Hawick 11 - 9 Currie: Comeback win for Hawick soured by injury

HAWICK came close to booking a top eight place with a comeback win in a bruising encounter at Mansfield Park, but the victory was marred by a last-minute injury to Greg Cottrell.

The scrum half was rushed off to hospital and coach Derek Armstrong admitted: "That puts rugby in perspective."

Hawick took the points in an amazing fightback with a try in 70 minutes and Rory Hutton kicked the winning penalty with six minutes left. Currie's pack had dominated the first half and but only seldom threatened. But the Hawick forwards, with captain Bruce McNeil and the Landels brothers dominant, got on top after the break.

Hayden Abercrombie missed an early penalty when Daniel Landels was penalised for holding on, But the winger made no mistake in eight minutes with Hawick offside and made it 6-0 after the pack failed to roll away.

The Greens weathered the storm and Hutton cut the deficit with his club's first kick at goal.

Hawick put Currie under a lot of pressure after the break and McNeil and Hutton were both stopped short after a series of sustained pick-and-drives.

Currie dropped the ball with the line open, but referee James Mathew went back to a penalty and Matthew Scott stretched the lead in 58 minutes.

In 70 minutes, Hawick scored. A searching break from Craig Robertson set up the opening try for Johnstone. Hutton miscued his conversion attempt, but four minutes later, the stand-off kicked Hawick to a crucial win.

Scorers. Hawick: Try, Johnstone; Cons, Pens Hutton (2). Currie: Pens, Abercrombie (2). Scott.

Hawick: G. Hogg; C. Robertson, G. Johnstone, A. Dunbar, G. Anderson; R. Hutton, G. Cottrell; A. Marsh, L. Gibson, S. Linton, C. Charters, M. Robertson, N. Mactaggart, B. McNeil, D. Landels. Subs: M. Graham, K. Davies, D. Lowrie, L. Niven, M. Landels.

Currie: M. Scott; H. Abercrombie, J. Johnstone, A. MacMahon, D. Fife; A. Binikos, R. Snedden; J. Cox, S. Simomsen, A. Hamilton, R. Wilson, A. Best, M. Cairns, R. Weston, M. Entwhistle. Subs: F. Scott, N. Scobie, S. Burton, G. Semple, J. Smith.

Referee: J Mathew.