With the gluepot at Wardie still causing the demise of fast flowing rugby, Broughton took on a Hawick Quins side which contained many a different face from the one which they beat on the opening day of the campaign. 

The Quins side, unfamiliar with each others names at times it would appear, included a Hawick 1st team scrum half and other players who touted their trade at a higher level and were clearly not the same outfit who lost 82-14 to Champions Elect Lasswade last week!

Anyway, one could be accused here of sour grapes so one will carry on with the game.  Well, I can't without a mention for the match official who spoiled a poor game of rugby even further by his unusual interpretation of the laws and his insistence in blowing up for each infringement, including dubious high tackles and the rucking laws.

So, on with the game...

Quins came out of the blocks with intent and their big Antipodean centre was unlucky not to score within 3 minutes as he took off on a rampaging run, ensuring Maddocks got a warm welcome into the game as he was bulldozed over, but he contrived to knock on just short of the line.  A further flurry some minutes later, involving the same player caused the Broughton defence to scramble and managed to hold up the Quins attack over the try line to prevent a certain try.

Broughton rode their luck until the 10th minute when the referee penalised a Broughton player for an alleged high tackle 22 metres out.  The scrum half converted the kick from bang in front. 0-3.

Quins were temporarily reduced to 14 men when their Prop was sent to the sideline for a cool down following a punch being thrown.

Broughton failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage and 2 minutes before the front row man was due to finish his bin time, Quins grabbed a try under the posts.  Broughton were caught offside and the strong No.5's quick tap allowed him to go in virtually unopposed  for the opening try.  The extras were a simple task for the on loan scrum half.  0-10.

The home side responded with a try on their own on the half hour mark when Urquart rumbled over following a trademark Broughton maul. The big Kiwi controlled the 8 man push and he appeared at the back of the maul to flop over the line for a score.  Maddocks slipped over the conversion which would have impressed his parents watching on the sidelines! 7-10.

The second half saw Broughton take the game to the tourists as they attempted to get back into the driving seat.  Nicolson took the ball for a trademark downhill run and his offload to Urquart put Broughton into a strong position some 30 metres out.  Urquart was brought to deck, but the tackling player failed to roll away and up stepped Morrison to draw the scores level at 10 each.

Broughton just didn't seem to have a desire for holding onto a lead and within a couple of minutes they let Quins edge back in front after the No7 collected the ball from a line out after Broughton were penalised for diving over at a ruck and drove over for a score in the corner.  The Hawick scrum half kicked the Quins side into a 10-17 advantage.

Oddly enough, Broughton were allowed back into the game by the referee awarding another penalty, this time for Quins not releasing on the ground following good Broughton pressure.  Morrison reduced the Quins advantage to just four points with a great kick to make it 13-17 on the hour mark.

It was too little too late for the home team and with 7 minutes on the clock Broughton threw away a great opportunity to perhaps get their nose in front when they were camped in the Quins half in search of the try line.  Unfortunately the referee deemed a Mollier-Alexander tackle to be high (?) and the scrum half took a quick tap from just outside his 22 and ran the remaining length of the field with his pace ensuring none of the despairing Broughton defence could get back in time.

Duncan Nicolson earned the Man of the Match award and a big thanks goes to Martin Scott for his culinary skills which were much appreciated.