Stew Mel vs Melrose, 12/12/09

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Melrose at Inverleith on Saturday, kick off 2 pm, is:

Just a couple of changes to the side picked to face Dundee High last week.

With Harry and Scotty both available again this week, they slot back into the side, replacing Coxy and Stu Clark, respectively. This allows Stu to return to his traditional back row berth, while Coxy provides backs cover on the bench with Euan Clark.

With Colin Phillips sidelined this week due to injury, we're delighted to be able to replace him with none other than Alex Edmonstone. Injury has kept Ek out of the side for far too long, so it will be great to see him running out in the red, black and gold again on Saturday.

Please do your best to make it along to witness this momentous occasion!

Mike Sims

Match Report

On Saturday 12 December, Stewart's Melville played host to Melrose for our penultimate game of 2009. The Borders side are currently in third place in Scottish Hydro Premier One, so Colleges expected a taxing contest. And so it proved to be. 'Rose took the game to us from the start, playing the first 15 minutes of the game in our '22' and forcing Stew/Mel into making errors and conceding penalties.

On one occasion, when 'Rose had been awarded a penalty in front of our posts, they went for the scrum rather than the 'safe' three points. Now why would Melrose do that? You might well ask.

They may have suspected a weakness in our pack, for Stewart's Melville had been forced, through an unbelievable catalogue of accident and injury sustained by our regular front-row stars, to call up a club legend, together with a benching debutante. The former was none other than that irrepressible prop Alex Edmonstone, playing in his first competitive game of the season. The latter was second XV stalwart Jamie Charles, making his debut in the first XV by providing front-row cover.

Stew/Mel certainly do have certain weaknesses - but our pack and their scrummaging hasn't been one all season, and so it was on Saturday. When the Borderers drove in hard, the men in scarlet did not flinch: they held their ground and caused our visitors to be penalised.

Colleges did, however, continue to commit some silly violations that were immediately penalised. This lack of discipline was making an already tough game even tougher. Which the home side really didn't need, as, in addition to those fouls we did actually commit, the RFU referee (appropriately dressed in gold and black) was spotting and whistling for infringements only he was seeing.

With just over 10 minutes gone, the referee awarded a further penalty to our visitors that was converted by their captain, stand-off Scott Wight. Within three minutes of this score, the referee gave Melrose yet another chance at goal that, fortunately, this time Wight missed.

Melrose mounted attack after attack, but, each time, their advance was frustrated by some gallant play from the Inverleith men. Andy Statham, in particular, wasn't content with getting the better of the opposition in the set piece - in addition to that, he was putting himself around the park and executing some excellent hits. Such was the ferocity of Stath's tackles that it was no surprise when he took a knock and was replaced - albeit temporarily - by Jamie Charles, who also impressed when using his tremendous physicality.

Throughout the season, when Colleges are going forward, they always present a real threat - they can be so creative, and, on occasion, inspired. Liam Steele, who had already shown some nice play in defence, kicked a lovely ball from within our own half to find touch on the far side of the park, deep into the opposition's territory. From the lineout that followed, Stew/Mel searched for the way through the Melrose guard. When opposition defences are to be exploited and apparently impervious lines breached, Stewart's Melville have the very man to do it in Stuart Clark. With just over half an hour played, Clarky crossed the whitewash; with Stuart Ker adding the extras, the score stood at 7-3 in our favour.

Melrose countered, with John Dalziel rampaging towards the home side's line. The big back-row's run was, however, brought to an abrupt halt by a crunching tackle from Phil Hendry. Stew/Mel were now denying Melrose opportunities; we were winning and retaining possession. As a result of our endeavour, we were rewarded with a penalty. From the concerted attack by our pack, Blair Tweedie could see only one outcome - to score - which, when slipped the ball, he duly did. Stu Ker had boot trouble with his conversion attempt, but we were still 12-3 ahead just a few minutes from half-time - tremendous!

The Inverleith men had now to keep focus and contain the men in gold and black until the half-time whistle. Then, all at once, we seemed to lose our composure, allowing the Melrose inside centre Jamie King to outstrip our defence with a 50 yard run to score a soft try. The margin was narrowed even further when Wight converted for the visitors, bringing the score at the interval to 12-10 in our favour.

After taking the sucker punch of conceding an opposition try on half time, Stewart's Melville came out determined to make a game of it in the second half. And, for at least 20 minutes, we appeared to be on top. The referee continued to do us no favours, but, apart from losing possession at our own line out and some handling errors, we looked as if we could increase our slender lead and overcome Melrose.

Ek had retired early in the second half after putting on a super comeback performance, even including (to the delight of his fans) his take on Nacho Novo - not one for the faint hearted! Stath returned to the fray at tighthead, and, together with Jamie and Callum Mackintosh, made a formidable front-row. Ben Leathes and Scotty Brewster were our supercharged engine, making it difficult for the 'Rose, and Phil Hendry demonstrated his ability to make and take any scrap of an opportunity. Clarky also showed his great talent throughout - his receiving and calling mark on a high Garryowen in our '22' was classic full-back.

Despite the Stew/Mel pack's great ability, they consistently hit the self-destruct button. Until now the game had been challenging, and, to make it even more so, and, again through indiscipline, we presented the referee with an opportunity to reduce our number to fourteen.

The End.

Not of the report - but of Stew/Mel's chances of victory. Losing a man to the sin-bin and the onset of fatigue did for us in the final phase. Melrose, a side that contains seven Scottish Club Internationals as well as 13 players in the South of Scotland squad, proceeded to run rampant over the Inverleith men. After 60 minutes Robert Christie went over and Wight converted for 'Rose, taking the score to 12-17.

Next, Sam Blackwood, on at hooker, was quickly up on the opposition after a kick, and, although it appeared they were holding on, Sam was penalised. Wight converted the penalty, making the score 12-20. We did get back on their goal line for a scrum and we did earn a penalty or two, but we didn't dent the confidence of the revitalised visitors.

As the sky darkened and the gloom descended, Ben Allen scored a try which was converted by the very much in-form Wight, and, finally, the 'Rose fullback Fraser Thomson crossed over for a try, again converted by Wight.

We had come so close, and, until the hour mark, we were in with a shout - but we were finally overwhelmed by Melrose, with the final score being 12-34.

All match photos care of Dave Patterson

Stew Mel Stats

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