Saturday 16th August 2008

Tynedale 34 v 50 Boroughmuir

Reporter: Simon Furnivall

With an under strength side – there were no fewer than five regular 1^st XV starters from last season missing – there was a feeling before kick-off that today’s game at Tynedale Park would be a huge challenge for Boroughmuir. After ten minutes – all of which had been spent with Boroughmuir on the defensive – Tynedale had just bagged their second try and it looked like ’Muir would be hoping for the final whistle long before it came.

The fight resident in the SHE Premiership Champions should never be underestimated, however, and they burst into life on the quarter hour thanks to a storming run down the middle of the field from Stuart Waddell. Their confidence began quickly to pick up and on twenty-one minutes forced their way back into the match when James Fish crossed for a score. Waddell and Ben Fisher were battering the Tynedale defence whilst hooker Neil Malloy was doing great work around the ruck. The ball eventually came right to Fish, plying his trade on the wing for the day, and he stepped inside his opposite number to claim the try.

The game was being played over four periods, and with the first over, the hosts held a lead of 10-5. Both sides rang the changes during the break, youngsters Mark Hare, Gavin Hume and Scott Wilson being introduced to the action. ’Muir looked to have dealt with the changes better and began to dominate Tynedale. Ten minutes into the second period, Elgan O’Donnell dropped his shoulder and darted through a gap before sending centre partner Malcolm Clapperton over for a score. O’Donnell then landed the first successful conversion of the day.

Their lead was soon extended when Tynedale, having conceded a scrum near their own line, compounded the mistake when they were penalised for pushing early in the scrum. Fisher took a quick tap penalty and came within a metre of scoring, but Calum Cusiter – who had been one of ’Muir’s best players in the opening period – picked up and drove the ball over the line. O’Donnell added the conversion for a nine point lead.

The momentum was now well with the Scots and their fourth try followed after twenty minutes of the second period. Greg Cottrell reacted quickly to a loose ball and flicked a pass up to Clapperton. The centre set off for the line in a hurry and despite continually looking like he was going to get caught, he dived over for the score. Not bad for a man who turns thirty next month. Cottrell took over the conversion duties and duly added the points.

As the second period came to an end, Tynedale mounted their first serious attack since the turnaround. A series of darting runs round the side of the rucks moved them down the pitch and when they were awarded a penalty on the Boroughmuir five metre line, they opted for the scrum and drove over the line.

Buoyed by their score at the end of the second period, Tynedale began the third on the front foot and they cut the gap to four points when their number eight bulldozed over from close range. Their first conversion of the game closed the gap further and they had their sights fixed firmly on the win.

’Muir had different ideas, however, and soon restored their eleven point advantage. A great break down the middle of the pitch from O’Donnell was taken forward by Waddell. When the Belfast man was brought down, the ball was quickly recycled and swung left where Matt Cannon almost crossed the line but had the awareness to slip a pass to Rory Couper for the winger to cross the line. O’Donnell was back on kicking duties and began where he left off, striking the ball between the posts.

The hosts were soon back on the offensive when they took a scrum against the head and launched a scything attack. After being stopped down the right flank, they moved the ball left and found a gap down the wing and went over in the corner. A missed conversion left the gap at six points.

The final period began with ’Muir thinking they had scored a match winning try. Fisher was enjoying the space behind the scrum, finding it encouraged his bullocking runs and when the ball was recycled and moved right, Clapperton found Fish who touched down in the corner, only for the pass to have been called forward. It must have been a marginal decision.

The game swung the other way rapidly, Tynedale breaking upfield and sending their hooker over for the score. The added conversion put the hosts in front for the first time since the first period. There was every chance that the hosts could now run away with the game, but only minutes later it was Rory Couper who was putting ’Muir back in front. Clapperton found space on the right and sent Couper away, the winger scoring a trademark try as he stepped outside his opposite number before beating the fullback for pace and scoring in the corner.

The game was sealed two minutes from time when, O’Donnell had thumped a kick into touch deep in the Tynedale twenty-two. A quick throw-in was perhaps inadvisable as O’Donnell and Cottrell caught the man in possession and turned the ball over. Cottrell reacted quickly and raced over the line before O’Donnell added the conversion.

The icing on the cake came on full time when the pack made a burst up the middle of the field. Both Euan Matheson and Ben Fisher were prominent in making charging runs, but it was O’Donnell who crossed the line, breaking tackles on his way. He added the conversion to reach the fifty point mark as the referee blew the final whistle.

Had Boroughmuir lost a tight game having showed plenty of fight, I would have been encouraged given the personnel missing. To come away with such a win, however, was a magnificent effort and bodes well for the start of the season in two weeks’ time. A good showing from the young players given game time – in particular Mark Hare, a centre who played his first ever game at fullback – also ensured that no senior player will be allowed to rest on his laurels in Boroughmuir’s bid to win back-to-back titles.

Boroughmuir Squad: Mark Hare, James Fish, Rory Couper, Malcolm Clapperton, Elgan O'Donnell, Matt Cannon, Greg Cottrell, Calum Cusiter, Stuart McGee: Gavin Cameron, Gavin Hume, Bronson Ross, Nick Watt, Neil Malloy, Roddy McKenzie, Greig Scott, Fergus Pringle (c), Stuart Waddell, Eaun Matheson, Ben Fisher, Scott Wilson

Match Photos