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Watsonians 2nd XV v's Heriot's 2nd XV
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Venue: Goldenacre
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Date: Saturday 22nd March 2008.
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After a few weeks of non action the 2nd's were back to what they do best, winning games by recording a comfortable and highly enjoyable 33 points to 5 victory over city rivals Heriot's.
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A chilly spring afternoon on Easter weekend at Goldenacre was the venue for the 1pm kick off. The whole team were in relaxed spirits with plenty of banter and smiles. It was also pleasing to be playing on the main stand pitch given it expanse. So we were all set for a good game.
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We fielded a strong team, especially in the backs. Ben Di Rollo lined up at fly half with Craig Sorbie at outside centre. Thinking about it, it's a shame Rob Tweedie wasn't involved as we would have had three pairs of brothers playing. Craig and Robbie Bucanhan, Ben and Luke Di Rollo and centre Neil Tweedie. Never mind, just a thought. This week also saw the return of Ali Wright aka Big Show, returning to the sanctuary of the boiler house. Try scoring machine Gary Dempsey was on the bench. As was back five replacement Ciaran Wilson
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To the action. Playing into the breeze we kicked to Heriot's. They attacked hard but were well marshalled, forcing an early knock on or around the half way. The opening scrum saw it being reset about half a dozen times while the two packs jostled with each other and felt their way into the game.
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Eventually the scrum was completed. Robbie Bucanhan cleared the ball from the base to fly half Ben Di Rollo. Di Rollo ran hard at his opposite number who completely missed his tackle. Ben beat everyone for pace and scampered in under the posts for the opening score with less than two minutes played. It was a dream start that clearly stunned all Heriot's players and spectators alike.
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Richard Latimer took the following kick off and set the ball up. Sparking another attack through the backs, this time Neil Tweedie smashed it up the middle of the park making good ground. It was clear we were up for it.
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It didn't take much longer until our second try, arguably the best of the game. A Heriot's lineout about the ten metre line saw two jumper Latimer get in front of his opposite man and pinch their ball. Robbie quickly whipped the ball out wide. A quick ruck about the 22 and the ball went blind to Tweedie who carried it powerfully up the touch line and drew in two Heriot's players and put in a gorgeous inside pass to Stan who'd made a great support run to go under the posts. If they were stunned by the first try they were even more stunned by our second.
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Our start was about to get better when we added our third try. This time it came from busy scrum half Robbie, who was his usual busy self making a nuisance of himself with some darting runs. He showed great pace for a self confessed ageing rugby player. He gathered the ball from the base of a maul and backed himself, rounding the winger going in at the corner, in the act of scoring was nearly decapitated by the despairing cover tackle much to his disgust, and rightly so. We'd scored three unanswered tries, awesome.
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To Heriot's credit they refused to role over and were very determined to make a real fist of the game. Throwing everything into attack, taking quick tap penalties trying to catch us napping. I suppose it was with a hint of desperation despite being plenty of time left. There was a prevailing wind in their favour and used it to their advantage, kicking deep and giving our kiwi full back George Tallboys a few headaches with plenty to do. Unfortunately Tallboys was caught deep into his own half trying to counter attack. At some stage, presumably while making his way back to help out, Big Show twisted his knee and was clearly in trouble. Despite his best efforts to run it off, he wasn't able to continue and hobbled off. This saw 3rd XV stalwart Ciaran Wilson came off the bench and slot into second row. Wilson deputised well. His first act was to take a solid catch jumping at two in the line out, setting up a good maul. As I alluded to earlier Heriot's weren't lying down.
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Nearing half time we conceded a soft score, gift wrapped really. Tight head prop Nick Hart had an unusual blunder and instead of taking the ball into contact somehow it was dislodged falling to the deck. It was gratefully scooped up by a Heriot's player who skipped over untouched for their opening score. Apologies all round from Mr Hart. I believe it was their one and only score.
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Half time came and went. The second half started with Heriot's nudging the ball out on the full. Taking the scrum on half way Ben Di Rollo kicked intelligently from hand to find some good touch finds
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There was an incident worth a mention about midway through the second half where Heriot's were about to have a glorious moment and score a well worked try under the posts, only for visiting Coach/ linesman Leslie to call the player in touch. Eventually the ref called the play back but not before the Heriot's player was under the posts thinking he'd scored a great score. Once the reality was established, well lets say there was some friendly banter dished out from the touch lines. Then the ref quipped “well I can't do two jobs lads!” and he was completely correct of course.
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Stavie brought Dempsey off the bench for a thirty minute run. Making his own impression on the game by scoring a good breakaway try after finding himself in space. Showing trademark pace to break clear from any cover. However it wasn't scored without a moment of touch line confusion as to whether Dempsey was in touch or not. Speaking to the man himself afterwards he assured me he was “nowhere near touch.”
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Ben Di Rollo rounded off a fine individual performance by sealing the game with a good individual score. Attacking the Heriot's line Di Rollo put a neat grubber kick, followed it through and the ball rolled on and Ben coolly collected his own kick to dot down under the posts for Ben's second and the teams fifth try.
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The game was won and we were happy with our performance and more importantly the result. To do the double over Heriot's was satisfying.
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Full time score: Watsonians 33 - Heriot's 5 ? (although I wouldn't put my mortgage on it.)
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Ben Di Rollo had a fine individual game, amassing I don't know how many points, two tries certainly. Craig Buchanan was outstanding, doing a lot of unglamorous grafting, putting in some great hits. Captain Gary Scott for all his under the radar work which normally involves keeping his opposite man in check.
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This weekend concludes the 2nd XV season with a home game against Stewart's Melville. Hope to see you there.
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RL.
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watsoniansrugby.com
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Published: 27/3/08
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