Kelso vs Stew Mel, 6/12/03

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Kelso RFC at Poynder Park on Saturday, kick off 3 pm, is:

The team shows three changes from last week. Up front, Alex Edmonstone comes in to replace Malcolm MacColl, who is in the USA on business for ten days. This allows Peter McLean to return to the squad for the first time since recovering from the injury that he sustained during his try scoring full debut against Kirkcaldy.

In the backs, two changes are made to the team, with the fit again Michael Elliott returning to the wing after impressing for the 2nd XV in the last few weeks. Stuart Bartwicki is the player unlucky to lose out, but retains his place in the squad by virtue of the replacements' bench.

Not so lucky is Struan Samson, who loses out in selection this week to Stuart Donald. Stuart has been playing well all season for the 2nd XV and his appearances off the bench in the last two weeks for the 1st XV have impressed everyone, not least his break which led to the winning score in injury time against Biggar last week.

A couple of tough calls in selection this week, but, with the 2nd XV sitting unbeaten at the top of their league and guys coming in and taking their chances, it is a good problem to have.

Please note that it is a 3 pm kick off due to Kelso having floodlights. The team bus will leave Inverleith at 12.15 sharp if anyone would like a lift. Please come along and support the team if you can.

Riggers' Review

Bitter disappointment. That sums up the mood after Saturday's game down at Kelso, when our five game unbeaten run came crashing to an end. For some reason, the collective off day conspired to happen in a game that was very much there for the taking. The number of errors, mainly unforced, made by the team was verging on the farcical towards the end of the game. Every piece of well worked play - and there were a lot - ended with an uncharacteristic knock on or loss of ball in contact.

You can't win games playing like that, but, I tell you, we came pretty close at the end. It was nearly a repeat of the Biggar escape, but, sadly, was not to be. Perhaps it was fitting that the last play of the game saw us camped near the Kelso line, then creating an opening, only for the ball to be lost forward in contact. It sort of summed up the day. To make matters worse, news of Haddington's win over Gala came through and, not only had a chance to close the gap on them gone, but so had our fourth place in the league.

The men from Neilson Park come calling to Inverleith next Saturday, and it should be a great battle. We obviously laid our bogey against them in the first game of the season, but they have had an impressive run of results since then, and, as mentioned, now lie one place above us in the table. We have much to work on this week, and I'm sure the boys won't be looking forward to Macca's analysis of the game. As well as the usual tackle count, a column is being added to Macca's analysis sheets for the error count this week. As they say, the camera never lies!

Riggers

Stew Mel Stats

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