Ayr RFC vs Stew Mel, 13/3/10

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Ayr RFC in Round 2 of the Scottish Hydro Premier Cup at Millbrae on Saturday, kick off 12 pm, is:

For our second game of 2010 at Millbrae, Jed Gordon returns on the wing, while Liam Steele replaces Ross Grant at 10.

The only change in the forwards from last week's game against Boroughmuir sees Chris Sutherland replacing Jamie Robertson.

Alex Godsmark joins the 1st XV squad for the first time after impressing for the 2nd XV in recent weeks.

It's only six weeks since Ayr defeated us comprehensively in the league, so the omens are not good, but we will continue to play with the same spirit that we have shown throughout the season.

For any hardy supporters wishing to join us on Saturday, we are meeting at Inverleith at 8.30 am for an 8.45 am departure. We will be coming away from Millbrae immediately after the game, hopefully leaving there by 2 pm - this means that we should be back in Edinburgh around 3.45 pm, in plenty of time to watch the England game.

Players are reminded that we won't be hanging around for food after the final whistle at Millbrae, so they should bring along their own post-match food if they wish any.

Ayr have also let us know that it hasn't been possible to secure neutral Touch Judges for this fixture, so each side is now going to supply one Touch Judge. We'll be looking for a member of the coach party to fulfil this role, as Black Al is knocking on a bit!

Mike Sims

Match Report

The 1st XV travelled to Millbrae to take on the might of Ayr last weekend in the Scottish Premier Hydro Cup.

The high noon Round 2 showdown was always going to be a test for a young Stewart's Melville team, and, although it proved to be just that, the team showed fighting spirit throughout against the side that narrowly failed to make the British & Irish Cup knock-out stages.

The hosts went up 12-0 up early on before Stewart's Melville got their first points on the board from a try by hooker Sam Blackwood. The try had been set up by a great run by stand-off Liam Steele, and it was a pity that he had to go off injured soon after. His replacement Alex Godsmark - who was making his 1st XV debut - did not look out of place, however, and, after Ayr had scored their third try, the youngster settled his nerves by kicking a penalty.

Late in the half, second-row Angus Lean, who has been in great form of late, was also forced off through injury, but, again, deputy Chris Sutherland did a good job.

The hosts did manage to grab their fourth try before the break to make it 22-8, and they certainly came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half.

They scored their fifth try of the day just two minutes after the interval through centre Mark Stewart, and another three were added - including one for Club International prop Gordon Reid - to make it 48-8 after 57 minutes.

Stewart's Melville, as they have done so often this season, rallied, though, and scrum-half Rob Primrose, who had a superb game, managed to go over for a try.

The score only seemed to annoy Ayr, however, and, in the last 15 minutes, they ran in another five tries, former Scotland Sevens man Jamie Hunter completing his hat-trick, as they safely progressed to the last eight 77-15.

For the visitors, as mentioned, Primrose put in a superb shift in defeat, while Lean played well before he went off and Godsmark looked like he had been playing 1st XV rugby for years. Props Jamie Charles, Andy Statham and replacement Ally Duncan also stuck to their task manfully against formidable opponents.

Special mention must also go to injured prop Ruairi McLeod, who ran the line during this fixture.

The 1st XV now have a week off before travelling to Philiphaugh to complete the XV-a-side season with a league match against Selkirk on Saturday, March 27.

Stew Mel Stats

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