completed with a successful conversion kick from Rory to seal Linlithgow’s victory.
This victory was perhaps the under 13’s best yet as Hawick did not give up and tested the Reds character and composure all the way to the final whistle.
The voice of rugby, Bill McLaren, a proud Hawick man, once said “a day out of Hawick was a day wasted.” As the Linlithgow team started singing with gusto on their bus trip home. I am sure the U 13’s felt their day out to Hawick was most certainly not wasted and could prove to be a pivotal moment in this teams’ development.