Rory Hutton eager to avenge last-gasp Gala defeat

Captain Rory Hutton is enjoying life in a Hawick team that has 'belief as a group'. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Last weekend the Greens  defeated title-chasing Ayr for the second time this term while they have also beaten third- placed Melrose already.

However, other results have not been so good – such as a 43-10 loss at Glasgow Hawks – and, with one match to go  before the Christmas break,  Hawick are eighth in the table.

Earlier in the campaign, when they hosted Gala at Mansfield Park, they were left stunned after Craig Dods’ last-gasp drop goal won it 23-21 for the  Maroons.

Hutton, 27, said: “That last match against Gala was really close and to lose it in the manner we did was tough. That was one of the days where, although we didn’t get the win, we showed that we can compete with the top clubs in this division.

“Since the summer we have come on a lot in terms of belief as a group and we all enjoy  playing together, but we just need to make sure the way we played against Ayr last week  becomes the norm.

“We know that we are only a few points ahead of Boroughmuir in ninth, so to get a win today before Christmas would be a real boost, though we know Gala are a good side who have had the upper hand on us in  recent meetings.”

Hutton is one of three players from Hawick, along with prop Shawn Muir and winger Scott McLeod, in the Club XV squad this season.

“It is an exciting thing to be part of and I am really pleased for Shawn and Scott. Shawn has always had great potential and Scott has been our best performer this season so far,” he stated.

Gala head into this Borders derby in fourth place but on the back of five league losses. Indeed, their last win in the BT Premiership was on 11 October.

Meanwhile, Glasgow Hawks second-row Andy Linton is  delighted to be back from three months out injured and is looking forward to the match away to Melrose.

Irishman Linton, 28, captained Hawks against Heriot’s and Ayr in the opening two weeks of the campaign, but hurt his left foot in the latter.

He was back involved last week for the first XV in the 16-13 win over Gala and has been named amongst the replacements for today’s trip to The Greenyards.

“It was very frustrating getting injured in just the second match of the season,” he said. “We had had a very good win against Heriot’s and then a close loss to Ayr and it has been tough watching from the sidelines since then.

“The boys played really well last week to defeat Gala and it has given us confidence going into this weekend’s match.”

The match is set to be Jamie Dempsey’s last as head coach of Hawks as he takes up his full-time post with the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy as academy manager in the west.

Dempsey, with the help of Jimmy Sinclair and the other backroom staff, have made a great impact at Hawks, helping them return to the top flight and reach a Scottish Cup final in recent years.

Linton said: “We want to send Jamie off with a win and in the coming months we want to  continue the great work he has put in place at Hawks.”

Elsewhere today leaders Heriot’s are at home to Edinburgh Accies, Stirling County are on the road to Ayr and Currie host Boroughmuir at Malleny Park.