After a long mini bus journey that took the team down the A68, through Denholm (Beeping at a young lad kicking conversions and he missed) the team finally made it down to Hawick with Bradley the new bus driver.

Both teams playing in black was quite confusing, normally the home team having to change to an alternative top but the referee was happy to go for it so we kicked off.

Into the match the first few minutes were spent mostly in the middle of the park until Quins forwards made a break down the right hand side and started to put a bit pressure on, this resulting in a penalty on the 5th minute for Quins dual registered Hawick player Scott Peffers, making the score 3-0.
This seems to wake up the Forrester side, as straight from the kick off, Quins where forced into a knock on. From the resulting scrum and couple of phases, a great break from Seva Tolutinikaono down the left wing put Stewart Fulton over in the corner for the first try of the game on the 7th minute. Stookie somehow managing to un-hook his caravan and keep up with Seva for the score in the corner! Unfortunately Fraser Newbury could not add the extra points taking the score to 3-5.

The next 10 minutes in the game was played between both teams 22, kicking back and forward and phases of play cancelling each other out. Forrester managed to pick up an attacking scrum on the 22 right over on the left hand side, a couple phases later and a good combination from Seva Tolutinikaono & Robbie Douglas, put Robbie over in the right hand corner for a well worked try. This time Fraser Newbury managed to add the extra’s taking the score to 3-12.

From the following kick off Forrester was able to clear its lines back up to the halfway line. Quins from the resulting lineout nudged the ball back into the 22 putting the pressure back on, after the resulting lineout and a few phases, Forrester was adjudge to have given away a penalty and Quins Peffers stepped up again to slot over the 3 points for his side, taking the score to 6-12.

This seemed to give the Quins side a kick up backside and a boost they needed. From the kick off they went about building phases and putting the pressure back on Forrester. This worked well as they picked up another score on the 27th minute mark of the match, which was converted, taking the score to 13-12.

A good take from the kick off and Quins were back on the attack, after a couple of breaks and some passive tackling from Forrester they got into the 22. Some good phases from them let the go over in the far corner to pick up another score, which was converted taking the score now to 20-12 on the 33rd minute of the game.
The next 7 minutes was played up and down the park, with both teams trying to gain the upper hand on the kicking battle.

HT – Hawick Harlequins 20 – Forrester 12

Second half kicks off and a knock on from that kick off see’s Quins pick up a scrum on the 22. From this they managed to recycle the ball and score in the corner which was not converted. Taking the score to 25-12.

Coach Bree could see a couple changed were needed and made all 4 changed by the 45 minute in the game. Aidan Beveridge, Callum McMillan, Jordan Kay & Stewart Fulton all leaving the field to make way for Daniel Marr, Colin Gordon, Lucas Buxton & PJ Crolla.

This game was starting to slip away from Forrester and in past games they probably would have given up and let in some very loose scores. Not today, the forwards seemed to take the game by the scruff of the neck and start to dominate all carries around the park. It was from this where Forrester got there next score’s.
First a penalty from Fraser Newbury, after a series of carries from the forwards and runners of 9 & 10 a penalty was picked up. Taking the score to 25-15.

From the resulting kick off, the forwards got it going again, & after around 8 pick and go’s from the forwards pack being barked at by Sean Broadfoot, Paddy Bree went over for a standard 2/3 meter try. Fraser Newbury was un-able to add the conversion. Take the score to 25-20.

This seemed to kick a belief back into the Forrester side that they could turn this current score line around and go on and win this game. From the kick off it was knocked on and a scrum to Forrester on the 10m line. Alan Panther set up his back line to attack and went at the Quins defensive line himself. After multiple phases Forrester were down into the 22.
Alan Panther stuck a kick in behind the Quins defence that Seva Tolutinikaono was able to pounce on and get a score in the far left corner. Again Fraser Newbury missed the conversion. The score was now 25-25.

From the kick off Quins built phases well and managed to pick up a kickable penalty that Peffers again slotted taking them back into the lead 28-25.

From the kick off Forrester put on a lot of pressure and managed to get a turnover, then started to work through the phases and attack Quins. Working all the way down to the 5m line, where Fraser Newbury took a crash ball off makeshift 9 Alan Panther and went over for the score. Alan Panther took over the kicking duties and slotted this conversion, taking the score to 28-32.

This put Forrester back in the lead for the 2nd time in the game. Fraser Newbury was feeling the effect of his carry and came off a few minutes later to be replaced by Stewart Fulton. We were into the final 10 mins of the game. Quins were throwing the kitchen sink at Forrester by this time, but there were being their own worst enemies. Passed going behind, knock on’s, turnover scrums, lost lineout’s. With these mistakes Forrester manage to build more pressure on the Quins side and again the forwards went to task and carried a lot of ball and made the hard yards for back to get on the front foot. Robbie made a good break down the right to be stopped 10meters sort. From there the backs were never getting he ball back. Nearly every forward was involved through carry and carry to finish off with John McMillan crashing over for a final try for the team - Eventually!! (John though he had scored a couple minutes before but never noticed it was actually the 5m line) Alan Panther not able to add the extras. Taking the score to 28-37.

The final couple of minutes were played in Forrester’s half, Quins desperately trying to gain a losing bonus point from the game. But the game was halted on the Forrester 22m with a clear stamp in front of the referee from Quins number 6 and he was shown a straight red card. Forrester kicked the ball of the park and it was game over.

This was a huge result for Forrester down in the borders. Not only to get the win, a bonus point win and for Quins to get nothing out the game. A job very well done. In the past Forrester teams would have put their heads down and let a team steam roll them once they had went down on the score board, true character was shown from 1-19 on this day.