Glasgow Hawks 33 - 22 Watsonians: Watsonians on brink of relegation

WATSONIANS' relegation fate is now out of their own hands after Saturday's loss to Glasgow Hawks at Old Anniesland.

If Edinburgh Accies can defeat Heriot's in their final match – that encounter may be played this midweek now with Heriot's out of the cup – then 'Sonians will be down before they even play Melrose in their last match later this month.

On Saturday, Watsonians started the stronger of the two sides, but were only 3-0 up after 26 minutes when Mike Fedo was sin-binned. Hawks gained momentum from that and went in at the break 10-3 to the good, Mat Whittleston scoring a try and Andy White kicking five points.

The visitors were level soon after half-time thanks to a well-worked try by Richard Minto before the hosts scored 13 points in a five-minute spell.

That put them 23-10 up and although at one point 'Sonians clawed things back to 28-22 the victory that gives Hawks hope of a top-four finish was confirmed late on when replacement Gavin McDonald went over.

For Hawks, the second-row pairing of Whittleston and Rory Hamilton showed up well, while Watsonians were left to rue some of their decision-making.

Scorers: Glasgow Hawks: Tries: Whittleston, Hair, Taylor, Maclay, McDonald. Pens: White 2. Con: White.

Watsonians: Tries: Minto, Rowe, Learmonth. Pen: Ker. Cons: Ker 2.

Glasgow Hawks: C Gossman; S Murray, R Hair, G Harkness, M Taylor; A White, P Jericevich; G Strain, E Milligan, J Stafford, R Hamilton, M Whittleston, R McKay, G Strang, G Oommen. Subs used: G Hunter, C Kerr, J Maclay, E Morrison, G McDonald.

Watsonians: A Rowe; A Turnbull, M Learmonth, S Trotter, R Minto; M Ker, J Blackwood; N Hart, G Wood, K Coertze, J Duthie, T Weizman, H Grant, S McInally, M Fedo. Subs used: G Scott, N Dennis, J Pelter, M Di Rollo.

Referee: C Rudkin.