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Stew Mel vs Heriot's
RFC, 30/1/10
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Squad
The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Heriot's at
Inverleith on Saturday, kick off 3 pm, is:
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15
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Richard Borthwick (captain) |
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14
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Alex Cox |
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13
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Hayden Lingard |
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12
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Craig Marshall |
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11
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Liam Steele |
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10
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Stuart Ker |
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9
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Rob Patterson |
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1
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Alex Edmonstone |
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2
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Callum Mackintosh |
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3
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Ryan Grant |
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4
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Ben Leathes |
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5
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Scott Brewster |
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6
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Blair Tweedie |
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7
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Lewis Calder |
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8
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Phil Hendry |
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16
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Andy Statham |
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17
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Sam Blackwood |
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18
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Chris Sutherland |
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19
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Angus Lean |
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20
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Jed Gordon |
A settled look to the team to play our old friends the
Nails for the first time since our last season in the top
flight.
With Ross Grant dropping out due to the injury he picked
up at Millbrae last week, the backs are the same as the
ones originally selected for the Ayr game. Stu Ker returns
to Stand Off, in other words.
In the pack, we welcome Edinburgh Rugby pro Ryan Grant
back to the front row for the first time in many games.
Callum also starts at hooker this week. Scott Brewster is
fit again and starts in the Boiler House, with Chris Sutherland
dropping to the bench.
Also on the bench are Angus Lean and Jed Gordon, fresh
from some great performances for the 2s in recent weeks.
Hope to see a large crowd down at Inverleith for this local
derby - don't forget that the 2nd and 3rd XV games against
the Nails are now starting at 2 pm, so come down early and
enjoy a feast of rugby.
Bobby Clark has asked me to point out that parking is likely
to be a problem on Saturday, as the Hockey Club also
have three home games that day! These will start at 12.30,
2 and 3.30, so there will be heavy demand on parking and
possibly changing facilities.
We would ask for co-operation by all concerned, and players
and supporters should appreciate that they might not be
able to bring their cars into the ground depending on when
they arrive.
So - turn up early, enjoy a great afternoon of sport at
Inverleith then head for the bar afterwards!
Mike Sims
Match
Report

Last Saturday was pleasantly sunny, but extremely
cold, for the game between Capital rivals Stewart's Melville
and Heriot's at Inverleith. It was only at lunchtime on
the day that the pitch was declared playable and the green
light given for the derby match to go ahead.
With all other Premier One matches postponed
due to frozen pitches, Inverleith's own ground-keeping maestro
Willie Purdie deserves a special mention. Through hard work
and great skill, Willie and his team had not only permitted
the game to be played, but had made it possible for Stewart's
Melville to attract one of their best gates of the season
so far.
If the large crowd had come along to be entertained,
they weren't to be disappointed. The visitors kicked off
then advanced in strength, only to be pinged immediately
for an infringement. From the resulting scrum Rob Patterson
played quick ball out to Liam Steele, who made some good
yards before shipping to Phil Hendry, who then penetrated
deep into the opposition defence. Rather than risk being
held up by the defenders, Phil - who had Stu Ker on his
shoulder - made the sweetest of passes to the home stand-off,
and he was over to open the scoring with a try within the
first minute. Stu then converted to give the home side a
7-0 lead.
For the next 10 minutes Stewart's Melville
played stylish rugby, with both Hayden Lingard and Craig
Marshall causing the Goldenacre men some real defensive
problems. Front-row duo Alex Edmonstone and Callum Mackintosh
also appeared to be out to spoil the visitors' day by hitting
hard in the tackle and being so very 'assertive' in the
contact areas. Alex Cox took advantage of the visitors'
confusion and could have been in for a try if it hadn't
been for a last gasp intervention.
Then, when Heriot's were trying to break free
from their own half, Ben Leathes put in a great tackle that
caused the opposition to knock-on. With the advantage being
played, Liam sent quick ball to Phil, whose blistering pace
sadly left him isolated - but, when he released, all the
visitors could do was kick the ball into touch well inside
their half. A perfect lineout ball from Callum to Ben let
him pass the quick ball out, and, once again, Colleges were
through - Liam crossing the whitewash and Stu converting
to make it 14-0.
What next? Heriot's finally got out of their
half with a long kick to touch, then a lineout, a ruck and
a turnover set up a try by Scotland Club International Alan
Dymock. Fifteen minutes played, and it was 14-5.
Next, a high tackle on a Stewart's Melville
player resulted in a penalty that, unusually, Stu missed,
but he was right on target when, in the 21st minute, he
took the scores to 17-5. Then, four minutes later, Heriot's
winger Andy Douglas was over for a try, 17 -10. Nine minutes
later, sloppy defending by the home team let opposite winger
Byron Roberts go through the open door and score a try which
was converted to tie the match at 17-17.
The Inverleith men had squandered their good
start and the advantage of going in at half-time ahead.
With a few minutes to play before the break, Stew/Mel were
on the ropes, and Heriot's struck again, their second-row
Philip O'Connor powering through to touch down, with Graham
Wilson adding the conversion to bring the half-time score
to 17-24.
Two minutes after the restart, Stew/Mel conceded
a penalty, and Wilson added another three points to take
the score to 17-27.
The home team had, by now, lost some of their
composure, and, while they hadn't given up - far from it
- they had reached that point where, if it could
go against them, it would. As confirmation of this,
it wasn't just any Heriot's player who scored next
- it just had to be former team-mate Colin Goudie who crossed
in the 54th minute to take the score to 17-32.
Then, at the end of the third quarter, No.8
Jamie Syme added a converted score to make it 17-39. O'Connor
then scored his second try a minute later, and, with so
much practice under his belt by now, Wilson found the mark
and it was 17-46.
For the next nine minutes Stewart's Melville
tried to put the brakes on Heriot's, but replacement hooker
Finlay Gillies took Heriot's over 50 points and Wilson made
it 17-53. At this moment in the match, any men in scarlet
who hadn't been replaced were running on low reserves of
energy, but still had the fight within them. And, with a
few minutes left, the hosts made a final assault on the
opposition line, resulting in Stu getting the last try of
this hard fought encounter and bringing the scores at the
final whistle to 22-53.
Heriot's had earned a valuable win. Stewart's
Melville had lost, though not because of any lack of spirit
or work rate. Where the home team had been beaten was by
not being effective in the tackle. There were, however,
some excellent phases, with some good attacking runs involving
Richard Borthwick, Marsh, Coxy, Liam, Hayden and Stu. Blair
also continues to impress, both in the set piece and the
loose.
Making his 1st XV debut for the season, replacement
Angus Lean showed great promise with his fearless tackling
and his willingness to take the ball on.
This Saturday, February 6th, Hillhead Jordanhill
- the Premier Three leaders - visit for a Scottish Hydro
Cup match at 2.30 pm. Hopefully all that promise shown by
Stew/Mel when playing top flight opposition will come to
the fore and we can produce that long awaited win.

Stew
Mel Stats
| Ball Sponsors |
Jonathan Barr / Euan Thomson |
| Result |
Lost 22-53 |
| Sequence |
5-0,
7-0, 12-0,
14-0, 14-5,
17-5, 17-10,
17-15, 17-17,
17-22, 17-24
(half time), 17-27,
17-32, 17-37,
17-39, 17-44,
17-46, 17-51,
17-53, 22-53 |
| Tries |
Stuart Ker 2 (1 & 80 mins),
Liam Steele (10 mins) |
| Conversions |
Stuart Ker 2 (first two tries) |
| Penalties |
Stu Ker (20 mins) |
| Cards |
None
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| Referee |
Peter Allan of Watsonians |
| Single Sentence Summary |
No shortage of courage and endeavour today,
with our early lead being well deserved - but we were,
once again, let down by our defence, with Heriot's scoring
pretty much every time they made it into our 22 |
| Leading Lion |
Our forwards had a torrid time against the visitors'
pack today, though Pip showed well in the loose and
was unlucky not to score during the first half after
Stu Ker had played him in beautifully - we were well
up at that point, so who knows how things might have
turned out if Pip had dotted down.
Also need to recognise the contribution of Angus
Lean today - with Big Clarky and Dalgy both missing,
he brought some welcome physical presence to the lineout,
and didn't look at all overawed on his 1st XV debut
for the season.
It was the backs who impressed today, though, with
Marsh making some lovely breaks through the centre,
Borth looking more and more like his old self and
Liam looking dangerous every time he got the ball.
But the nod has to go, once again, to Stu
Ker, who scored two fine tries and landed
some difficult kicks. Another classy performance from
Inverleith's Mr Versatile.
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| Bevvy Bulletin |
Kept my powder dry in the bar at Inverleith after
the game, sticking to the Coronas rather than getting
wired into the house white as might otherwise have
been the case.
The place was certainly jumping, what with many of
the past players still in attendance, the hockey girls
putting in a welcome appearance and enough weans to
fill a crèche!
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| Pie Points |
Acquired a pie at half time on the Vatican side of
the pitch care of my pie roadie (AKA Monkey Boy).
And very good it was, too - piping hot, and well
filled with good quality beef. The pastry was a tad
overdone, but beggars can't be choosers!
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