Glasgow Hawks 46 - 26 Stirling County: Wright pleased with Hawks' gritty game

"AMBITION realised", was Hawks' coach Peter Wright's reaction to his side's bonus-point win at Old Anniesland. After winning their three opening fixtures, though, Wright knows the next three games, at Currie and Melrose with a visit from Ayr in between, will test his side to the full.

County coach Eddie Pollock was left bemoaning the way his side managed to lose when ten points up with 15 minutes left: "We were guilty of bad decision-making. We had the game won but threw it away," he fumed.

County's poor handling gifted Hawks early tries, scored by Ross Miller and Dean Kelbrick in the opening ten minutes. Stuart Edwards kicked a penalty, then, in the final ten minutes of the first half Campbell Rae made a try for Graeme Lindsay, then scored one himself before a second Edwards penalty gave County an 18-12 half-time lead.

Edwards and White exchanged penalties, then Craig Deacons scored another County try. However, from 26-18 up the visitors folded as Hawks finished strongly, with Craig Gossman, Joffy White and Adrian Smith scoring for the home side, before Miller finished what he had started with his side's sixth try.

"We made hard work of it, but this was a massive win for us, considering we didn't defend well for 60 minutes. We realise we will have to step up a level over the next three weeks," said Hawks' skipper Rory McKay.

Scorers: Hawks: Tries: Miller (2), Kelbrick, C Gossman, J White, Smith. Cons: A White (3), C Gossman, Jericevich. Pens: A White (2). Stirling: Tries: Lindsay, Rae, Deacons. Con: Edwards. Pens: Edwards (3).

Hawks: C Gossman; J White, Kelbrick, Milne, K Gossman; A White, Jericevich; Nyemba, Milligan, Hunter, Harvey, Kirkland, McKay, Hill, Miller. Subs used: Smith, Niven, Hamilton, Steven.

Stirling: McGowan; Lindsay, Hope, Gilmour, Addison; Edwards, Kennedy; Hunter, Moffat, Black, Rae, Gilchrist, Edwards, Clarke, Deacons. Subs used: Morrison, Ashe, Mountford, Calder.

Referee: A Healy.