You are here: Match Reports / 1st XV / Stew-Mel 27th January 2007
| “ DARKNESS OVER INVERLEITH” Stewarts Melville 37pts Hillhead/Jordanhill 6pts If there was such a person as a neutral rugby fan, s/he would have been bemused at the margin of the final scoreline in which Stew/Mel defeated the “Hills” by three goals, two tries, and two penalties to two penalties. The basis for this would have been the fact that for the first 65 minutes of this game, the visitors enjoyed the bulk of field possession, but could not cross their opponent’s try line, being restricted to the meagre return of two penalty goals. At this stage, the host were 18pts to 6 ahead, their tries resulting from rapid counter attack, profiting on the “Hills” mistakes , but for the last 15 minutes the home team cut loose, ruthlessly exposing the brittle nature of some poor Hills tackling. Yet, it all could have been so different if the visitors had taken the chances which came their way in a frantic opening ten minutes. An early kick at goal was missed; several pick and drives close to the line came to nothing; a further series of phases produced a drop goal attempt which shaved the upright; a Sam Muir try was disallowed for an earlier offence ; but the first time the hosts put together any phases in the Hills half, a try and a penalty quickly resulted. Martin Yorston managed to pull three points back, but the hugely secure Jimmy Moran at full back for Stew/Mel took the home team to 11pts to 3 ahead at half time with a penalty kick at goal. The second half fared no better for the “Hills”, and they were unable to make their numerical advantage of an extra man count when their opponents had their outstanding open side flanker, Pete Mclean, yellow carded. Poor ball retention when mounting an attack just inside the Stew/Mel half allowed their opponents to show their speed in repossession and score a converted try taking them 12points ahead with the final quarter of the match to play, Martin Yorston having converted a second penalty opportunity. There seemed, however, little variation in the “Hills” attacking plays, and any headway made was all too easily rebuffed. The final three scores occurred when the visitors totally lost their defensive shape and were overwhelmed, but although home stand off Stuart Ker would have been delighted with his fine solo try, its video re-play for the “Hills” squad will be a painful viewing experience when the number of missed tackles becomes obvious. Stewarts Melville then ran out worthy winners to take the four points for the win and the try bonus addition. The deflated “Hills” head coach, Aaron Collins, noted: “ We now have four league games left, three at Hughenden with the sole away game at Gala to lift ourselves off the bottom of Premier 2. I am hoping between now and the Hamilton game on the 17th that we can get some confidence back into our basic game plans” “Hills” 1st XV –David Frame, Stuart Ross, Andrew Eggleton, John Warwick, Stephen Dewar, Martin Yorston, Sam Muir ( Andrew Cameron ), Joe Stafford ( Willie Brown ) , Ewen Weir, Vince McAuley ( Dougie Walker ), Marty Lane ( David Crighton ), Jeff Wright , Murray Allan, Cameron Kerr ( C ) Subs – All used |
