Musselburgh vs Hawick is always a fixture not to be missed. As we celebrate our 100th anniversary this Saturday at Stoneyhill in the Tennent's Premiership clash, we take a look back at the previous three encounters between the boys in the Butcher's Apron and the visitors from Mansfield Park.
In 1946, The Club arranged a fixture against Hawick to celebrate the 25 years of its existence. It was the Terries first ever visit to Shirehaugh, remember Musselburgh were still a junior team in those days. Hawick were the crème de la crème in rugby circles. It was a wonderful way to get the 25th Birthday party underway. Hawick were the uncrowned kings of the Borders, they were the uncrowned Kings of Scottish rugby, Hawick were the best in the business and they were coming to help a junior club enjoy its first 25 years of existence. Musselburgh Rugby Football Club was about to come of age.
Under captain A.R. Bonthron the team played out of their skins, the Hawick team managed two penalty goals but Musselburgh triumphed with a try and a penalty by left winger D. Menzies and a conversion by number eight Eric Davidson. It was indeed at well earned and famous victory over the kings of rugby.
In 1971, with the completion of our brand new clubhouse at our new ground of Stoneyhill, the two teams met again in what was our 50th anniversary and clubhouse opening game. Another close match ended up in a draw, with former Scotland International and British and Irish Lion Jim Renwick missing a kick to win the game.
Jim Renwick and former Captain Rob Brown talk about that game in our centenary documentary. A snippet from that video is below.
A friendly was arranged in September 1996 to celebrate the club's 75th anniversary and to continue the tradition, however as seen from the paper report below it was far from a non competitive fixture. Despite a second half resurgence from Burgh, Hawick walked away from Stoneyhill with the win by 33 points to 27.
To the present day and both teams will be ready for the weekend. Musselburgh, currently sitting in sixth place and unbeaten at home, will be looking to avenge the losses against Jed-Forest and Marr on the road while fifth placed Hawick will be looking to make it four wins in a row having won against Hawks, Aberdeen Grammar and Jed-Forest. As mentioned at the beginning of the article and with the excitement already round the club it's a match you do not want to miss.
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