Match Report
The final friendly before the league programme commences was played at the Hawks training base at Nethercraigs Playing Fields in Corkerhill.
A lot of good work had been done on the pitch, and it was looking in splendid condition despite the thunderous showers that had fallen on it during the week.
Dundee Rugby from National Division 1 were the visitors. The Clubs had met each other, in a Scottish cup tie, back in March when Hawks won, in a hotly contested match, by a try in the final minute of playing time. It was therefore anticipated that this would be a good preparation for the game against Hawick next Saturday.
The Hawks team listed on Friday had a much more mature look than in previous seasons. Three players from the Super League have joined the Club, namely, full back, James Couper, stand-off Liam Brimms and tight head, Marcus Goodwin.
Unlike last year, there were only two teenager in the starting line up, James Imrie at scrum-half and Aaron Burgess at blind side flanker. Two more teenagers were on the bench, Howie Roxburgh and Ewan Sime.
Despite the loss of young players at the end of last season to the Futures and other Super League clubs, there are still over 20 teenagers registered by the Club, and no doubt a number of them will get their chance when the season gets fully underway.
A bright, mild afternoon greeted the players and spectators when they arrived at the ground, and it stayed that way all afternoon.

Hawks kicked off and for the next 40 minutes simply blew their opponents away with a display of controlled rugby, the like of which they haven't achieved for a few years. The handling was secure, the scrum pushed their opponents off their own ball three times, the driving maul was organised, the lineout was well-organised and backs and forwards ran with pace. The end result was that by the half-time break, 6 tries had been scored and Hawks led by 36-0
In the 3rd minute, the first try was scored by Tiaan Wright from a rolling maul after a penalty had been kicked into the corner.
The second try, in the 15th minute by James Couper who demonstrated his amazing acceleration after a quickly taken penalty. He demonstrated this again 2 minutes later to bring the score to 17-0
And so the pattern continued with tries in the 21st, 36th and 40th minute. The final try by Wayne Burrows, who had a fine game in the centre. An Irishman who recently joined the Club from Cartha.
The second half turned out to be a complete contrast. Dundee, determined to make a fist of it, came right back straight from the start and put Hawks under pressure. Ewan Morrison scored their first try, converted by Fraser McKay. 35-7
Despite some good play, they continued to make mistakes and Hawks profited from these with tries by Wayne Burrows, converted by Liam Brimms, followed by a great break by James Pinkerton again converted by Liam Brimms to take the score to 50-7.
Gavin Cruikshanks, who had replaced Liam Brimms at stand-off, was the next scorer, converting his own try. The final Hawks try was scored by James Pinkerton, converted by Gavin Cruikshanks.
All credit to Dundee they never gave up and despite the score they scored 2 tries in the final 10 minutes by Calvin Nolan and Calvin Marklet.
Similar to Hawks, Dundee have lost a number of players from last year, and apparently only 6 or 7 of the team that narrowly lost to Hawks in March were in the team today.
We wish them all success in national 1 this year, and thank them for travelling all the way from Dundee for the match.
Thanks also to George Pounder for refereeing the match.

No doubt, Hawks will have a sterner test when they play Hawick next Saturday but on today's display they seem to be moving in the right direction