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After a week of technical glitches we finally have a working report from the 2nd XV from regular correspondant Rich Latimer.
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MATCH REPORT
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Watsonians 2nd XV v's Dundee 2nd XV
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20th October 2007, Venue, Myreside, Edinburgh.
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Final Score 14 -13
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This week saw the return to Myreside and M2, which is a happy hunting ground for Watsonians, but with two losses in the previous two weeks the normal confidence wasn't quite there and we were desperate to regain that with a victory.
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It was a relaxed changing room in the build up with the normal bits of banter flying around, courtesy of a few of the characters the team is blessed with. There was also the comforting sight of veteran prop Gary Scott back at the helm after last weeks stint on the 1st XV.
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Our warm up was focused and snappy and there was a feeling of calm determination coming off a team that wasn't going to come off the pitch beaten at the end of 80 mins.
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On another perfect afternoon we received the kick off and started comfortably placing them under pressure and from the first scrum we had them under terrific pressure with the front row of Gary, Nick and Eddie getting a good squeeze on and I had a perfect view from the comfort of the second row as their hookers feet came clean off the ground as he was given flying lessons. We knew we had them in the scrum. So much so that I think we took at least two against the head, so credit to the, second rows! (just kidding) the front row for their collective effort in winning valuable turnover ball.
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However much like Aberdeen two weeks ago they had a good fly half who kicked well from hand and he often but boot to ball kicking deep into our territory. This kept full back Craig Sorbie busy most of the afternoon and he was a threat attacking from deep and mixed his game well keeping the opposition guessing.
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It was Dundee who drew first blood with a try and I don't really know how as we had been in the ascendency, but this has been a weakness of ours sometimes giving away “soft” scores.
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0 – 5.
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Under the posts everyone was calm as we knew what we had to do and it wasn't long before we were on the score board when Robbie Buchannan hit a well struck penalty to make it
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3 – 5.
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We were in the ascendency and enjoying the lions share of possession with the set pieces working well in particular the lineouts which were providing quality ball and it wasn't long until we notched up a try of our own, as it turned out our only try of the afternoon courtesy of right wing Dave Turnbull.
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His score was preceded by a good passage of play and a series of pick and drives from the forwards. Woody received the ball at 10 and whipped a long pass off his left hand which didn't go directly to hand however bounced causing the Dundee defence to check, the bounce favoured the home side and it found the hands of malingering second row Richie Latimer who fed the ball onto Turney who only needed a sniff of the try line and finished clinically in the corner and without even a hint of the TMO the ref awarded the score,
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8 – 3 to the hosts.
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We then conceded a score when one of their forwards drove over from close range and the conversion was good taking the score to
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8 -10.
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At half time we were behind but confident as we had played the majority of the rugby and the point was made that their 10 was getting to much time and space to dictate their play and that naturally this needed to be addressed. What more of an invitation does a good open side need.
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Thus early in the second half flanker Ian Cordell relished the first half back link of the half and precessed to clatter their 10, far be it for me to condone a bit of skull dugery but it made an impact and it was worth every metre of the inevitably penalty.
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What the second half lacked in scores was made up by great commitment and heart and a willingness by both sides to thrown the ball about and from a personal point of view made for an enjoyable afternoon.
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Unfortunately Tourney limped off after an innocuous challenge caused him to collapse in pain clutching his knee, hopefully he'll be back scoring tries soon. The injury saw the replacement flanker Sam Paulo going onto the wing.
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The pivotal moment of the game came on about 65 minutes, knowing it was going to be close we were awarded a penalty, nothing unusual there I hear you say, well it wasn't, except it was, well we'll be generous and say 50 metres (with the angle) There were the usual crys saying “go for touch” and “run it run it!” but no, the immortal Robbie kept the heed, signalled for posts, stepped up and slotted a monster to take us a point ahead.
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14 – 13.
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It proved to be the winning score.
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Loose head prop Scott drove over from close range and was deemed to be held up over the try line much to Dundees excitement and our frustration.
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We were putting Dundee under constant pressure and a score seemed certain. A swift counter attack by winger/back row Paulo left his mohican sporting opposite man trailing in his wake and set off down the wing sensing he wasn't making it himself flipped a gorgeous inside pass which was dotted down by ??? (sorry I can't remember, Smack maybe?) only to have our celebrations frustratingly cut short as the referee signalled for a forward pass.
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I have to confess it was discreetly asked “what's the score?” 14 – 13 I was reliably informed.
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The same message obviously didn't reach centre Stuart Mac who at the end wasn't his usual chirpy self, thinking we'd lost until he put right, it really was that close and if you'd just arrived at the full time whistle you wouldn't be criticised for wondering who'd won such was the inward relief
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Final Score
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14 – 13
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Tries: 1, Turney
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Peanlties: 3 Robbie Buchannan.
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The full time de brief from Stavie was swift and positive and the smiles were back on the faces as we'd stopped the rot. Next week is a biggy, away to Stirling County, nuff said.
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RL.
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