Stew Mel 3rd XV vs Falkirk 2nd XV, 10/11/07

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville squad for Saturday's league game with Falkirk 2nd XV at Inverleith, kick off 2 pm, is:

As you will see, we have a lot of front row players in the forwards, so there may be some of you playing out of position.

We could do with a Baz or a Stew coming on as an impact player, as I've heard Falkirk are useful up front.

See you tomorrow at Invers, no later than 1.15 please.

Match Report

The recent swell in numbers was not a luxury available to me this week, and, as a result, the visit of Falkirk, known for their big aggressive pack, was a potential banana skin for the high flying 3s.

The game began with a few players out of position, so thanks to Ric and Hamish especially. Captain Shagger won the toss and chose to receive (most unlike him).

The first quarter was a turgid affair, with both teams playing very conservatively. Eventually the Falkirk 10 got his back line moving and the outside centre fancied his chances against the older Stew Mel midfield. He wouldn't try a switch again until the dying moments of the second half, when, again, he would get up gingerly, having lost the ball some fifteen yards further back from where he took it!

That sparked the mighty 3s into life, and we started to play some decent rugby. The ball was often passed through several pairs of hands and we supported each other well. The pick of the first half tries came from a break in our own 22, five close passes, then a delightful behind the back pass from Richie to Sully, who coasted in under the posts.

Sully scored another before half time when he received a quick tap penalty and put his opposite man on his hoop. He rounded off a fine personal performance with his hat trick in the second half, though this was later soured when he failed to pass to Yoss for a clear try in the dying minutes.

Speaking of Yoss, he formed part of the front row, which also featured Messrs Ross, Smith, Wilson and Hipwell during the course of the game. The former three having a combined age of 146 (I think).

Special mention should go to Richie's visionary cross field kick in the dying minutes, which went 10 yards backwards but landed in Junior's breadbasket!

Oh, and I can't not mention Junior's scrap with his opposite
man. Junior came off second best - which says a lot, as the assailant only had one fist!

Coylie

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