Heriot's 22-17 Hawick

Heriot's stepped up their challenge for a top-three place with a hard-fought win over a Hawick side that matched the Edinburgh outfit in every facet of an entertaining contest that was switched to Raeburn Place.

The surreal atmosphere of a sparse attendance at a neutral venue - and the added irritant of difficult conditions - did not deter the sides in their efforts to serve up an open game.

The Borderers broke the deadlock when debutant stand-off Lee Armstrong sparked a move that saw Neil Renwick send Greg Anderson in for a try which Renwick converted. That score was the catalyst for a Heriot's reaction and they squared matters when Max Learmonth darted in for a fine solo score which Graham Wilson converted.

The visitors regained the initiative when youngster Rory Sutherland - a former back rower who is continuing to progress in his conversion to a prop - displayed impressive pace and angle of running to grab a try.

Heriot's edged ahead for the first time when Graham Wilson took a scoring pass from Max Nimmo then slotted the conversion. And the host side extended their advantage when Learmonth sliced through for his second try of the afternoon.

However, the Greens made the better start to the second half and Craig Charters sent Michael Robertson in for a deserved try that trimmed the deficit to two points. And, as conditions deteriorated, the error count mounted, and the only additional score was a penalty by Wilson which sealed the win.

Heriot's: Tries: Learmonth 2, Wilson. Con: Wilson. Pen: Wilson. Hawick: Tries: G Anderson, Sutherland, Robertson. Con: Renwick.

Heriot's: C Goudie; G Bryce, M Learmonth, G Hunter, M Nimmo; R Mill, G Wilson; A Dymock, S Burnett, G Cameron, J Hill, C Osazuwa, P Eccles, S Dewar, J Syme. Subs: K Bryce, JP Ward, A Spence, J Kohn, C Ferguson

Hawick: N Renwick; G Anderson, G Johnstone, G Hogg, S Anderson; L Armstrong, G Cottrell; R Sutherland, L Gibson, S Linton, C Charters, M Robertson, D Lowrie, D Landels, B McNeil. Subs: K Davies, N McTaggart, A Marsh, H Scammel.

Referee: G Knox (Greenock).