Selkirk RFC vs Stew Mel, 5/3/05

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Selkirk RFC at Philiphaugh on Saturday, kick off 2.30 pm, is:

Two changes from the team that played Haddington last Sunday, with Stephan Burger slotting in on the right wing instead of Gavin Sharp, who is in the USA at a wedding.

Stephan De Beer, after returning to South Africa for a family birthday party last weekend, also returns to the front row in place of the unavailable Richard Hood.

Any supporters wishing a lift to Selkirk on the team bus for this potentially momentous match should be ready to leave Inverleith at 11.30 am sharp (NB early kickoff!) I look forward to seeing you all at Philiphaugh on Saturday to cheer the team on as they enter the final furlong.

Riggers' Review

We're back! A dominant performance from the pack ensured that the ten year wait to return to Premier 1 is over, and we can now look forward to our final league game against Kirkcaldy in three weeks' time knowing we can relax and go out and enjoy ourselves. Obviously it is important that we win to finish the season in style, but it will be great to play a game under no real pressure.

The win over Selkirk saw two tries in each half, with Jed opening the try count with his thirteenth of the season. This stretched his lead over Lindy at the top of the scoring charts to three and his return of sixteen tries in his last 22 games for the 1st XV has been the sort of finishing power we have been looking for for a while. Sam Hendry chipped in with a 17 point haul, including two tries, to take his points tally to 171 for the season. Since his move from full back to the outside centre berth, Sam has been a revelation, and we can only hope this continues next year in Premier 1.

Captain Paul Wharakura scored the other try and probably the most important one. Turning around into the strong wind with a 15-0 lead, Paul crashed over after a number of drives by the forward pack within a couple of minutes of the restart. This ended Selkirk's hopes of causing any real problems, and, with strong defence, we held out until the last few minutes before conceding a consolation try.

The final whistle was greeted by cheers, and, with the squad being applauded off the pitch by our loyal and ever increasing band of supporters, the celebrations could begin in earnest.

Some of the boys reckoned the win brought a tear to our President's eye, and they would probably be right. Al Napier has been at the heart of much of what has happened at Inverleith in the last few years. It is fitting that his Presidency should culminate in our return to Premier 1. Al, along with Allan Munro, has worked tirelessly to get the club back up the leagues and to help us 'find our level'.

At the final whistle it was good to see Fraser Pollock in the crowd and celebrating the victory. Fraser, along with Andy Cadzow, probably deserves the success of the club more than anyone else after the last ten years. Without the two of them sticking around when the going got tough and leading from the front, who knows were we might have ended up.

The 37 players who have represented the 1st XV this season have done a great job, and their commitment to the jersey and training has been fantastic; they have also been assisted by excellent coaching from Macca, Benzo and Graham Ellis. In addition to that, there are a number of players at the club who regularly turn up training and who haven't had the opportunity to step out on the pitch with the 1st XV; they are as much a part of the success as anyone else. Again, Mark Burgess and, latterly, Gordon 'Sesh' Henderson have been excellent additions to the coaching team at Inverleith.

Malky MacColl, Ian Morrison, John Hughes, Mike Sims, Mark Coyle, Don Rolls, Linda Mann, Jenny McLellan, Laura Calder, Eileen Hughes, Doc Beattie, Doc MacGregor and Doc Thomson also deserve thanks for the roles that they play at the club. Without their help, we wouldn't be as successful as we have been. There are probably many others who I should mention for their roles in the success that we have had this season, and apologies to any who have been missed.

Bill McNie, our webmaster, missed the game on Saturday due to his punk rock commitments, but I'm sure many in St Louis in the USA will be lining up to get a Stew/Mel Lions tattoo after seeing Bill celebrate on Saturday evening!

I look forward to seeing you at Inverleith on Saturday 26th March for our final league game. Please come down and show your support to the team and help us celebrate, once again, our promotion to Premier 1.

Riggers

(I hardly need to point out the important role that Riggers has played at the club during this and many previous seasons - we couldn't hope for a better President to lead us during our first season back in the top flight. Bill)

Stew Mel Stats

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