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After a long sabatical from reporting Martin Macari makes a welcome return to the website. He is obviously delighted to be back.
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4th XV v Currie
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Former Ed, Martin Macari, reports under enormous duress from Myreside:
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For the 4th XV it proved to be an epic battle. This was nothing to do with playing the game, but actually getting a team on the park at all. Hats off to Denis Carmichael and Rod/Rick Hathway who pestered and cajoled several unenthusiastic bodies into action, but it meant the starting XV was a ramshackle bunch of the ill, the crippled, players out of position and those who had not seen action for years (so what’s new?)
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Watsonians began the match with Chris James, the back row specialist, at scrum half and the legendary James McDougall at no 10. This was McDougalls first run of the season (literally, it appears) and he found himself immediately thrust into the role of play maker, goal kicker and general ‘backs coordinator’. The centre pairing included someone who looked a bit like Gavin Paul, playing his first game for about 4 years, and youngster Andy Carson who was making his debut for the club and apparently usually plays in the pack, but “looked quite fit” so found himself catapulted into the no 13 shirt. On the wings were the unstoppable Clerk Gillespie and Gary Hobbs, who hadn’t played since leaving school about 8 years ago…and had driven up from the Borders specially (that’s enthusiasm for you). At no 15 was the gargantuan figure of “Ratty” Rait who also prefers the rough and rumble of the pack. All things considered, the back division had a makeshift look to it …. Which made the sight of Currie undertaking an hour long warm and running through numerous nifty looking drills, all the more disconcerting.
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The forwards had a slightly more familiar air about them. The front row triumvirate of messrs Rowan, Lyster and Meikle looked unlikely to take any prisoners, Rick Davey and Chas Cooke, stoking it up in the boiler house, and a curiously mixed back row of skipper Macari, Hathway (again defying the orders of his wife to play) and another enthusiastic young debutant in James Turley, who was immediately delegated as the man who should do the most running.
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The game was officiated in his usual efficient style by Rob Easton who informed the players before hand that he was “a pedantic old bugger”. “Youre not that old” observed one home star, trying to be either pedantic or witty and failing on both counts.
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Watsonians kicked the game off in adventurous style as McDougall feigned left and kicked right. Unfortunately he never told the pack, who looked on from about 50m away as onrushing winger Gillespie was absolutely halved by his opposite man. Despite this, it soon became apparent that it was actually going to be quite a close game. All of the Watsonians new players showed themselves to be good acquisitions and those playing out of position took to their new berths like ducks to water. Chris James in particular looked like he was born to be a scrum half and the Michalak lookalike tormented the visitors with his probing runs. McDougall kicked well from hand and the pack quickly showed that it was unlikely to be overawed by its well drilled opponents.
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It was, however, Currie who took the lead after Watsonians lost possession deep in their opponents half and the visitors surged forward with several passages of strong running play before eventually touching down.
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Watsonians tried to strike back immediately and had an opportunity to reduce the gap as the visitors infringed in a kickable position. Unfortunately one of the ball boys must have swapped the matchball at the last moment, apparently with a lump of lead, as McDougall didn’t quite manage covert. But this merely put the comeback on ice as Watsonians finally crossed the line through Gary Hobbs after about 10 phases of play. Whether the video ref, had there been one, would have confirmed actual downward pressure is a moot point, as is whether any touch judge, had there been one, would have spotted Hathway’s skilful bit of blocking as the move progressed.
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After the break it was Currie who went in front again, the first of several outbreaks of tackling aversion having a detrimental effect on the backline’s inability to prevent a try. But the home said scored almost immediately afterwards, McDougalls inspirationally miskicked restart being gathered by one of the men in maroon and finally touched down by the delighted Gillespie who crashed over from 4 centimetres. McDougall converted and managed to hide his glee for 2 seconds before threatening to set off on a celebratory lap of honour.
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Sloppy play allowed Currie in front again with some foolish turnovers and insipid tackling costing Watsonians dear. Needing to throw caution to the wind, the backs began some ambitious running but it appeared that the grand plan was to see how many hospital passes could be given to centre Andy Carson who was whacked and upended on three consecutive occasions, each time resulting in a more frustrated groan by the youngster as his impending doom became apparent. Rumour has it the tackler was adding his own sound effects, a bit like a rutting rhino, as he gored his opposite man.
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Watsonians were left chasing the game but it looked like oxygen may have been breathed into the attack as McDougall magnificently intercepted and set off for home. Unfortunately, the epic 40m dash was too much for the grizzled veteran who would have needed far more than the 15m start he created for himself. The sight of him being closed down reminded many of the now boring footage of Bryan Habana being chased by a cheetah (“The man who raced a cheetah” etc blah yawn). So it was not to be and Currie added another score for good measure, full back Rait convinced he had touched the ball down as he fell over like a newly born foal in his dead ball area, only for a Currie poacher to fall on the ball and be awarded 5 points by referee Easton.
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Full time: 4th XV 12 Currie 31
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Overall, a damn fine performance by an understrength home XV. With a few stalwarts returning in coming weeks, things look positively rosey.
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