Lasswade 22-17 Hawick YM: Lasswade's dominance in the pack sees them secure double

ONE of the most attractive aspects of Saturday's cup finals day was the opportunity it provided to witness some of the most ambitious clubs in Scotland enjoying a richly deserved appearance on the national pitch.

In an entertaining and thrilling Shield final, two such clubs grasped the chance to highlight rugby on the rise, even if it was a bit too much rugby for Lasswade coach Dave Cockburn. The former Boroughmuir and Scotland B front row, who has yet to decide whether he will still be at Hawthornden next season, said: "We knew YM were dangerous and we had to control the game in the forwards, and if we'd done that a bit more we might have had the game won earlier.

"The boys want to play rugby, they enjoy moving the ball and while it played into Hawick's hands at times it made for an exciting final. And Jammy McFarlane (YM coach] is a very good coach, who knows how to play to his side's strengths.

"It's a great way for us to end the season, with a league and shield double. When I came they had developed the ground and infrastructure, deciding to put money from the land sale into the grassroots rather than on buying foreign players, and we have a great youth system now at Lasswade, the 2nd XV is filling up with our own local talent and the 1st XV is providing inspiration for everyone, taking Lasswade from National Three to Premier Three and to two Shields, in three years."

Though sharing a town of 16,000 people with three other senior clubs, including Hawick itself, Billy Lilly's 'Redskins' of Hawick YM are rising too, from National Two to One this year. Though disappointed in defeat they contributed much to this final with an exciting brand of rugby.

Lasswade had the dominant pack, led well by skipper Mark Billingham and two-try hero and man of the match Dale Robertson, but YM had more dangerous runners in Lee Armstrong, Dean McCracken, Scot McLeod, Glyn Desport and Neil McComb in particular.

A try from lock Donald Hearn pulled Lasswade level at 12-12 at the break, YM having led through Desport with Robertson replying with an interception and fine 40 metre sprint to score and the ambitious Armstrong putting YM back in front.

In a frantic second half, there were missed penalties, 'tries' pulled back for infringements and yellow cards for McCracken and Gav Brown, but a second Robertson try equalled by one from YM's 'Jet' McLeod set up a tense finale.

And it proved controversial too as McColm was flattened by a shoulder on a chip-and-chase out of the YM 22 before Lasswade regained possession and Gavin Sharp finished a fine score in the right-hand corner. Lasswade then tightened up, using their experience to see out the game and become the first team to win the Shield twice.

Scorers: Lasswade: Tries: Robertson 2, Hearn, Sharp. Con: Wood. Hawick YM: Tries: G Desport, Armstrong, McLeod, Con: Armstrong.

Lasswade: J Carmichael; K Smith, J Elliot, B Hennessey, N Gray; N Wood, N Clark; D Robertson, G Cook, M Billingham (capt), D Grant, D Hearn, R Borthwick, C Quigley, G Brown. Subs used: N Durie, G Sharp.

Hawick YM: A Weir; C Ritson, S McLeod, D McCracken, G Desport; L Armstrong, B Campbell; B Lilly (capt), G Douglas, A Turnbull, S Mabon, L Mallin, C Robson, S Hill, R Gibson. Subs used: R Halliday, S Desport, G Cannon, N McColm.

Referee: F Balharry.