Stew Mel 3rd XV vs Ross High 2nd XV, 20/10/07

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville team for Saturday's league game with Ross High 2nd XV at Inverleith, kick off 3 pm, is:

Well done to Coylie for putting together a great squad this week for the visit of Ross High 2nds to Inverleith.

As you’ll see, we have good numbers out again this week, and we’ll also have myself and Yoss on the bench as front or back row cover. New face Graeme Mitchell (scrum-half) joins us on the bench after pitching up at training, whilst centre Iain Stevenson plays his second game for us after impressing at Grangemouth last week. We also welcome back Marsh and Johnny Brock from injury and also former 1st XV player Paul ‘Sully’ Sullivan.

Please be down at Inverleith for 2.15 PM on Saturday.

Ross High 2nd XV sit just below us in the league (once updated properly!) and enjoyed a good start to the season (including a win over Linlithgow). They should provide a good test for us, and I’m sure we’re all keen to continue on from last week's victory over Grangemouth.

Match Report

The plan was a simple one. We would use the age old tactic of distraction and couple it with some old fashioned, stiff-upper-lipped hush. Loose lips sink ships, and all that. Twenty two brave souls made the treacherous journey from landing craft to changing room in units of four men under heavy camouflage. Strict instructions on confidentiality and assumed identities ('Andrew Duke', for example …) had been rigorously practised through the week. This was it: the final orders were given and our boys went over the top.

There were some close calls around the Referees room and a scary moment outside changing room 2, but, just when we thought it was mission accomplished, the spectre of 2nd XV rugby loomed, and, with its shadowy hands, stole Stewart Hardie and Waif away to play Aberdeen Grammar on pitch 2. In the ensuing chaos we did, however, manage to rescue a very hungover Scotty McDougall to fill the gap at hooker.

Safely changed and out onto Pitch 3, there was a collective sigh of relief as the Seconds game kicked off and we could all concentrate on watching Ross High warm up (with our mouths open and minds boggling). It's safe to say that there was a very marked contrast in our own preparations. In fact, one single event that summed this contrast up neatly was Junior having to steal one of Ross High's warm-up cones to take his first conversion. As Nelly pointed out, "it says it all, really".

Ross High scored early on but we soon found our stride and the tries began coming. Simon 'The Kraken' Capaldi was having an excellent game in the front row whilst bringing some WWE Sports Entertainment Wrestling style rugby to the Mighty 3s. One particular forearm smash/hand off will still be being felt by his opposite number from Tranent. Marsh later took on board some of these new found grappling skills which Si had been demonstrating as he put in a couple of dodgy spear tackles. Good to have you back, Marsh.

We played some excellent rugby over the course of this game. With our back row running, offloading and stealing ball well and our front five dealing stoically with a streetwise Ross High pack, it gave our backs a great platform upon which to create. The passing was excellent and our defensive play was solid again this week. Richie Munro and Sully were, at times in the second half, unstoppable and Jed helped himself to another hat trick of well taken tries. Surely he must be getting sick of "turning out for these monkeys" (to quote the man himself)?!

Ross High had a tough pack who were seasoned in most of the dark arts of law bending, with a very solid scrum and lineout that we didn't get our own way against a lot of the time. To give them credit, though, they didn't just try and play one dimensional rugby, either, and spread it about a bit, too. Their never-say-die attitude is a credit to them, and we'll have another tough game when we travel to take them on at Blawearie Road in the New Year.

All in all a good game, and a good skite afterwards, too - it was nice to have a few faces from the 3s at Inverleith after the game. I'll have to remember not to wear my shirt and tie again, though, after several Aberdeen Grammar players congratulated me on a fine performance against them! The name's Duke, Andrew Duke ..

Brodie

Stew Mel Stats

Richie shows Brodie his BOTM

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