Rugby: Di Rollo highlights further progress in loss to Hawick

Upbeat Watsonians coach Marcus Di Rollo insists his men are making progress and he remains confident that a first win of the Premiership campaign is imminent for the Myreside men.

Di Rollo witnessed his side succumb 34-19 to Hawick on Saturday, but he believes he has the essential elements at his disposal to create a successful side. "I think we have been putting minutes together but we have not had a complete 80 minutes yet," he said, before reflecting on Saturday's performance.

"It was an improvement. We've got a young team. There's a lot of new guys and we just have to keep edging on every week and improving aspects of our game, and iron out the stuff we're not so good at."

The former Scotland centre assumed coaching responsibilities this year after 'Sonians had narrowly avoided relegation last season. And, he knows it will take time for him to reshape his squad.

"It will be a longish process for us to get where we want to be but there were aspects of the game we were happy with," he added. "We're always good at scoring points, and our lineout went a lot better. It's just that sometimes we are a bit naive. But things are coming together.

"You look at each game - our lineout has been good in some games, the scrum has been good, our defence was good at the start of the season but we've let that fall off a bit. It's just trying to get everything in one game. I know that we are capable. If we can put an 80 together and do as well as I know we can do, we'll be a match for anybody."

Another attribute that had been missing in the five previous defeats but which the 'Sonians players displayed on Saturday was their refusal to capitulate in the face of sustained opposition pressure.

That was evident several times during a game that produced flashes of good rugby but was really a contest between two sides boasting more perspiration than inspiration. The first occasion came when the Capital side hit back after a difficult opening 15 minutes, with Andrew Porter tapping a close range penalty and forcing his way over the Hawick line to leave Mike Ker a conversion that cancelled out an earlier converted score from impressive prop Bruce McNeil, which Rory Hutton converted.

Hutton has been mentioned as a potential target for Edinburgh as cover for the injured Phil Godman, and he certainly emerged with credit from his head to head with highly-rated 'Sonians youngster Jamie Forbes, who tried tirelessly to spark his backs into life but was generally well marshalled by his opposite number. Hutton shimmied over for a self converted try after 20 minutes that restored Hawick's lead and the Borderers extended their advantage when Stuart Hogg raced in for the first of two tries. That score moved the visitors into a 19-7 interval lead, although Jamie Blackwood came within a whisker of crossing the whitewash for the hosts in the final move of the half, being collared just short of the target.

Hawick bagged the bonus point score within a minute of the restart, with Hutton racing through the heart of the 'Sonians defence to set up Hogg for his second score.

Once again, the hosts failed to crumble and they clawed their way back into the contest when Andrew Skeen showed impressive composure to power his way into opposition territory and produce a perfectly weighted chip which he gathered before racing over.

Hutton countered with a penalty for a 29-12 lead but 'Sonians upped the pace and Forbes was adjudged to have stepped into touch just short of the line before Craig Owenson touched down after a powerful drive by the 'Sonians pack. Forbes booted the conversion to give the hosts a sniff of the win.

However, Hawick's Fraser McKenzie had the final say. The Edinburgh lock powered over from 50 metres to seal the victory. On his contribution, which was in sharp contrast to that of fellow pro Lewis Niven who was red carded for a punch, McKenzie laughed, "I got a bit of a nosebleed at the end - it was unknown territory."

Scorers:

Watsonians: Tries: Porter, Skeen, Owenson. Cons: Ker, Forbes.

Hawick: Tries: McNeil, S Hogg (2), Hutton, McKenzie. Cons: Hutton (3)

Watsonians: A Nash, D Brown, A Skeen, J Blackwood, C Sorbie, J Forbes, M Ker, S Laird, T Wright, D Orr, E Hunter, D Gorman, S Ursache, A Porter H Grant. Subs used: K Coertze, M Fedo, J Mokomoto, C Owenson, B Di Rollo.

Hawick: G Johnstone, C Robertson, S Hogg, G Hogg, S Anderson, R Huton, G Cottrell, B McNeil, M Landels, S Linton, C Charters, F McKenzie, N McTaggart, D Landels, K Davies. Subs used: L Niven, M Graham, G Lowrie

Referee: R McHenry (Dumfries)