Heriot's vs Stew Mel, 24/10/09

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Heriot's FC at Goldenacre on Saturday, kick off 3 pm, is:

A number of changes to the team that fought so bravely against Ayr last week.

Liam Steele is away at a wedding this weekend, while Jamie Allan and Ross Merrilees are out due to the knee and ankle injuries they picked up last weekend.

On the plus side, Stuart Clark is available once again, while we welcome Ryan Grant back to the front row. We may also have Calum Forrester in the back row, depending on the amount of game time he gets in Glasgow's game against Connacht on Friday night.

Assuming Calum is available to us, he will start at Number 8, with Clarky on the bench; if Calum isn't available, Clarky will start at 8 and Fergus will once again provide back row cover on the bench.

In the backline, Marsh returns from injury to replace Liam in the centre, while Stu Ker replaces Jamie at 10, with Primmy starting at scrum half.

We welcome Ross Grant to the 1st XV squad for the first time this week after some impressive performances for the 2s recently - congratulations to him.

On the subject of congratulations, well done to Richie Vernon and Alan MacDonald on their call ups to the Scotland squad for the upcoming Fiji test. Richie played for us the last time we were in the top Division, while Alan is a product of the Stew Mel minis and midis system (and is also assigned to us this season).

Returning to the present, hope to see a healthy 'travelling' support at Goldenacre on Saturday. If you are heading along the road, please bear in mind that we have three teams at Goldenacre on Saturday, with the 2s and 3s kicking off a full hour before the 1st XV. Parking spaces are therefore likely to be at a premium!

See you on Saturday for the big derby!

Mike Sims

Match Report

Saturday's away match against Heriot's was the ninth of our current campaign. The rain that had fallen for most of the day stopped just prior to kick-off. The weather then improved, and, with a low autumn sun, it was unseasonably mild. It was a near perfect afternoon on which to play rugby. With 'history' between the city rivals, this fixture normally draws a good crowd, and, having been greatly encouraged by recent team performances, the Stewart's Melville support had turned out in numbers. There was a sense of expectation among the Colleges' faithful.

Both sides were obviously fired up for this Edinburgh derby as the exchange referee from the RFU got the contest underway. Heriot's were immediately on the offensive and poured into our half in numbers, testing our defences. We were coping well, until, within a couple of minutes of the start, we gave away a stupid penalty. Heriot's captain Graham Wilson slotted over to take the home side into an early lead.

After this Heriot's piled on the pressure, surveying various routes to goal. And, like those teams we've played before them this season, they found their way - the same way - through. With five minutes on the Goldenacre clock, the 'hoops' flanker Struan Dewar went over for a try that their captain converted. But we didn't back down and went on the attack, penetrating deep into opposition territory. Stew/Mel had the better of the Nails in the scrum; they couldn't cope with our strength and technique. We were 'harder than nails'. The referee also seemed to have a problem with our front row - but, no matter how hard he watched, he couldn't see what, if anything, we were doing 'wrong'.

At the 12 minute mark, it was Heriot's who were penalised just inside their half, leaving Stuart Ker with a long kick that he struck beautifully to bring the score to 10-3. The Goldenacre men rallied once more and rampaged towards our try line. Our defence stood up well, with our forwards putting in a power of work, but we just couldn't seem to clear our lines. We then began to lose discipline. Stew/Mel were taking foolish risks, and, although the referee had issued a warning, we couldn't resist temptation. With a shrill blast on his whistle and the appropriate signal, our English ref had 'scored' a penalty try for Heriot's. Wilson again converted and, with 15 minutes gone, we were 17-3 down.

Again we came right back at Heriot's, playing the game in their faces; we knew we had recently played better teams than this. We stopped - if only for a short period - giving the ball away through aimless kicking and began to use the superiority of our pack. Our two pros, Ryan Grant and Calum Forrester, were making their considerable presence felt. We were continuously threatening the home side's line, until, on 21 minutes, Scott Brewster burst through to touch down for our first try of the day. Ten exciting rugby minutes later we were rewarded with another penalty. It was 17-11, and we were catching them.

Then our lineout throw went too long. This presented Struan Dewar with an opportunity, and, recalling how easy we had previously made it for him, he used the nail marks in the mud from his earlier run to retrace his exact route and score his second try. Once again Wilson was on hand to convert successfully. This took the score to 24-11.

From the restart we were right back at them. Throughout the half, the home side had been allowed to commit various misdeeds, but, to our amazement, the 'out to impress' referee finally decided to take action. On 37 minutes, the ref carded the home team's big second row, Philip O'Connor, and awarded us the penalty. Stuart was again on target, bringing the score at half time to 24-14.

At the interval we didn't visit our dressing room for the 'chat', presumably because there was very little that needed saying. Perhaps our coach said something along the lines of, "Don't let them have any more points, score a try or two, convert all our kicks and we'll have the win." Certainly the Inverleith men played as if this had been said.

We didn't just put up the shutters after the break - we were also prepared to make good tactical runs and kicks to gain territorial advantage. Nine minutes into the half, Ryan Grant, using his superior strength, carried the ball over for our second, well-deserved try. Stuart again obliged with the conversion, taking us within three points of the home side. Heriot's continued to come at us, on one occasion attempting to chip over the heads of our defence. They may have succeeded but for a fingertip save at full stretch by our 'goal-keeper', Ruairi McLeod, whose stylish interception put paid to their chance. Then the home side mounted one last huzzah and threw all they had at us. But our brave red line stood shoulder to shoulder and repelled each onslaught, driving them backwards.

Heriot's had, by this time, lost all composure, and, being unable to overcome us, they resorted, once again, to cynicism. The referee intervened on behalf of fair play and sent home flanker Peter Eccles to the sin bin. We did have a chance from another penalty late on to draw level but miskicked. But we didn't want a draw, we wanted a win. If Heriot's won the match, they must presumably have been the better team? Definitely not!

We didn't play as well as we had against Ayr last week. But it would have been unnecessary to play at that level against this Heriot's side. The Goldenacre men did little for their win - they couldn't even score all of their points. Today we weren't beaten, we just let victory escape our grasp. So roll on next week, and yet another derby, this time against Watsonians. So, hopefully, our first win.

Stew Mel Stats

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