Last updated 13:15, Thursday, 27 November 2008

Tynedale Colts 14,Hawick PSA 24 AN EARLY kick-off so that the England international could be watched was perhaps a factor in this disappointing display by a strong Tynedale side.

Hawick kicked off into the wind and the game started positively for the home side.

Outson twice turned his opposing number nine at the scrum to give his side early domination.

With some good kicking for space by Anderson, and both Potts and Dixon giving excellent support, they forced a number of early penalties from which Tyne chose to go for the five points.

They were rewarded for their endeavour when good work from Matty Outson again found Ben Frankland and his quick pass to Andy Evans produced the first points of the afternoon,

Anderson converted for the extra two points.

In the early part of the half, the Tyne scrum struggled for consistency, but began to exert the dominance on the Hawick pack.

The forwards were giving their backs good ball in open spaces, but over-complication on some of the plays resulted in lost or fumbled ball.

Then a lack of discipline again gave Hawick a number of scoring chances and, after missing their initial kick, Hawick took the three points from ten metres out.

Twenty minutes in and the Tynedale backs, led by Cameron McKenna, forced the Hawick defence back on its heels.

Good passing between McKenna and Anderson found prop Billy Stevens, who charged through three tackles and off-loaded to Matty Outson for him to score a try under the posts. Anderson again converted.

For the remainder of the first period the ball only left the Hawick half at the kick-off and most of the play was in their 22.

A mixture of diligent, if last gasp, defence and the aforementioned complicated play stopped Tyne deservedly adding to their haul.

Nevertheless, the support play for this period was excellent with Dixon, Brogan and McKenna all making good ground with penetrative runs.

The second half was a completely different story and it would be difficult to pick out any of the Tynedale squad who played anywhere near their potential.

Although Tyne did threaten the Hawick line in the first few minutes of the half, they conceded possession within five metres when they should have controlled the ball.

Hawick went straight down the other end to register their first try of the game and completed the conversion.

Calamity followed calamity and within minutes Tyne again fumbled possession to Hawick; this time they ran in from 70 metres under the posts, adding the conversion to take the lead.

They say bad news comes in threes and it did for the Northumberland side.

They were putting pressure on Hawick and again fumbled, giving the opposition a clean ball to run in a third try.

Tynedale did have the opportunity at 14-17 to take three points from under the posts, but elected to take a scrum.

If they had levelled at this point their confidence might not have deserted them. As it was, the better team won, even though they had far less of the ball.