Roddy Deans, a member of Hawick's coaching team, believes the way the team's set-piece functioned was crucial to their BT Premiership victory at Gala yesterday.
The Greens travelled to Netherdale for the Borders derby on the back of a good home win over Ayr. In the first half, against a Gala side who had lost five league matches on the bounce, Hawick scored three unconverted tries through Scott McLeod and player/coach Nikki Walker (2).
A fourth try - and a bonus point - came two minutes after the interval from Nick Mactaggart and at 20-0 up they looked to be cruising.
Gala fought back, but penalties in the second half for Hawick from Matty Douglas and Scott Peffers saw them win 26-12.
The result leaves Hawick just a point behind Gala in fourth place and still in the mix for a play-off spot.
"I thought the boys played really well and backed up the good things they did against Ayr last week," Deans said. "Whenever the set-piece is working well then it helps a team to go forward with menace and that happened for us in this one. We know we have good finishers out wide, so to get them so much ball was pleasing."
Heriot's are still top after they secured a bonus point 32-20 win over Edinburgh Accies at Goldenacre. The try scorers for Heriot's were Jono Armstrong, Graham Wilson, Davy McGregor and Glenn Bryce. Wilson added another 12 points with the boot through two penalties and three conversions.
Second-placed Ayr came from 19-6 behind to defeat Stirling County 28-22 at Millbrae. County got off to a flying start, but a converted try from Robbie Fergusson dragged Ayr back to 19-13 behind at half time. A penalty and then a converted try by Danny McCluskey saw the home side go ahead 23-19, before a further try from Dougie Hall.
Melrose, who are in third, needed a last-gasp penalty from Joe Helps to defeat Glasgow Hawks 14-13 at The Greenyards.
The Currie-Boroughmuir match was off due to a frozen pitch.
The BT Premiership now takes a break until January 10.
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