Stew Mel 3rd XV vs Grangemouth 2nd XV, 5/1/08

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Squad

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

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

Match Report

The not-so-Mighty 3s took the field against a strengthened Grangemouth side at a soggy and windswept Invers on Saturday. It was something of a struggle to raise a team during the week, with many people taking extended festive breaks. A team was scraped together, but was missing a few key players. Grangemouth were in the fortunate position of being able to bring a healthy squad as their 1st XV game had been cancelled.

The game kicked off and Stew Mel were penalised something like ten times on the trot. To be fair, Grangemouth dominated in terms of possession and territory from the off, and justifiably took the lead through a try from the 1st XV training ground, with their excellent No. 8 picking up from the base of the scrum, drawing the defence and passing to the inside centre, who broke a couple of tackles and went in under the posts. There was a delay while yours truly retrieved the ball from Ferry Road as the try was duly converted.

Stew Mel 3s then saw their second yellow card of the season, this being awarded to one of our better players on the day in somewhat bizarre circumstances. We were on the attack and had put together a few good phases of quick rucking. Our young hooker was brought to deck in the Grangemouth 22. Admittedly he did not release, and a penalty was given. Fine. What was
not fine was issuing him with a yellow for a professional foul!

Anyway, Grangemouth deservedly scored a further 21 unanswered points to go in 28-0 up at the break. Stew Mel started well after the interval and scored first after a fine break and kick ahead by the team's leading ball carrier - Danger! From the resulting attacking position, probably our next best yardage gainer, Shaft, chipped and gathered for our first points since 24th November - well done!

This was the spark we needed, and the second half was much more of a contest (12 all). Shaft scored a second try which Andy Gamble converted. The game was soured by the sending off of Grangemouth's star player for a nothing incident with our veteran skipper, Bonker.

Thanks to everyone who played. Special mention to Iain 'Monkeyboy' Stevenson. He was so cold that, by the time I subbed him on, he forgot to remove his spectacles! Genius.

Coylie

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