Stew Mel 3rd XV vs Forrester 2nd XV, 8/12/07

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Squad

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

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

Match Report

I have to say that, on Friday afternoon, I was quietly confident with the squad that was to come together on Saturday for the top of the table clash with Forrester. It seemed to have the right blend of power, pace and skill that had toppled Forrester earlier in the season. By Saturday lunchtime, however, things were looking a lot different.

The team assembled at a very cold, wet, and windy Invers, knowing that we would have to be at the top of our game to beat a Forrester side riding high at the top of the league. The first problem hit when we lost three key members of the squad to illness and demotion to the 2s, leaving us with only six backs - and no backs cover on the bench (this was going to be a telling point by the end of the afternoon). The second problem arrived as we got onto the pitch to find that the referee had decided it was too cold for him to turn up, forcing Yoss to step in and leave us with only one player on the bench.

The game kicked off and the initial moments were promising, with a good gather and a couple of good rucks and pickups moving us up to half way. The ball was then shipped out to the backs, where cold hands got the better of us and the ball was spilled. The Forrester midfield seized the advantage, fly-hacked forward a few times and won the foot race to touch down for an early score.

From the resultant kick-off, Forrester sprang another attack and shipped the ball wide. The covering defence did well to snuff out the attack, only for us to notice that Hamish hadn't got up from his tackle. So Hamish off injured after 5 minutes - and Andy on, to a very unfamiliar position on the wing. The rest of the first half saw us struggle to break down a very organised Forrester defence, and our own defensive line was breached for a couple more scores. Of course, that wasn't to be the end of our woes for the half. With moments remaining before the half-time whistle blew, Marsh gathered a tricky ball under pressure and sent a kick long upfield, but, unfortunately, the tackle he got hit with left him on the deck with a buggered knee. So Marsh off injured and ... well, no-one on, as we had already run out of subs.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with Forrester using their man advantage to great effect - shipping the ball wide on numerous occasions and creating overlaps that we could do very little to stop. We did rally later in the half, and had a spell of consistent pressure in the visitors' 22, but the final pass or lucky break never materialised, and, for the second game in a row, we left the field without a score being recorded.

A miserable day all round, and one which may prove decisive when the league standings are settled at the end of the season. Another big game next week with a trip to Watsonians - a must win game if our slim hopes of winning the league are to continue.

Shaft

Thanks to Brodie for the match photos

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