PEEBLES Head Coach Drew Moore took plenty of positives from last week's game against Hawick, as his side step up preparations for next week's pivotal showdown with Stewart's Melville. 

The Pees were competitive against against the Premiership outfit, as the 8-17 scoreline suggests.  Now it is down to the very real issue of preserving their Division 1 status. 

Speaking to the Peeblesshire News, he said:  “We were lucky enough to have the Hawick game last week, there was a chance that that was going to be postponed, but we managed to get that game in and that was a real test for the guys. 

“I was quite encouraged by our performance last week. I though the guys really stuck at it. The defence was outstanding. We showed some good little touches in attack.  

“But it was a difficult night. You are playing against Premiership opposition and the weather wasn't the best. But we really stuck at it and I think the score line reflects our input into the game.”

Moore believes that the ideas that he and the coaching staff have been working on all campaign are finally taking root, and singled out the back row in particular for praise.  “Murdo Anderson. Richard Harrison and Liam Daly all did well there.  You want continuity in that department and we are getting that now.

“Across the team, David Anderson had a good game on  the wing. The front row has been pretty solid for us the last few weeks as well. It wasn't like anybody had a poor game. Everybody just played pretty well. It was a positive performance, and gives us a bit of confidence going into the Stewart's Melville game.”

Moore freely concedes he would rather have followed up the Pees recent return to form with back to back league games to really press home the advantage, but he does see an upside to the gap in fixtures.  “By the time we go to play Stew Mel, we will be a game down going into that, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. 

“We had a few players with niggling injuries and it gives them a chance to get clear.  There are also things that we can work on in training that we might be a bit reticent to do if we were facing back-to back games.”

Peebles don't have any fresh injury concerns ahead of next week's game, though Moore confirmed that Brandon Kent will miss the rest of the season. “He has broken a bone in his foot so he is going to be out for a while,” said Moore.