Hawick 39 - 3 Jed-Forest: Light work in heavy weather as Hawick show Jed winning ways

THE gale force wind and driving rain played a major part in a game that was spoiled by the weather, and Hawick were delighted to get the game played at all and win with confidence and conviction.

Hawick carried too much power up front for a Jed team which failed to cash in on their own opportunities, and finished with six tries.

Hawick had the advantage of the wind in the first half and the 24-3 half-time lead showed that they had clinched the game in which Rory Hutton’s running and Bruce McNeil’s force were decisive.

Coach Phil Leck said that he was delighted with his team’s performance and a sound platform for the return of the national leagues in January.

“I wouldn’t be here if I did not think we could get back into Premier 1,” he said.

Jed are in distress and coach Darren Cunningham added: “That was our fifth successive defeat and we need to address that problem.”

Hawick were ahead after only two minutes when Neil McColm had a free run to the right-hand corner and Lee Armstrong, a late replacement for Neil Renwick, banged over the conversion.

Jed were lucky when Greg Cottrell’s pass to Renwick went straight into touch, but they were not be denied, and Barrie Keown went over under the posts and Armstrong added the extra points.

Aussie Andy McLean closed the gap with a penalty, but the celebrations were short-lived as Hutton ran clear from 30 metres to score after he spread-eagled the visiting defence.

Jed found difficulty in harnessing the wind, but a darting break from Darren Gillespie from deep inside his own half was halted by a dropped pass.

However, they were stretched, and from Hutton’s break over 50 metres, the ball was recycled quickly allowed Steven Anderson to dart in for a try and a 24-3 interval.

Hawick seized the initiative but a forward pass stopped them in their tracks.

The aggression was coming from the home side as they looked to build on their supremacy with much of the possession, and Armstrong added a penalty with Hawick falling just short of a try.

Jed worked hard to plunder a try against a resilient defence, although time was not on their side and Hawick put the game beyond doubt with Kieran Willison’s try and Armstrong’s third conversion.

Replacement Michael Robertson’s try wrapped up a festive day for the Greens.