Edinburgh Accies vs Stew Mel, 28/11/09

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Edinburgh Accies at Raeburn Place on Saturday, kick off 12 pm, is:

There's good news and bad news on the player availability front for the game against Accies.

The good news is that Ben, Stuart Clark and Phil are fit again.

The bad news is that our recruits from Jersey, Harry and Jamie, have finally had to admit defeat in their search for work and have returned home. Our thanks go to them for their efforts on behalf of the club, and we hope to see them back at Inverleith before very long.

We've also lost Colin Phillips to the weekend's Gael Force fixture.

Stu Ker replaces Jamie at Stand Off while Andy Statham returns to the front row in place of Colin.

Hope to see a strong travelling support down at Raeburn Place as the boys seek that elusive second win against an Accies team that has lost its last two games.

I'd love to be able to promise that the weather will be better than it was on our last visit to Raeburn Place, but have my doubts on that front!

Our webmaster will also be missing the game this week, so, once again, your match photos would be very welcome so we can keep the website up to date.

See you at high noon on Saturday!

Mike Sims

Match Report

It was extremely cold for Stewart's Melville's visit to near neighbours Edinburgh Accies at Raeburn Place on Saturday. Despite the cold, the Inverleith men had arguably the bigger support - which, in itself, is testament to the 'never say die' spirit that currently pervades our rugby club at all levels.

In conversation with Director of Rugby Gordon Rigby before the game, he paid tribute to our first XV coaching staff. Rigby said: "Perhaps it would have been all too easy for lesser coaches to blame the team or individuals among the players for our results so far this season. Yet, far from initiating a 'blame culture', Graeme Moffat has kept it all very positive, with no 'beastings' and no punishment drills. Training remains all about survival in the top flight, it is motivational, and, perhaps most important of all, enjoyable."

From the first whistle, Colleges showed their ambition, and went in front after only two minutes courtesy of a Stuart Ker penalty. On the eighth minute, Accies' Alex Blair forced his way through to open their account with a try, however he failed with the conversion attempt. From the restart, Stew/Mel were greatly determined, and they showed that, while their current league position records only final scores, it in no way reflects the fighting spirit of the team.

We went at the hosts fast and furious, and, for long periods of the first forty minutes, we contained them within their own '22'. Stew/Mel were winning scrum after scrum right down on Accies' try line but just couldn't get across the whitewash.

Ben Leathes was putting his all into the game, even to the extent that the referee had to advise him to show a little caution and regard for those less determined. Craig Marshall was also making his presence felt, putting in a superb tackle to destroy an Accies attack single handedly. Harry Boisseau's run straight at Accies' Stuart Moffat caused the ex-professional to make a flustered clearance and revealed that, if we could turn our natural open running game into a concerted effort, we had the beating of the Raeburn Place men.

Stew/Mel came oh so close to scoring a try midway through the first half, but the ball bounced off the post protector and went away from the advancing would-be try scorers. Then we gave away a silly penalty that their man Blair converted. Accies' full-back Moffat had been showing more ambition than his team mates, so it was no real surprise to the spectators when he was the beneficiary of a great pass, following some good joined up play by Accies, that allowed him to go over for the home side's second try. Blair converted to bring the half time score to 15-3 to the hosts.

After the break, Stewart's Melville continued to keep at the home side. We had the appearance of a team that didn't want to read, yet again, in the post match reports about how well we had played and how unfortunate we had been to leave empty handed. Stewart's Melville were now making their first half dominance count. Craig Marshall was playing better than ever. His work rate can never be questioned, but, in this match, it was exceptional, and he exemplifies what being in our 1st XV is all about.

Fortune favours the brave, and so it was that Craig found himself with that chance, that moment to achieve for his team mates the score they so richly deserved. Over went Craig for a well-taken try - and, with it, perhaps the loudest cheer heard in the Capital on Saturday. Stu Ker converted - and he then did the same with a penalty, taking us to within two points of our hosts.

The Academicals didn't lie down, though, coming at us in numbers, but we were the match for them. Craig and Callum Mackintosh put in some quality tackles, and Hayden Lingard was magnificent in defence, putting in a fine tackle on the Accies' scrum-half under our posts then a big hit on opposite number Moffat. The Accies' fullback needed a lot of restraining, though, and he duly restored the hosts' lead by worming in at the corner flag to score their third try.

For the final 10 minutes it was all Stewart's Melville, and, having done a power of work all day, Stuart Clark earned his own reward, thundering over from close range to claim another five points. Stu Ker missed with the conversion - but there was no time left to dwell on it.

Suddenly, with the Vatican Ultras nearing hysteria as they continually demanded time checks from the touch judge and a look of disbelief in the faces of the home supporters, Stew/Mel were on the verge of an away win. Could we do it? Our fullback, Hayden, is getting better and better with each game. Much of our Kiwi's recent success has come when our team is going forward, and it was Hayden who went over at speed to touch down and take the victory, with Stu making no mistake with his conversion.

Perhaps not a classic, but a win is a win, and, away from home against mid-table opposition ... yes, we'll take it, thanks very much.

So just what can we achieve over our next nine league games?

On this performance, with players like those previously mentioned - together with the two Andys, Davidson and Statham (who were immense) and Scott Brewster (who is always challenging) - and the fact that Saturday after Saturday we see a real team effort, Stewart's Melville might, could ... stay up!

Superb match photos care of Dave Patterson

Stew Mel Stats

Thanks to Riggers for compiling this week's Stats

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