Saturday 6th March 2010

Stewarts Melville 3 v 38 Boroughmuir

Reporter: Simon Furnivall

It is perhaps a measure of how much is expected at Meggetland that, having come away from Inverleith Park with six tries and five points, there remaining a feeling of frustration around the Boroughmuir camp, a feeling that there had been a more comprehensive victory there for the taking.

Since their relegation was confirmed, life has not been easy for Stewarts Melville, shorn of a number of players and further weakened when Ben Leathes was sent off in their midweek defeat to Currie. There was certainly a sense from early on, perhaps from the first scrum when the Boroughmuir eight demolished their north Edinburgh counterparts, that the game was in the hands of the visitors, and having secured the four try bonus point by half time, there was an expectation that they would push on for more.

Only two further tries came their way, however, in a second half performance that was as much about frustrating Boroughmuir mistakes as it was about committed Stewarts Melville defence.

Clearly the hosts were a side low on confidence; only two league wins all season and only three days past having seventy point put on them by a rampant Currie side. In contrast Boroughmuir, despite the many failed attempts to play their cup game against Kirkcaldy, came into the game feeling good about their game having taken five points from Melrose in their previous outing,

Whilst Greg Cottrell was missing with an injury picked up against Melrose, Stephen Ruddick was unavailable and long term absentee Angus Martyn was still missing from the team sheet, Boroughmuir were largely at full strength and determined to show their superiority from the off.

Graeme Blackhall, who played his school rugby for Stewarts Melville, set himself up with the first opportunity for points with an excellent break, catching the home defence cold and enticing them offside at the breakdown. The fly-half chose to have a go at the posts from the resultant penalty but slid his effort wide of the posts.

It wasn’t long before ’Muir got themselves the opening points, though a penalty try may not have been the expected route. Breaks from Calum Cusiter and Shaun McMurchy – another who was playing against his old club – took the ball to within metres of the line and when Stew Mel flanker Andrew Fraser dived over the top of the breakdown, referee Andy Taylorson had no hesitation in reaching for his yellow card.

Boroughmuir decided to pack down against the weakened Stew Mel scrum and a strong hit from props Bronson Ross and Freddie Lait had it creaking from the off. With the ’Muir scrum marching towards the line, the Stew Mel front row stood up and flanker Fergus Lamont tried to get away with breaking early to pinch the ball from Jamie Doubleday’s feet. Mr Taylorson was having none of it and immediately marched under the posts, awarding the penalty try, which Blackhall converted.

The visitors were intent on making their extra man pay, and after Stuart Ker had missed a penalty shot for Stew Mel, ‘Muir grabbed their second try. Rob Cairns went up to claim a high ball and the winger was tackled in the air with the resultant penalty nudged to touch just inside the Stew Mel twenty two. A few pick and go drives later and they were within touching distance of the line, lock forward Greig Scott the one who finally powered over for the score, aided by excellent supporting drives from Phil Cronin and Doubleday. Blackhall again added the extras.

Ker got Stewarts Melville on the board with his second attempt of the day, but realistically it was never more than a plaster on a gaping wound as chances continued to flow in the opposite direction.

Jamie Doubleday had been held up over the line before try number three came Boroughmuir’s way, Euan Matheson taking over at number eight and showing control at the base of the scrum as his pack drove towards the line. He picked the right moment to go from the base, diving down the blindside and through the tackle of fly-half Ross Grant to touch down for a score which went unconverted.

The bonus point score came for Boroughmuir on the stroke of half time and was a lesson in simple rugby. Having broken up the right wing through Tom Bury and Ed Mills, and with the Stew Mel defence still scrambling to get back in position, the ball was quickly recycled and shuffled along the line, James Fish’s long pass to Bury stretching the defence to breaking point, allowing the Gael Force winger to put Cairns over for the score. Again the try went unconverted.

With a three score lead at the break, one could have expected that the home side’s resistance was broken and that a more than healthy margin would build up over the second half. That would have been unfair on Stew Mel, however, as they were never found wanting for heart, and a few players, notably number eight Blair Tweedie, tackled themselves to a standstill.

Boroughmuir will no doubt still look at their own execution as the primary reason for their failure to run in more than two scores in the second forty minutes, there were certainly far too many knocks on and turnovers for the liking of either Fergus Pringle or Phil Smith. They did claim those two tries, however, and perhaps more importantly stopped Stew Mel from crossing their line and claiming any sort of consolation score.

It was rugby once more at its simple best that provided ‘Muir with their fifth score of the day. As full back Richard Borthwick cut back looking for space, he was met by the joint force of Greig Scott and Euan Matheson. The Stew Mel captain had little hope of keeping possession in contact, and Boroughmuir broke quickly on the counter down the blindside. Cairns flew down the left flank, straining to get outside cover defender Craig Marshall, before finding Calum Cusiter in support, the scrum half given a clear run in for the try. Blackhall added his third conversion of the day.

The final score came with still thirteen minutes to play, another reason why Boroughmuir’s coaches were a little disappointed despite the five points. ‘Muir were proving to be effective from turnover ball, and when another was won on halfway, they released Tom Bury down the right flank. The winger had support from Phil Cronin before the ball was recycled and moved left, Stew Mel simply running out of defenders as Ed Mills straightened his line, cutting inside substitute winger Alex Cox and over for the score. Blackhall’s conversion was the final addition to the score board.

For all the ‘what ifs’ over the eventual margin of victory, this was another precious five points for Boroughmuir in what has been a long and hard season. The reality of their situation now is that one win from their final three remaining fixtures will guarantee their safety, but doubtless they have loftier ambitions. There has been much talk of winning each of those remaining games, but the first port of call must be the potentially tough trip to Cartha Queens Park on Tuesday night. Finally Boroughmuir’s cup campaign will get underway, and if they can build on the momentum of the last two games, then who knows where it may end.

Boroughmuir : Ed Mills; Tom Bury, Malcolm Clapperton, James Fish, Rob Cairns: Graeme Blackhall, Calum Cusiter: Freddie Lait, Shaun McMurchy, Bronson Ross: Greig Scott, Neale Patrick, Euan Matheson (c): Jamie Doubleday, Phil Cronin. Subs Used: Justin Va'a, Nick Fraser, Mike Stalley, Stuart McGee, Mark Hare

Match Photos