Hamilton vs Stew Mel, 2/12/06

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Hamilton RFC at Laigh Bent on Saturday, kick off 2 pm (NB), is:

With Andy Easson in action for Edinburgh against Borders tomorrow, Dave McCall in Dubai with the Scotland Sevens squad and Richie Vernon injured, we are devoid of pro players for the trip to Laigh Bent to play Hamilton.

Our hand has been further forced by injuries to Dalgy (shoulder), captain Clarky (dead leg) and Scott Brewster (ribs).

As a result, Pete McLean moves into the back row for a rare start at flanker, while Murray Allan and Jed Gordon return to the starting back line. Ben Leathes makes a very timely return from injury to partner Alex Clarke in the row, while Ross Doneghan makes his 1st XV debut after impressing in the back row for the 2s in recent weeks.

On the bench, we are delighted to welcome Ali Duncan to the squad for the first time.

Anyone wishing a lift to Hamilton on the team coach should get to Inverleith by 11.15 am for an 11.30 departure.

If you're driving to Hamilton, please bear in mind that there are still road works on the M8 at Livingston and adjust your departure time accordingly. Directions to Laigh Bent can be found here.

As Riggers said in his review of the Kelso game, we are still hanging on in there in the league, with everything to play for. We are hoping for a big performance on Saturday, with a big travelling support there to witness it. See you there!

Nosebag

Riggers' Review

Close, but no cigar! Just as we had done to Hamilton in the first fixture of the season, they did to us in the return, with a victory snatched in the closing stages of injury time denying a much improved Stewart's Melville team a win which would have kept them on the fringes of the promotion battle. It was not to be, but, whilst disappointed with the final score, I think any realistic Stewart's Melville supporters would have been well satisfied with the performance, if not the result, given the number of key players that we were missing.

Indeed, one of the key factors in the game, given the dire conditions, was the lineout of the two teams. We were denied the services of Stuart Clark, Scott Brewster, Richie Vernon and Stephen Dalgleish through injury, which meant a first appearance since the opening day of the season for Ben Leathes. It also meant a debut in the back row for Ross Doneghan and a switch to openside flanker for hooker cum winger, Pete McLean. This meant an unusual looking lineout for the Stew/Mel team, and, in the howling wind, things were difficult for both thrower and jumper. Add in our former lineout king Richie Maxton, waiting at number two in the Hamilton lineout to steal or disrupt any ball we did get, and it was always going to be a tough day at the office. And so it proved.

Playing with the strong wind at our backs in the first half, the team played some very good rugby early on, with the backs - and Murray Allan, in particular - repeatedly getting over the gainline. The battle up front was fairly even in terms of scrummage and open play, but, as mentioned, Hamilton held an advantage in the lineout. After much pressure, Alex Cox managed to force himself over the line to open the scoring, and it was just rewards, although the try should certainly have been scored a couple of phases earlier and nearer the posts. Captain Borth was unfazed, though, and slotted over the tricky conversion.

After the restart, pressure was applied again on the Hamilton line, and a try should have been scored, but big Alex Clarke knocked on with the line in sight. Alex is still to register his first try for the 1st XV, and came close to doing so. An escape for Hamilton, but not for long. A well worked lineout move, executed perfectly and done at pace, saw the ball back in the hands of Shaun McMurchy, who dotted down in the corner.

The last ten minutes of the half saw Hamilton come more into the game, and led the Stew/Mel faithful to think that maybe 12 points wasn't going to be enough of a lead to take into the second half.

The second half started, and, despite our prayers to the Big Man upstairs requesting that the wind should also change direction, we were ignored, and set about playing 40 minutes of rugby into the stiff breeze. For a while it looked like we were coping, then, after absorbing much pressure, Hamilton were awarded a straightforward penalty to reduce the difference to 12-3. We then spent a bit of time in the Hamilton 22, but to no avail, and, when Hamilton released the pressure and we countered poorly, the door was opened for Hamilton and they ruthlessly exploited our poor defending to narrow the gap to 12-8.

As the sky got ever darker, it seemed that the impossible was going to be achieved. The 80 minutes came and went with no sign of the full time whistle, then, when Hamilton raised the game for the final few minutes to try and secure victory, Areta Tanoai was penalised for a ruck infringement and banished to the sin bin. With Hamilton opting for scrums and getting the nudge on, you felt it was coming, but still the defence held firm. As is mostly the case with this kind of assault on your line, the blinkers come on and the attackers keep trying to get over as close to the breakdown as possible. Whilst Hamilton were doing this we were comfortable in our defence, but then Kenny Diffenthal, the Hamilton stand off, saw the space, called for the ball and managed to get on the outside of the defence to score the winning points for Hamilton.

Gutted, to say the least, but realistic enough to know what goes around comes around - and also very proud of the character the team showed.

To play Hamilton twice and share 42 points in the games has been fantastic this season, and they are a welcome addition to our fixture card. They are certainly a club who should be admired for the way they have come up the leagues and for the ethos they have as a club. Long may it continue, and long may the games between the two clubs be as close and exciting as they have been this season.

Riggers

Stew Mel Stats

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