Watsonians vs Stew Mel, 20/2/10

• Click here to jump to Match Report
• Click here to jump to Stew Mel Stats

Squad

The Stewart's Melville FP RFC team to play Watsonians at Myreside on Saturday, kick off 3 pm, is:

There's a bit of uncertainty around the team for Saturday at the moment, with Moff and the coaches waiting to see how injuries pan out before naming the back line.

Hope to see a decent travelling support for the short trip to Myreside.

Watsonians are desperate for points to pull them away from the relegation zone - and we're looking for revenge for the narrow defeat that effectively relegated us the last time we were in the top flight!

Defeat on Saturday would, again, see us relegated - please be there to help the lads stop 'Sonians from doing a very unwelcome double on us!

Mike Sims

Match Report

Stewart's Melville made the short journey across the city on Saturday to play fellow league strugglers Watsonians at Myreside. Although cold, it was a bright and sunny day on which to play a game that the players knew they had to win to avoid being relegated from the top flight.

The hosts kicked off, Angus Lean collected, and, with Stu Ker and Michael Doneghan running good lines, Stew/Mel were right up and at 'Sonians. A pass from Stu set young Ross Grant free to threaten an early score. Piling on the pressure, the visitors forced a penalty that Ker kicked to touch, but, after a misjudged throw, they were turned over from the ruck that followed.

On recovering possession, the Inverleith men again drove forward. Winning a scrum, Ker's quick ball to the flank had Donny making a solo run, only to be unceremoniously dumped into touch by the 'Sonians back line.

In the first five minutes it didn't look as if the home side would be able to contain Stew/Mel, such was the pressure Richard Borthwick and his men were putting them under. The Inverleith back three were 100% committed to getting that early score. However, seizing on vulnerability, 'Sonians countered from the breakdown, where less than convincing defensive work had given them possession. They instantly created an opportunity by getting the ball out to their blindside flanker Gavin Callander, who crossed in the sixth minute to open the scoring: 5-0.

Undeterred, Stew/Mel went out even harder to get an early try and get back into the game. In the Stew/Mel attacking line, and making some impressive plays, was first team newcomer Calum Williams - on for the injured Jed Gordon - who provided good support to Alex Cox. Coxy was, once again, probably the most exciting player on the park when going forward.

In the ninth minute, Stu had the opportunity to open the scoring for the visitors when the referee penalised 'Sonians for their continuous transgressing - but the scrum-half was off target with his place kick. The honour of opening the Stew/Mel scoring did eventually fall in the 12th minute to the very much on form Borth, who sailed through to claim an unconverted try, 5-5.

With the scores level, the visitors controlled the next 10 minutes or so of the match. Lewis Calder's work rate, Ross Grant's tackling and the way in which Coxy combined well with Borth and Craig Marshall did much to raise the visiting support's hopes. Now looking good and determined in attack, Stew/Mel did, however, fail to bar the route taken by the Myreside men earlier, and former Colleges player Jamie Blackwood went in for a second try. With a conversion by Mike Ker, the scoreboard read 12-5 with 27 minutes played.

Five minutes later, Watsonians went further ahead through Ali Rowe and their Ker added the two points. With no further scoring, the half ended 19-5.

Within two minutes of the restart, inconclusive tackling let 'Sonians full-back Jamie Forbes through to grab what could prove their most important try of the campaign, giving them a vital bonus point and a dog's chance of survival. The hoops' Ker added the extras and took the score to 24-5. From the scoreline it appeared that the young Stew/Mel side were down - but were they out? Not a bit of it!

Lewis, making an excellent flanking run, and Ross Grant, tackling way above both his experience and weight, exemplified just how motivated Stewart's Melville remain. Hard work and a real never-say-die spirit helped Stewart's Melville to regain control, and, in the final quarter, teenage hooker Sam Blackwood and Calum Williams were going all out to cut the deficit. Lewis could no longer be contained, and, on slipping his minders, he powered through before passing to Coxy, who crossed the whitewash to pull one back with 18 minutes remaining and bring the score to 26-10.

Stew/Mel narrowed the gap even further four minutes later with a Stu Ker penalty. 'Sonians - having lost the advantage their pack had given them when scrums went uncontested - now faded. And, on the introduction of late replacements battling Chris Sutherland and a ferocious Callum Mackintosh, it looked as if the Inverleith side could narrow the score difference even further - but, at the final whistle, the city derby ended Watsonians 26, Stewart's Melville 13.

While our forwards had a rough time at the hands of the 'Sonians pack - their overseas players, in particular, inflicting the damage - the Colleges backs had one of their best games of the season, possibly even the best. For the forwards, Angus Lean was again outstanding, but, in the opinion of many - including some opposition supporters - captain Borth was the visitors' best player on the day by far.

From here on, Stewart's Melville can concentrate on their preparation for next season. They can experiment and can give valuable game time to their young players. Many of these have been coming into the first team squad, and, so far, they have proved to be crowd pleasers. Next week we play current league leaders Currie at home. They will be out to show their supremacy, so a good home support is required.

Stew Mel Stats

Return to 1st XV Fixtures page