Hawick Linden pulled off a highly controversial smash and grab at Wardie on Saturday in a tight game that was won 13-14 which saw the tourists head back home to the Borders with the only 100% record in the League.

Linden were almost off to an dream start within the opening exchanges when Arrandale reacted quickest to defuse the ball in the dead-ball area following a grubber kick towards the Broughton line.

Nicolson had a tremendous drive up the other end of the field shortly afterwards, but the big prop was stopped just short of the Linden tryline.

Maddocks, back in the squad after recovering from a recent bug, took advantage of a penalty in the 10th minute.  The referee pinging Linden for not rolling away and the Welshman snuck the ball inside the right upright.  3-0.

From the restart, Broughton almost handed the visitors a great opportunity to register a score.  A loose pass from the back of the maul by Arrandale was in no man's land and Keenan put the ball dead in the goal area.  From the 'scrum-five' Broughton managed to reverse possession with Matthews holding up the Linden No.8 long enough to ensure the resultant maul was set to go nowhere.

Broughton were back on the scoresheet in the 22nd minute, Arrandale causing all sorts of problems for the Linden backs and with a neat kick through to the goal area, the Linden full back could only put the ball down.  The scrum that followed saw McFarlane take it at the base of the scrum towards the line and with the pack behind the drive, Wolniak wrestled over the line from close range to get his reward.  Maddocks missed the kick from out on the touchline. 8-0.

The lead was only to last 3 minutes as Linden came back down the hill and a neat kick through saw Dickson out of position and a try between the post ensured an easy kick for the extras. 8-7 to the visitors.

It could have been a different story at half-time if the match official hadn't penalised Broughton for an early jump in a line out on the Linden 5 metre line after Maddocks put them in the corner with a spectacular kick.

The second half started with both sides keen to gain the early advantage and with 55 minutes on the clock, it looked like Broughton had done so.  A rolling maul by the home pack, which went some 25 metres down the Linden right hand channel set up a breakaway for Nicolson who went to ground 5 metres out and won Broughton a scrum.  A neat interchange between Arrandale and McFarlane at the back of the scrum saw the No.8 go over for a try in the corner.  Unfortunately the angle was too much for Maddocks to convert.  13-7.

Disaster struck for Broughton with 16 minutes of the match to go.  Nicolson was sent to the sin-bin for illegal use of the feet at a ruck.

The South African referee, perhaps still reminiscing over his home Country's World Cup walkover against England the previous evening, missed a blatant piece of crossing by the Linden backline 2 minutes later as Linden used the numerical advantage to run in for the decisive score.  The visitors were still rubbing their rabbit's foot in the Clubhouse afterwards as they knew that this was a lucky break.

The try was converted and with the score sitting finely poised at 13-14, Broughton were behind for the first time in the game.

As much as they tried to come back and edge back into the lead, it just wasn't to be Broughton's day.  Maddocks attempted a drop-goal attempt that was charged down and right at the death Keenan & Dickson went on the rampage up the left hand wing, however the latter was adjudged to have knock the ball on in the tackle.

A disappointing loss at home after two victories, but, as one of the Broughton players commented in the changing room afterwards, perhaps this is the wake-up call that we needed.