|
Stew Mel vs Hillhead
Jordanhill RFC, 6/2/10
- Click here
to jump to Match Programme Notes
- Click here
to jump to Match Report
- Click here
to jump to Stew Mel Stats
Squad
The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Hillhead Jordanhill
in Round 1 of the SHE Premier Cup at Inverleith on Saturday,
kick off 2.30 pm, is:
|
15
|
Richard Borthwick (captain) |
|
14
|
Jed Gordon |
|
13
|
Alex Cox |
|
12
|
Hayden Lingard |
|
11
|
Liam Steele |
|
10
|
Stuart Ker |
|
9
|
Rob Patterson |
|
1
|
Alex Edmonstone |
|
2
|
Sam Blackwood |
|
3
|
Ross Merrilees |
|
4
|
Ben Leathes |
|
5
|
Scott Brewster |
|
6
|
Angus Lean |
|
7
|
Lewis Calder |
|
8
|
Phil Hendry |
| |
|
|
16
|
Andy Statham |
|
17
|
Callum Mackintosh |
|
18
|
Ross Sutherland |
|
19
|
Michael Doneghan |
A few changes for Saturday's mouth-watering Cup tie against
Prem 3 pacesetters Hillhead Jordanhill at Inverleith.
Marsh is away watching the Gooners, while Blair is away
on holiday. Coxy therefore moves into the centre to replace
Marsh, with Jed starting on the wing. Angus Lean replaces
Blair in the back row after impressing when he came on against
the Nails last weekend.
We're expecting a tough game on Saturday - the visitors
are on form, and could well be sharing a division with us
next season - so it would be great to have another healthy
home support down to cheer us to victory.
Bring a few Frenchmen down with you if you can - what better
way to start their weekend in Edimbourg?
Mike Sims
Match
Report

At Inverleith before last Saturday's Scottish Hydro Premier
Cup encounter, a plaque commemorating the first ever international
Rugby Union match between Scotland and France was unveiled
by the FFR's representative Jean-Pierre Lux. That inaugural
fixture between the two nations took place at Inverleith
- the then home of Scottish Rugby - just over a century
ago on January 22 1910. On that day, Scotland were the victors,
winning 27-0.
Back to the present, and, with the strong Gallic influence
all around them, the home support may have been forgiven
for expecting a spot of 'va va voom' as the match against
our cup opponents - Premier Three league leaders Hillhead
Jordanhill - kicked off.
The visitors quickly got the game underway, and they were
soon showing the form that has taken them into pole position
in their promotion race. Within the opening minutes, Hills
had a penalty that, fortunately, they failed to convert.
It was now time for Stewart's Melville to seize the initiative.
From a breakdown, the home side produced a play that made
the distance between the sides' respective leagues more
than apparent. Kiwi Hayden Lingard took off at a sensational
pace and ran a full 60 metres, avoiding various interceptors
on his way, before slipping a pass to a grateful Jed Gordon.
The latter, returning after a long spell with the twos,
was out to draw attention to himself and scoring a try within
six minutes was a good start. Step up Stu Ker to claim the
extras: 7-0.

Then, for the next few minutes, the Inverleith faithful
were treated to - if not quite Champagne rugby - then a
most acceptable and sparkling alternative.
It was delightful to watch the way in which 'Captain Reliable'
Richard Borthwick was linking up with the ubiquitous Liam
Steele, while Alex Cox (sporting an unseasonably short haircut)
was, together with Liam, menacing the Hughenden defenders
on their flanks. Sterling work by Alex Edmonstone, Andy
Statham, Ben Leathes and, in particular, Lewis Calder meant
Stew/Mel were winning turnover ball - and they weren't squandering
the chances being created.
Another score was coming, and it came in the 13th minute
when an attacking move involving some quality passing by
Jed and Coxy set Phil Hendry free to cross to bring the
scores to 12-0.
At the lineout Sam Blackwood was consistently accurate
in finding his man. He even managed to send a ball to Angus
Lean that was so well placed that Gus, rather than catch
the ball in the conventional way, headed it to his surprised
stand-off.

Throughout this season, Stew/Mel, having worked hard to
establish an early lead in many of their games, have then
contrived to throw the advantage away. With such a variety
of ways in which to be beaten open to them, the home side
called on one of their old favourites for a few disastrous
minutes on Saturday - indiscipline.
Giving away a penalty let the visitors open their account
and bring the score to 12-3. Then Ek was carded for allegedly
'killing' ball. Perhaps, on Sunday morning, while reading
the sports section and dipping his buttery toasted soldiers
into his three minute egg, Ek read of Welsh coach Warren
Gatland calling his giant lock Alun-Wyn Jones "absolutely
stupid" for being sin-binned. The reason for this scathing
criticism was that, while Jones was off the park, England
scored 17 of their points and eventually went on to win.
Ek's absence wasn't quiet so devastating for Stewart's Melville,
though Hills did manage to score a try from a scrum through
their captain Stuart Ross - but, mercifully, they didn't
convert. Our indomitable prop is not stupid and, doubtless,
he has resolved never to ... get caught again.
Then, to complete the home side's madness, the Glasgow
men were awarded yet another penalty, this time for a deliberate
knock-on. Hills full-back Gus Twaddle made no mistake with
his kick and brought his team to within a point at 12-11.

At forty minutes played, Stew/Mel were testing the visitors'
defence, recycling ball and searching for their weakness.
It was Liam - loitering at the corner flag both unnoticed
and unmarked for what seemed an age - who, on receiving
a pass, rather nonchalantly bent over to touch down for
a try. With the conversion missed, the scoreboard read 17-11
at half-time.
The match officials took a longer break than normal and
returned to the field just as both waiting players and supporters
were considering whether to adjourn to the clubhouse to
watch the second half of the Italy v Ireland match. When
proceedings eventually got underway, it soon became obvious
that, whatever comments Graeme Moffat had directed to his
men at half-time, they had now stepped up their tempo and
appeared more disciplined.
Now using a less predictable backline, Hayden made a penetrating
run, and, although there appeared to be no impediment to
him scoring, in a selfless act of incredible guerrilla kindness,
he passed the ball to Borth, who sailed over in a demonstration
of the home side's superiority and ever increasing self-belief.
Forty four minutes played, 22-11.

Lewis and Phil were showing real class in the loose while
Ben and Scott Brewster were dominating the set piece. Colleges
were by now in the ascendancy, and, knowing victory surely
would be theirs, they proceeded to underline their superiority
by bagging points.
A well-taken penalty kick increased the home advantage
to 25-11. Next, in true 'Habana' style, it was Jed who ran
the distance, going over for his second try and taking the
score to 30-11 with 64 minutes on the clock. Stu converted
to make it 32-11 before replacement Ross Sutherland was
carded for a misdemeanour.
After that Hillhead Jordanhill did make a couple of visits
into Stew/Mel territory, presenting a real and present danger
that was dealt with decisively by Borth, Rob Patterson and
Callum Macintosh who was on at hooker. Scrum-half Rob made
an excellent clearance kick while under intense pressure
that put the Inverleith men back on the offensive.

To cap his excellent game, Hayden - who had throughout
been immense in defence and quite sublime when going forward
- seared through to score a more than deserved try. The
unconverted kick held the score at 37-11. Playing the way
he was, it was more surprising that Jed didn't get another
score for a hat-trick, and Coxy deserved something more
for his skilful passing and masterful juggling.
It was, however, that maker of the hard yards, one of our
pack's twin turbines, Scotty who was to have the honour
of scoring the Capital men's seventh try of the contest.
Stu then converted 'Bruiser's score, taking the final tally
to 44-11.
A special mention goes to Stu, who, in addition to scoring
nine points himself, turned in an outstanding all round
performance at stand-off.
It wouldn't be over optimistic after this fine win to predict
that Stew/Mel could go a lot further in the Scottish Hydro
Premier Cup. We are, however, back on league duty on Saturday,
February 13 when we travel to Dundee.
There's never an easy game at Mayfield, but, after this
convincing cup win and now with their tails up, Colleges
may make it a closer game than the form book would suggest.
So, if possible, why not travel the roads and the miles
to sunny Dundee and give the Stewart's Melville 1st XV your
support - they're worth it!

Stew
Mel Stats
| Ball Sponsor |
Lawrence Douglas |
| Result |
Won 44-11 |
| Sequence |
5-0,
7-0, 12-0,
12-3, 12-8,
12-11, 17-11
(half time), 22-11,
25-11, 30-11,
32-11, 37-11,
42-11, 44-11 |
| Tries |
Jed Gordon 2 (6 & 64 mins),
Phil Hendry (13 mins), Liam Steele (42 mins),
Richard Borthwick (44 mins), Hayden Lingard (73
mins), Scott Brewster (75 mins) |
| Conversions |
Stuart Ker 3 (first, fifth and seventh
tries) |
| Penalties |
Stu Ker (58 mins) |
| Cards |
Ek was yellowed after half an hour for going over
the top in a ruck, one of the visitors was carded
for killing the ball 15 minutes into the second half
then Ross Sutherland saw yellow for some flankerly
mischief 10 minutes after that
|
| Referee |
Charles Samson of Howe Of Fife |
| Single Sentence Summary |
A pretty professional performance today,
with the forwards fronting up to the beefy Hillhead
Jordanhill pack and the backs having an absolute field
day despite the heavy pitch - all in all, a timely reminder
that we're actually pretty good at this rugby lark! |
| Leading Lion |
Scotty Brewster very nearly upset the apple cart
with his try at the end of the game - not often you
see a second row man scorching up the wing to score
in the corner!
But got to go for Hayden
again today - he scored one try and set up another
for Borth. The latter even involved Hayden passing
the ball with the line firmly in his sights - whatever
next! Overall, another classy performance from 'Mr
Lingard' that must have impressed his pupils watching
the game from the stand.
Jedi also ran Hayden mighty close, scoring two fine
winger's tries using his electric pace, while Borth,
Coxy and Liam all put in excellent shifts.
Also got to mention the big tackles put in by Lewis,
Scotty and Pip today - one audible hit during the
second half made even the Ultras flinch!
|
| Bevvy Bulletin |
On the Coronas again, though came very close to breaking
out the old vin blanc immediately after the
game.
Our bar staff were, in any case, being kept pretty
busy serving the folk watching the 6 Nations games
on telly in the bar - nice to see that the Hillhead
Jordanhill boys had decided to stick around for that
very reason.
|
| Pie Points |
Passed on the pies today after a prematch lunch at
the Mosque Kitchen, but enjoyed some of the chicken
curry that was served up to the players after the
game - thanks to Doc for distributing the leftovers
with such great aplomb!
|
Return to 1st XV Fixtures page
|