For a while it looked as though Hutchesons'-Aloysians promotion hopes would go on hold after Stewart's-Melville staked their own claim by taking a
10-6 half-time lead at Auldhouse. Fraser Pollock kicked a penalty then converted Mark Elliot's try with H-A responding with only a couple of Euan
Baillie penalties.
The home side rallied in the second half as Baillie stuck over a couple of penalties, Trevor Carmichael crossed for the crucial try and Anthony Posa wrapped it up with a drop goal with the 23-16 scoreline ensuring Division 2 rugby at Auldhouse next term. Pollock's two second half penalties earned Stew-Mel a bonus that takes their challenge down to the last game against Dundee. Given Biggar's result they will have to win at Mayfield with a bonus and a big score and hope Biggar get nothing from their final match against H-A.
Biggar stretched their lead in second place to five points with a 45-3 win over a Haddington side who had come to Hartreemill with an outside chance of promotion, but were effectively blown away by a six-try blitz. Winger Jon Hori grabbed two tries and Richard Wood, Jarrod Caunter, Stewart Harrison, and Scott Lawson one each with Caunter converting the lot and adding a penalty. Biggar need only one point from their final outing against H-A for promotion and by the time that comes around, the title could have been decided.
Dundee made themselves safe and consigned Berwick to National League rugby with a 31-8 win at Mayfield, claiming only their fifth bonus of the season into the bargain. Shannon Wilson, Mark Lamont, Tim Parrett and Alan Brown shared the tries with Roddy Leslie converting one and slotting three penalties. Berwick's response was an Adam Scott try and Matt McCreath penalty.
Hillhead-Jordanhill were never in the hunt in their quest to avoid the drop and went down 19-6 at Musselburgh, with the Clarke's claiming the home side's points, Andrew landing four penalties and the conversion of Neil's try while all the visitors offered was two Craig Neilson penalties.
Playing purely for pride, Glasgow Southern-Edinburgh Accies ended 34-34. Richie Nolan had two tries for Southern with Mike Loakman, James Noonan and Shannon Warren claiming one apiece and Noonan converting three and slotting a penalty. Stewart Little, Phil Smith, David Linton, Rory Boyd and Jason Perrett had the Accies tries with Smith scoring three conversions and a penalty.
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