A 5-try 5 star second half performance by a injury-ravaged Broughton side saw them collect a bonus point in a 3-38 win away to Hawick Harlequins.

With Head Coach Graham Bonner on the bench, the message was clear - If you were starting, you were finishing!  And finish with a flourish they did.

However, it wasn't all plain sailing and as the teams turned around at half time like a triangular sandwich - 3 points a piece, no-one could have predicted the try-fest and entertaining back play from a Broughton side that produced some of it's best rugby this season.

Broughton travelled to Hawick Quins for this S.H.E. clash with a heavily depleted squad and when Matt Pannell called off early Saturday to go paragliding (yes, you read it properly the first time!) it was down to the bare 15 of a side, with Bonner and McClure having to fill the places on the bench.

Mssrs Beaton and McFarlane, two of the injured squad members, made the most of the glorious Hawick sunshine (hard to believe it was October!) and brought a pre-match picnic whilst the team went through their last minute preparations.

The Quins were the first to get on the scoresheet as early as the 2nd minute when the referee pinged Broughton for not releasing at the ruck.  The kick at the posts was successful and a tough away day to Hawick seemed on the cards. 3-0.

Walker, standing in for the injured Maddocks, made good of a penalty for the visitors, awarded for a high tackle in front of the posts. 3-3 after 7 mins. 3-3.

This may have been the last of the first half scoring, however, there were chances for both kickers to increase their respective tallies but a couple of missed opportunities at either end meant the teams were heading to the sheds stuck at 3-3.

Quins had an ideal opportunity to take the lead on the stroke of half-time, but for a reason only perhaps known to themselves, they opted to try a rumbling run under the posts instead of taking the easy points.  A strong Broughton defence held firm and Arrandale cleared the danger.

Whatever Coach Bonner said at the interval to his players it should be replayed at every game! 

Broughton came out of the traps like a greyhound on speed from the opening whistle of the second half and Man of the Match Heelan almost made it to the line with an interchange with Keenan.  Unfortunately the Irish comedy duo conspired to get in each other's way and Heelan was in front of Keenan's kick through and was penalised.

Urquhart then took it up to the Quins worried looking defence, bouncing players off him with regular success.  The Kiwi put Malcolm into space but his kick through was just too heavy and it bounced a metre behind the try line and went out.

Walker was causing untold damage with his boot and a fine clearance forced Quins back into their 22.  The Quins hooker was having a bad day at the office and his throw was squint allowing Broughton a platform to work from.  Urquhart broke off the back of the scrum but he was bundled into touch.  Again, the line-out was down the home side's line and this time the Broughton forwards punished their hosts.  Canadian Cage-Fighter Jarvis picked up and fought his way over the whitewash for a try.  Walker converted to make it 03-10 after 47 minutes.

Worse was to follow for the home side from the restart.  Wells received the ball and set up a maul just outside the Broughton 10.  Arrandale got the shout from Walker and the youngster left the Quins defence (oh, and his Broughton team-mates!) standing and in Habana style, his half pitch sprint allowed him to go in under the posts.  He converted his own kick and a bit of light started to appear between the two sides.  03-17.

Come the day and come the hour, an it was Ireland's call for Keenan to come up with the goods.  The Dubliner scored a well worked try under the posts after a rolling maul put the pack within 10 metres of the uprights.  Arrandale saw Keenan out of the corner of his eye making a move for the ball and his perfectly flighted pass put the centre in for a score that was converted once again by Walker.  03-24.

Sadly the Cock of the Week uniform hasn't been made yet, however there would be a strong candidate for the outfit in the shape of Urquhart.  In a move that saw the Kiwi bulldoze through a couple of players, he was within 5 metres of the line when a rush of blood to the head saw him pass the ball inside to our Little Refugee Friend, sorry Khal, but the hooker couldn't pick it up from his shoelaces.

The hooker wasn't on for much longer after 'breaking his calf' (aye, guid yin wee man!) after attempting to chase down a kick in the Quins dead-ball area.  This saw McClure come off the bench, and as he commented after the game, he has started and put a lid on his front-row career on a winning side!

Harper, who's pace in attack was at times outstanding, showed that he was as good in defence after a quick breakaway run from the home side in the 67th minute following a penalty for Broughton not releasing in the Quins 22.  The Quins Stand-Off's kick and chase ought to have secured him a try for his efforts, however Harper hounded him down like a Bloodhound on a Boxing Day Hunt and a certain try was saved.

60 seconds later and it was a bonus-point try scoring Man of the Match moment that the Wardie faithful have missed for a few seasons.  Heelan came up with the ball from just inside his own half and his jinky run got the home defence in a right mess and he powered over the line for a great piece of individual brilliance.  Walker converted. 03-31.

The try scoring wasn't finished and in the last play of the game, old warhorse Nicolson collected the ball from a good 15 metres out and even with the close attention of two defenders (okay, they were trying to hang onto him and pull him down!) he rumbled over for another try.  Walker made it 5 out of 5 from his conversion kicks and the final whistle sounded with Broughton running in 03-38 victors.

The bus trip back home allowed the boys to make good use of the Broughton Song Book and I am sure the driver will have been more than happy to drop us all off at Clark's Bar!