Rugby: Leaders Linden have too much for Northern as game escapes weather

By GARY HEATLY
Published on 21/01/2013 12:00

Edinburgh NORTHERN went down 40-8 at leaders Hawick Linden in one of only two matches to take place in the RBS East Leagues on Saturday.

With freezing temperatures in and around the Capital on Thursday and Friday a number of matches fell by the wayside prior to the weekend while others were postponed on Saturday morning after overnight snow.

Hawick Linden’s normal pitch at Volunteer Park was frozen, but they managed to get the RBS East Two game on at Wilton Lodge Park and Northern made the trip south.

Northern started strongly and took a 3-0 lead through a penalty from Kris Gove before Linden got into gear and started putting tries on the board.

The visitors did add one try of their own through Sacha Pooniah, but in the end they were comfortably beaten on a pitch that stood up well after snow was swept off it in the morning. The loss leaves Northern in seventh place in the table and coach Paul Larter is now focusing on this coming weekend’s match against Ross High.

He said: “We played well at the start against Linden, but they are a good side and once their dangerous players like their full-back started getting on the ball they had too much for us. The guys are now looking forward to a home match against Ross High.”

On a pitch alongside the one used for Linden-Northern at Wilton Lodge Park, Dalkeith took on Hawick Harlequins.

Hawick Harlequins came out on top 21-12, a result which sees them leapfrog the Midlothian outfit into second place in the table.