Race row to be probed as Glasgow Hawks edge out Boroughmuir

Oct 20 2009 By Matthew Leslie

George Oomen

A RACE row has broken out in the aftermath of Glasgow Hawks victory over Boroughmuir last week.

Hawks edged a dramatic clash 21-17 but the occasion was soured by a scuffle between Glasgow's George Oomen and Muir's South African flanker Lynton Brinck.

A source who witnessed the incident claimed Brinck directed a comment which was allegedly of a racist nature towards Oomen while refusing to shake his hand.

An altercation then took place which was swiftly broken up by the rest of the players.

Hawks have already staged an emergency board meeting to discuss the issue but boss Peter Wright revealed they will wait upon the Edinburgh club's own findings.

He said: "I wasn't privy to the exchange so I didn't hear what was supposedly said between the players.

"I just saw a number of bodies involved in a scuffle which was over very quickly.

"Obviously this is a very serious matter but the club are awaiting Boroughmuir's own findings before deciding what course of action we will take."

Boroughmuir president, George Clark, confirmed his club will be investigating the incident.

He said: "We will try to get to the bottom of it. I will be speaking to Lynton to hear his version of events, but we take this matter seriously.

"However, the two players did shake hands later on when things had cooled down."

Of the game itself, Hawks edged a tight thriller thanks to the trusty boot of Duncan Weir and two tries from Nick Cox and Kerr Gossman.

Wright added: "It was good to grind out a win like that but we need to be more clinical in our line-breaks.

"We made about 10 or 11 and only finished off two so that tells you why our games have been going to the wire of late.

"That's something well be addressing this week as we've three very tough games ahead of us which will give us an indication of where we are and what we can achieve this season."

First up is Edinburgh Accies who have some good names on paper, then its last seasons champions Ayr and finally Dundee who have been going great guns this season.

Meanwhile, city rivals West of Scotland are now sucked into a relegation battle after losing 27-20 at fellow strugglers Selkirk.

John Beattie's side now hover above the drop zone but are only one point ahead of the Borderers.