Stew Mel Rugby















Edinburgh Accies vs Stew Mel, 13/1/07

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Edinburgh Accies at Raeburn Place on Saturday, kick off 2 pm, is:

15
Jimmy Moran
14
Richard Borthwick
13
Alex Cox
12
Murray Allan
11
Colin Goudie
10
Stuart Ker
9
Rob Primrose
1
Areta Tanoai
2
Adrian Duncan
3
Ally Duncan
4
Dougie Naismith
5
Stephen Dalgleish
6
Phil Hendry
7
Pete McLean
8
Stuart Clark (captain)
   
16
Shaun McMurchy
17
Andrew Statham
18
Scott Brewster
19
Sky Laurie

It's fair to say that we make the short journey to Raeburn Place as underdogs, what with Accies looking set for promotion and our form this season patchy, to say the least. But the form book tends to go out of the window whenever we head south of Inverleith Pond, and you can be sure that the boys are determined to give a good account of themselves in the last local derby of the season.

With the bulldozers due to rumble over Rodney HQ after this game, hope to see you there on Saturday as our boys attempt to reduce the Rodneys to rubble, too!

Tony 'TIGER!' Wood


Riggers' Review

Edinburgh Accies away, 13/1/07

Five years and one day after Edinburgh Accies last managed to inflict defeat on Stewart's Melville, they finally did it again on Saturday. Our only playing connection between that game and this? Yes, Gavin Sharp was on the bench that day, too! Not saying you're a jinx, Gav, but ...

Like Biggar before them, one would imagine that, if Accies had sent a wish list to the man above covering the weather they wanted leading up to a game against Stewart's Melville and also the conditions for the game to be played in, it would probably have involved plenty of rain and plenty of wind. And that's just what they got. This allowed them to play to their strengths and, fair credit to them, they did it well.

Edinburgh Accies away, 13/1/07

As is normally the case in these windswept games, a large dose of naivety ran through the Stewart's Melville performance. One would think it would be easier to play the game as far away from our own line as possible when the wind is behind you and, especially, when you're up against a big pack. The fact that we chose to run penalties in our own 22 early on - and made some decent ground in doing so - was always going to make life hard for us.

Edinburgh Accies away, 13/1/07

To be fair to the team, they competed manfully throughout, and, for the second week in a row, we were doing OK until we were penalised at a maul, a yellow card was produced and we conceded a score almost immediately. Not great play on our part, and this is something we have to learn to deal with - either that, or the sooner the experimental law regarding collapsing mauls becomes law, the better for a team like us.

Edinburgh Accies away, 13/1/07

Still, the team battled on, and, on the stroke of half-time, Colin Goudie, playing on the wing, jinked inside a couple of defenders to score. When Jimmy Moran kicked the conversion, we had an unlikely lead, one that you just knew wasn't going to be enough.

The second half saw Accies in their element, sticking the ball up their jumpers and playing rugby to perfection in the conditions. There was very little we could do to halt the inevitable, and, when we were driven over in a maul for the fourth time and Accies secured their bonus point, it was time for the final whistle. I think everyone was glad to see the end of a game that could be regarded as the single biggest advert for summer rugby going.

Edinburgh Accies away, 13/1/07

Next week sees a break in League rugby for the first round of the Cup, and we head off to Ardrossan Academicals, knowing a tough encounter lies ahead. I remember being there over a decade ago, when we played in a midweek Cup tie which we edged right at the death. That game was notable for being Tony 'Nosebag' Wood's first appearance for the 1st XV. His memories of the occasion centre around the 'Top quality buffet after the game'. We look forward to more of the same - and the same result!

Riggers


Stew Mel Stats

Result Lost 22-7
Sequence 5-0, 5-5, 5-7 (half time), 10-7, 15-7, 20-7, 22-7
Tries
Colin Goudie (40 minutes)
Conversions
Jimmy Moran 1
Penalties None
Cards

Clarky yellowed for coming in from the side on 20 minutes, then Areta and Sky yellowed for their part in a mass brawl on 65 minutes. Two Accies also got sent to the sidelines to cool down for their part in said stramash, while their captain had been yellowed in the first half for tackling without the use of his arms

Referee James Bell of ERRS, for the second week in a row
Single Sentence Summary A spirited performance from the boys on a horrible day that just wasn't suited to our brand of high intensity, running rugby - this was a day for up-the-jumper rugby, at which the chunky Accies pack were always going to prevail
Leading Lion

All of the guys put in a good shift, particularly during the second half when we rarely got out of our own 22. The front row weren't intimidated in the scrum, Rob Primrose coped well with some pretty scrappy ball and Shaun made a real difference when he came off the bench. But Big Clarky gets the nod for another tigerish performance, tackling his sodden socks off throughout the game.

Bevvy Bulletin

It says much of the remaining facilities at Raeburn Place - just the wee bar at the north end of the clubhouse left open - that, for the first time this season, I headed off after a match without alcohol passing my lips. Queuing three deep for keg beer never appeal, and Maxie's Bistro is just along the road.

Pie Points

Not sure Accies ever did anything as proletarian as pies, and there was certainly no scran in evidence today. Black market soup was rumoured to be changing hands for high prices in the lean-to at half time, though.



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