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"No other human power can match that of determination. It has the potential to create heaven or hell not just for oneself, but also for the world. It is the ultimate terminator, unstoppable and invincible; nothing can stand in its way - not obstacles, not dangers, not even death. Nations rise and fall on the backs of a few determined souls. The most glorious as well as the most heinous pages of human history belong to individuals, who are totally resolute and fearless in their single-minded pursuit, regardless of the costs."
Broughton 32 Hawick Linden 22
With the growing anticipation of a potential championship winning season bumper attendance had been seen at the Tuesday and Thursday training seasons and all boded well for a flowing game of rugby on the Saturday with are all action southern hemisphere back line being the stars of the show again.
However when Saturday morning greeted rugby fans to an early down pour and sloppy hands in the pre match warm up nothing was guaranteed and a possible upset from a youthful Hawick Linden team could have been on the cards. Certainly after two minutes when Hawick used fast hands to release their winger on the right hand side of the pitch who was able to outpace the cover defense all was not looking good with the conversation letting Linden take a 0 - 7 lead.
But as everybody knows one try does not make a win and with a new found determination that has been with Broughton all season the pack started to dominate the game with pressure on the opposition scrums and with outstanding jumping by the locks the Broughton catch and drive game started to roll. In the first quarter Mad Mike finished off great driving work by the pack to score in the top right corner, however not for the first time this day it appeared as if somebody had substituted Paul Hamers kicking boots for clown shoes and the extra points went spare with the score staying at 5 - 7.
Hawick Linden had obviously not read the script for the day and continued to pressure the Broughton team with a string of high balls and whilst Broughton failed to defuse the bombs Linden grew in confidence and showed the form that has taken them to 4th in the table. Then as Broughton looked to reassert their dominance bad news struck with a converted Hawick Linden penalty and the loss of hard man Chris O'Neil with a suspected dislocated shoulder. The team knew the injury was bad when O'Neil for only the 2nd time in his rugby history was heard to scream whilst being placed on the stretcher (the previous time was when he reattached his own leg with barbed wire after it was bitten off by a polar bear whilst playing a tour match in the Antarctica early on in his career).
Once O'Neil had been scrapped off the pitch proceedings continued at a lightning pace and a speculative chip in the Hawick 22 by Captain for the day Dan Arrandale saw a well placed Donald Piper able to out jump the rest of the Hawick players to score on the left hand side of the pitch leaving Hamer to miss the posts again and send Broughton into half time drawing 10 - 10. With wise words from coach Bubba during the half time break, who was later quoted in the Evening News mentioning the game as "That was touch and go stuff" Broughton re-energized themselves and took the fight to Linden.
From the restart Kerry Sargeant wearing 15 and possibly the smallest player on the pitch then showed the biggest amount heart by leading the side and demonstrated his full potential in possibly his best game for the club to date. With confident defusing of the opposition bombs and in turn jinxing runs through the chasing Linden defensive line he was supported admirably by the wingers of Madison and Mowbray who never stopped running all day. From one of the many runs he combined with Hamer to release Payne on the left side to crash over the line unopposed and extending Broughton?s lead to 15 -10 as once again the kick went anywhere but over the posts. Then as Broughton looked to turn the screw further and collect the bonus point Hawick centre Craig Smith intercepted a loose pass in his own 22 to release full back Graeme Robertson on his way who put a long kick forward which was in turn collected by the winger who scored under the posts from his second try and with the conversation took Linden to a 15 - 17 lead.
But fear not as the game started to run into it?s final quarter Broughton in turn discovered the finishing form which killed off Lismore in the cup the previous week. After a scuffle on the touch line a penalty for Broughton saw them camped in the oppositions half and after several drives by Broughton the Hawick number 4 was sin binned for constant collapsing of the maul and allowed Duncan Nicolson the chance to crash over the line from a tap penalty on the 5 metre line beating approx 5 of their players. With the kicking duties passed to Gareth Payne he decided to also put on the clown feet to miss what appeared to be a simple conversation leaving Broughton 20 - 17 ahead.
With ten minutes to go the game was further put out of Lindens reach when Paul ?starry? Hamer did what he does best and went for a 40 meter run using his dummy and strong hand off to cut through the opposition back line and score allowing kicker number three Dan Arrandale to miss another kick leaving the score 25 - 17. Not to be out done though and to put in a claim for the try of the match Hawick Linden then where able to break from their own 5 meter line and through quick hands and a tired Broughton cover defense draw the score to 27 - 22 as they made us feel good by missing their conversation.
Then to return the favor Gareth "smooth" Payne who had an outstanding game with his usually hard defense but move importantly today through driving the ball forward at every opportunity was able to intercept and score his second try of the day and with the only conversation of the day by Arrandale lead to the final score line of 32 - 22.
Special mention should be given to not only man of the match Mike McLennan but to all Broughton players today as they toughed out a Hawick Linden side and set up a corking finish to the season. Due to a Penicuik win Broughton have to beat Lass wade (who could take 2nd place if they win) on April 9th and collect the bonus to take the title.
All support in the cup on the 2nd away to Ardrossan and then on 9th will be appreciated by all on the pitch.
Current league table is at: Scottish Rugby - Clubs
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