Haddington vs Stew Mel, 13/9/03

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team for Saturday's game with Haddington RFC, 3 pm kick off at Neilson Park, is:

The team shows a number of changes from last week, with Mark Welch, Paul Keith and Stuart Clark not having recovered from the injuries they picked up during the Kelso game. They are replaced by Sam Hendry, Derek Freemantle and Nick Penny. Other changes see Marc Karapanovic and Euan Clark preferred in the starting line up to Tyronne Anderson and Stuart Thom.

Our last four league encounters with Haddington have all been extremely close affairs, with Haddington coming out on top 18-13, 13-11, 26-25 and 20-18, so we are in no doubt as to how tough this game is going to be. It is, hopefully, time that this sequence is broken with a victory for Stewart's Melville.

One thing is certain: we need to improve on our 2 out of 13 success rate when kicking for goal this season if we are going to end this run.

Riggers' Review

Somebody came up to me near the final whistle on Saturday and reckoned it was the first time they'd seen me look happy at Neilson Park. Not quite true - I think I was delighted when I won a medal at an Under 11s mini rugby tournament in 1983. I'm glad that the performance on Saturday afternoon finally enabled us to lay the 'Haddington Bogey' to rest and allowed me to look happy down there for the first time in 20 years!

As seems to be the trend so far this season, the first half performance was good while the second half performance left a bit to be desired. Having played so well into a strong wind to turn around 22-5 up was, however, quite superb. For the first time this season we seemed to have a bit of unity between the backs and forwards. The backs gave the forwards targets to hit in midfield and this allowed Nick, Derek, Malky, Paul and Stephan to come into the game and take it to Haddington. We still have to work hard on ball retention, but you can see it gradually getting better. The whole forward effort was up a notch or two on Saturday, with Sully, Dalgy and Lindy all having particularly good games.

The backs have been generally pretty good this season and just needed a platform to play off. They got that on Saturday and showed, again, how dangerous they can be with ball in hand. The only criticism of them is the old failing of not staying deep enough. This led to a few forced passes and, indeed, the interception try Haddington scored came because the backs outside Jaffa were too flat for him to avoid taking the risk of the pass. I'm sure Macca will continue to work hard on the depth of attack.

Our bench on Saturday was probably the youngest we have ever selected, with two 18 years olds and a 17 year old. When asked to join the game they never let us down, however, and, once again, the future of the club looks in good health with players of the calibre of Andy, Sandy and Fraser around. Add in Scott Riddell, Phil Hendry, Ross Grady and Jed Gordon and it's easy to see that we have, once again, received a talented crop of youngsters from the school.

So a bonus point win is great news. It took us until 18th January last season to have our second five point win. This is, hopefully, a sign that we are playing better and more attractive rugby than we did for much of last season. We finally have the season started, and we now await the challenge of Grangemouth at Inverleith on Saturday. They are another team we have traditionally struggled against, and this Saturday will be no different. Grangemouth came to Inverleith in the Integrated Tournament at the end of last season and had a comfortable 27-19 win over us. Saying that, only 5 of the team involved last weekend were involved that day, so there is everything to play for.

On the injury front, Welchy, Stu, Tyronne, Ek, Paul, Danny and Clarky should all come into consideration for the weekend. Mike Elliott played for the Seconds on Saturday so will also be considered, as will our new hooker Pete McLean. Si Capaldi will be available this weekend and Steve Cully is hoping to resume training before the end of the month. Struan and Twicki also made their returns from injury at the weekend, and it's great to have two first team regulars from last season coming back into the equation after injury. It is also hoped that we'll have Matt Dey available from the Edinburgh Gunners, so selection will not be easy this week. But that's the way it should be ....

Two long term injuries have been suffered in the last week. Scott McEwan broke his right leg in two places at training on Tuesday evening. He has had two screws inserted just above the ankle and is hopeful of returning in a couple of months. Sky Laurie broke his thumb playing for the 2nd XV on Saturday and will be in plaster for four to six weeks.

Riggers

Stew Mel Stats

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