Stew Mel vs Boroughmuir, 6/3/10

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Boroughmuir at Inverleith on Saturday, kick off 3 pm, is:

There are a number of changes to the team that lost to Currie at Myreside on Wednesday.

In the backs, the only change sees Calum return to the wing, with Coxy dropping to the bench and Liam starting for the 2nd XV.

In the forwards, Jamie C replaces Ek in the front row, Jamie R replaces the suspended Ben in the second row and Fergus replaces the injured Ross Sutherland in the back row.

As this is likely to be our last home fixture of the season, we have organised a prematch lunch at Inverleith. This will cost £15 and begin at 1.30 pm for 2 pm - please contact Allan Munro ASAP on 07774 262989 if you are interested.

Hope to see a decent crowd for what should be a good game against a Boroughmuir side keen to pull further away from the second relegation spot.

It's been a while since we played 'Muir at Inverleith - let's hope for a similar result this time around!

Mike Sims

Match Report

For their last home game of the season, Stewart's Melville faced Boroughmuir.

With the home team already relegated and the visitors needing a win to keep their hopes of survival in Premier One alive, this could have been a one sided game. The odds against the home team were further increased as the side that ran out on Saturday included only around a third of the players selected on the opening day of this current season, with injuries, suspension and representative duties having ravaged numbers.

With so many reasons not to bother, lesser teams than Stew/Mel in the same position may well have just gone through the motions, but not our team. The group of players - made up of those in their first season out of school, those with previously very few games at senior level and a few veterans - put on a courageous display.

As expected, 'Muir came at us - and came at us hard. It was a bruising encounter from the start, and certainly not for the faint hearted. The visitors were intent on an early score and were using the rolling maul and recycled ball to good effect. The Stew/Mel defensive line was tested time after time, but Boroughmuir couldn't breach it. Luckily for the opposition, the RFU exchange referee helped them break the stalemate, awarding them a penalty try that their stand-off Graeme Blackhall converted to give them a 0-7 lead after eight minutes.

On regrouping ,Colleges began to threaten, with Hayden Lingard and Craig Marshall hinting that they could - with support - make a game of it. With around 13 minutes played, and as a result of putting the visitors under pressure, Stew/Mel were rewarded with a penalty just inside opposition territory. Sadly, however, Stu Ker's boot was misfiring.

Stewart's Melville might have been tempted to become more cautious after it became apparent that the referee was in no mood to forgive transgressions, but not a bit of it. The home team continued to commit minor infringements, and thus, each time, gave 'Muir field advantage.

The visitors' second try came from a penalty which found touch near the home try line, and was greatly assisted by an askew lineout ball; their second-row Greig Scott drove over, with Blackhall adding the extras and taking the score on the 20 minute mark to 0-14.

The Stewart's Melville response had youngsters Calum Williams, Ross Grant and Michael Doneghan showing their grit in making it difficult for 'Muir by playing the game in their half. This action earned Stew/Mel a penalty that Stu slotted over to bring the scoreboard to 3-14.

Then, from a scrum, 'Muir back rower Euan Matheson choose his moment to go blindside and cross the line for a score that wasn't converted. Still reeling, the home defence couldn't protect their flank, and, from a nice sequence of joined up rugby, winger Rob Cairns crossed for the visitors to earn them the bonus point and make it 24-3 in their favour at half-time.

In the second half, 'Muir may have thought they could substantially increase their lead, but, if they did, they hadn't reckoned on just how determined Blair Tweedie, Jamie Charles and Andy Statham - together with our second row of Jamie Robertson and Angus Lean - would remain in defence, while Hayden, Marsh and rising star Ross Grant remained predatory throughout, constantly seeking opportunities to get on the score sheet.

The inevitable happened, though, when a fine attacking run by our captain Richard Borthwick was brought to a halt and the ball was seized for the counter attack down our flank, ending in 'Muir scrum-half Calum Cusiter scoring their fifth try. Blackhall added the conversion, taking the score to 3-31.

The visitors' sixth try came from Stew/Mel giving the ball away on the half way line, and, again, 'Muir working the ball to the flanking support runners. Full back Ed Mills was on hand to claim this well worked try that was converted by Blackhall to take the final score to 3-38.

This coming Saturday, March 13, Stewart's Melville travel to Millbrae to face Ayr in the Scottish Hydro Premier Cup. With a noon kick-off, we'll know if we are to progress further in the competition before returning to Inverleith in time to see Scotland regain the Calcutta Cup.

Let's remain positive on both fronts!

All photos care of JLP-Photography

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