Currie vs Stew Mel, 10/12/05

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Currie at Malleny Park on Saturday, kick off 2 pm, is:

A largely unchanged squad from last week's Cup game against Linden, with only positional changes in the starting pack. Our new Tongan International prop Hotili will likely see action at some point, as we attempt to keep up with Currie's fabled front row rotation policy.

In the backs, Dave McCall returns from the Dubai Sevens to reclaim his wing berth. To accommodate him, Borth switches wings, Pete McLean drops to the bench and Shiely reverts to 10. Nicky Wood is unavailable due to work (i.e. the Polis) commitments.

I don't need to stress the importance of this game, as we try to secure some much needed league points before Christmas, and know that our fans will turn out in their usual numbers to cheer the boys on. Let's turn Malleny Park red, black and gold on Saturday.

Nosebag

Malky's Musings

On Saturday the 1st XV traveled across town to Malleny Park to take on Currie. We were full of hope that we might produce a performance similar to that which saw us defeat our Edinburgh rivals at Inverleith earlier in the season. We started well and took the game to our opponents, generating quick ball and looking sharp out wide. Currie sought to slow down the game at the breakdown, and this resulted in a number of penalty awards during the opening minutes. Richard Borthwick gave us the lead around five minutes into the game with a well struck penalty goal, and our confidence rose twenty minutes into the match when a Stuart Clark kick allowed Dave McCall to outstrip the home defence and touch down under the posts. Borth converted and extended our lead to ten points to nil.

At this point, we saw real resolve and spirit from our opposition; qualities which have been notably absent from one or two of our recent performances when we ourselves have been put under pressure. The weighty Currie pack took the game by the scruff of the neck, attacking aggressively around the fringe of rucks and mauls and repeatedly breaching the gain line in spite of some robust Stew Mel defence. We were struggling to secure possession, and our efforts were made more difficult by a series of poor kicks which gifted ball to Currie with alarming regularity. Our opponents made their possession tell, and they scored two tries prior to the break, one from broken play and the other from a driven line out. The Currie full back also slotted a penalty goal and we entered the break trailing by five points (15–10).

We were, unfortunately, unable to stem the Currie momentum after the restart and we lost another try shortly after half time. We fought back hard and were unlucky not to close the gap with around fifty minutes on the clock. A break which had started deep in our own half saw us camped out on the home team's line. Just as it looked as though we would drag ourselves back into the match, however, the referee blew his whistle to award Currie a somewhat puzzling penalty for obstruction. At this point the game slipped away from us and the Currie pack again took control of the fixture. Our opponents scored a further try and three penalties, to a solitary Richard Borthwick goal. That made the final score Currie 34, Stew Mel 13.

Our supporters, the players, coaches and management all left the ground looking somewhat disheartened following this bruising encounter. Indeed, it is exasperating that we are a team which can play peerless rugby for certain periods of games, yet which struggles to find any form of consistency. Some would point to our inexperience, however, I would argue that youngsters such as Andrew Easson, Ross Samson and Dave McCall have been amongst our most consistent performers. It is time for all of us to put up our hands to be counted; each individual must ensure that he is making a difference. We are fortunate that other results have gone our way in the league and that we still have ample opportunity to fight our way out of trouble this season. There are nine league fixtures left, six of which are at Inverleith. There is no longer any room for excuses, and it is time for us to deliver if we wish to retain our top flight status for the 2006/2007 season.

We welcome Biggar to Inverleith on Saturday for what is now a crunch fixture. We lost the corresponding fixture at Hartree Mill narrowly and took a bonus point from a game which was played in characteristically appalling conditions. I feel that the team will respond well next Saturday, and I hope that there is a large crowd down at Inverleith to see us clinch a win and carry some positive momentum into the Christmas break.

Malky

Stew Mel Stats

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