Last Friday Stew Mel ventured over the Firth of Forth for a fixture under the lights at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy. Missing one or two regulars, the freshened up Stewart's Melville team took an early lead through Jamie McGurk’s first try of the evening which was converted by its creator, Kyle Henderson. Kirkcaldy 0–7 Stew Mel. The hosts came back with two well worked unconverted tries to make it Kirkcaldy 10–7 Stew Mel. Kirkcaldy then kicked a penalty to extend their lead to 13-7. Slightly against the run of play and possession, Jamie McGurk grabbed a second try following a turnover which Kyle converted. Kirkcaldy 13–14 Stew Mel. The first half’s scoring was completed with Kirkcaldy adding two further tries, both converted, to take a commanding 27–14 half time lead.
Shortly after half time, the bench began to join the fray, with Chris Baikie replacing Duncan Reid, Curtis replacing Max Filby and Quinn Murphy replacing Gregor Thomson. This did little to stem Kirkcaldy’s momentum, however, as they scored again to take a 34-14 lead. The Fifers were also held up over the line twice during this period of ascendancy. Unbowed, the visitors rallied to chase down their hosts’ lead, Kyle Henderson scoring a try and converting it before tries from Quinn Murphy and Hayden Hart. Kyle also converted both of those tries. Unfortunately, Kirkcaldy took the opportunity to kick a penalty goal between Quinn and Hayden’s tries to increase their tally to 37 points and so the game finished Kirkcaldy 37–35 Stew Mel. We therefore claimed two valuable points in defeat.
This is the second successive away game where Stew Mel have scored 5 tries. Enormous credit must be given to the players for the display of character and resilience in the face of the second half onslaught from Kirkcaldy, particularly when holding them up twice over the line. Once again the starting back row of Archie Clarke, Max Filby and Gregor Thomson led the way and back row substitutes, Curtis Williams and Quinn Murphy, kept energy and endeavour levels high when they came on. Ally Scott and Jamie Chalmers should be commended for their whole hearted contributions, both in attack and defensively. Stew Mel also ‘won’ the second half 21–10 which suggests an ability to finish games strongly. All credit though to hosts and victors Kirkcaldy who, in their full back Callum Kennedy and stand off Finlay Smith, had two of the game’s outstanding performers on the night.
The next game is Falkirk away on Saturday 28th September 2024.
David Calder
Photographs courtesy of Keith Ferguson
