Stew Mel vs GHA, 6/1/07

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Squad

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

The squad for the first game of 2007 shows a good number of changes from the one that played so poorly at the end of 2006.

Available again after injury are Sam Hendry, Rob Primrose, Stuart Clark, Richie Vernon and Jimmy Moran, whilst returning from holidays are Alex Cox and Dougie Naismith.

Pete McLean, Scott Brewster and Stuart Ker are all unavailable due to being on holiday and Sky Laurie is working.

Riggers

Malky's Musings

Our first match of the new year started promisingly as our team came out of the blocks quickly and took the game to our west coast visitors. Following a number of indifferent performances in the run up to the Christmas break, our supporters will have been pleased to witness the team playing with real endeavour, retaining possession well and pressurising the opposition.

After only five minutes, the impressive Murray Allan grabbed the first score of the game with a try in the far corner, willed over by the ever present Vatican Ultras. The tricky conversion was missed, but this was close to a perfect start. We continued to play well after the restart, with Colin Goudie clearing his lines well from stand off and the forwards competing hard at the breakdown and disrupting their heavier opponents with some excellent counter rucking.

It gradually became evident, however, that GHA had the edge at the scrummage, and that their driving maul was a dangerous force from the line out. Around 25 minutes into the half, we were penalised for collapsing a maul and prop Andrew Statham was shown a yellow card. GHA opened their account with a penalty goal, but could not make more of the numerical advantage and Jimmy Moran replied with a Stew Mel goal to leave the score at Stew Mel 8, GHA 3 at half time.

We struggled to keep possession of the ball for long periods after the break, and our stoic defence was eventually worn down by the large GHA pack, one of the visitors scoring from close range following a concerted driving effort (Stew Mel 8, GHA 8). We continued to play the game on the back foot, and our challenge was made even more difficult when we lost Shaun McMurchy to the sin bin - again, the Stew Mel front row player was adjudged to have stopped one of GHA's mauls illegally.

Somewhat against the run of play, we regained the lead through a further Jimmy Moran penalty on 75 minutes. This lead was short lived, however, GHA completing the scoring when a chip ahead was fortuitously gathered by the opposition winger who went in to score in the corner. Final score: Stew Mel 11, GHA 13.

Some will have been disheartened by Saturday's result, but I think that there is much to be taken from the game. First, our defensive effort was excellent, and we played with a high degree of commitment. Second, a number of individual performances were impressive, most notably that from the debutant full back, Jimmy Moran. Finally, having not played particularly well, we were only narrowly defeated by a team which looks set to gain promotion with relative ease. We remain a talented team and one which will shortly benefit from the return of a number of players from injury. This augurs well for the rest of the season and for next.

We travel the short distance to Raeburn Place on Saturday. I know that the Accies are confident of turning us over. We are missing a lot of personnel, but we will raise our game - and I have heard these noises from our neighbours many times before.

Malky

Thanks to Rod Cox for providing the photos from this game

Stew Mel Stats

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