On the other side of the coin, Phil Smith was obviously delighted with the result, and optimistic about where his Hawks are heading.

“We did have to win, and we’re just beginning to show the way we can play, that we’ve been trying all season,” he said. “We’ve found it difficult against some of the bigger teams which meant we’ve not been able to grow any momentum off the back of good performances, so last week and this week are wee building blocks of good performances, and the result is what we’ve achieved today.

“I was a little bit disappointed in the second half, but our set-piece faltered so we didn’t get the possession we wanted in the areas of the field we wanted, but our defence stood strong.

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to name the same starting XV and we’ve gone back-to-back, and we still have two home games, so it’s a positive that we’re starting to look more effective at home.”

There was very little to choose between these two sides, and in the end it’s Logan Jarvie’s awareness and opportunism just before half-time which won the day. With the scores at 14-5 and Melrose in possession, he spotted the ball at the base of the ruck and kicked ahead. He and namesake Logan Karl chased after it; Karl realised he was losing and tried to dive on the ball but was unable to gather cleanly. Jarvie stooped, scooped and juggled before diving over the line.

It had been fairly dreich, resulting in a choppy pitch, so this seemed a day destined for the packs to make the old adage about forwards winning games ring true. That, and whoever didn’t rub visiting referee Alberto Favaro up the wrong way.

To begin with, Melrose had drawn the Italian’s attention – a series of offsides and tackling offences giving Hawks good field position. Eventually, Liam Brims was able to push one to the corner within striking range, and captain Ryan Flett received the ball from the line-out to carve his way to the line.

Melrose’s front-row started to cause some turnover trouble at the breakdown for the hosts. When Zen Szwagrzak won a penalty it led to him and Donald Crawford making good yards up the pitch before the ball was sent wide to Corey Goldsbrough to finish.

A piece of quality link-up between Brims and Flett helped create Hawks’ second try. Brims’ cross-kick was picked out by Flett, and another Euan Muirhead carry took Hawks into the Melrose 22. Forwards and backs had their goes, before it went back to the forwards and Isaiah Malaulau showed them all how it was done.

Although Hawks began the second half buoyed by Jarvie’s score which came slightly against the run of play, Melrose defended resolutely when required, and the penalties started racking up against Hawks.

Zander Ramage faked a pass and found a gaping hole in the Hawks’ defence before drawing the last man and feeding centre-partner Donald Crawford to go in under the posts, before Hawks’ Tom Banatvala received the only yellow-card of a game which contained 30 penalties – for being the wrong miscreant at the wrong time.

Numerical advantage failed to yield a score though, so with the sin-bin clock starting to run down, Ramage struck over a three-point penalty to put Melrose within a converted try on the scoreboard and a losing bonus point.

Hawks had a half-chance with a break down the left spearheaded by their replacement James Campbell, who had also won a scrum penalty as a stand-in for Banatvala, but they ended up being penalised at the breakdown. Again.

Tired bodies, tired minds and a badly misfiring Melrose line-out meant they could do no more with the penalties handed their way, leading to much of Wight’s frustration.

 

Teams –

Glasgow Hawks: E Muirhead; R Flett©, L Jarvie, P Kelly, J Couper; L Brims, S Steele; T Banatvala, T McTeir, I Malaulau, S Lima, M Oliver, C Nolan, Y Shaheen, S Hastings. Subs used: J Campbell, M Crumlish, A Rutherford, A Syme, C Reidy, F Thompson, J Hastings.

Melrose: M Gabe; D Mulcahy, D Crawford, Z Ramage, C Goldsbrough; L Clark, D Crawford; J Dobie, S Rainey, Z Szwagrzak, T Brown, A Runciman©, W Ferrie, P Anderson, S Derrick. Subs used: A Arkley, Z Wheeler, A Weir, G Lindsay, B Colvine, S Kirk, C Spence.

Referee: Alberto Favaro

 

Scorers –

Glasgow Hawks: Tries: Flett, Malaulau, Jarvie; Cons: Brims 3.

Melrose: Tries: Goldsbrough, D Crawford; Cons: Ramage; Pens: Ramage.

Scoring sequence (Glasgow Hawks first): 5-0; 7-0; 7-5; 12-5; 14-5; 19-5; 21-5 (h-t) 21-10; 21-12; 21-15.

 

Yellow cards –

Glasgow Hawks: Banatvala

 

Player-of-the-match: Glasgow Hawks back-row Craig Nolan got through a ton of dirty work required on a day like this.

Talking point: Although the penalty count was high, both coaches thought that he had handled the match fairly and consistently, so grazie mille Signor Favaro.