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Edinburgh Accies 6 Watsonians 31
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Watsonians have opened up a seven point lead over their rivals in the race for second place after an impressive bonus point win at Raeburn Place on Saturday.
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The 31-6 triumph was the fifth league win on the bounce and will have pleased Coach Cammy Mather.
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The Watsonians side saw two changes to the side that had taken on Stirling County the week before. Steve Lawrie came in at hooker for Gregor Wood while injury ruled out Ali Rowe and his place on the wing as taken by Craig Sorbie.
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The match was evenly poised at the break with the visitors leading 7-6. ‘Sonians points had come through a well worked try finished off by captain Kyle Traynor and converted by Andrew Skeen, while Paul Arnold kicked two penalties for the home side.
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Half time - Edinburgh Accies 6 Watsonians 7
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The first 20 minutes of the second half was a real forward battle with no quarter given and defence to the fore. It was always going to take something special to get the next points on the board and it came from Watsonians scrum-half Eddie Howe.
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The Kiwi fielded a kick in his own half, skipped past a couple of challenges and ran 70 metres to score in the corner. Skeen knocked over the conversion and the stuffing had been knocked out of Accies.
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Later on Howe also took a blow to the mouth, meaning he could not eat anything at that evening’s Burns Supper. Don’t worry Eddie I don’t think your fellow countryman Baz Lawson did either!
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Further scores were added in the last ten minutes through replacements Jonny Pelter and Sam Paulo - who is used to playing back-row, but turned out on the win and at scrum-half in this one - and Watsonians played some good rugby in the last quarter.
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One concern ahead of Saturday’s trip to Dundee HSFP will be the knee injury picked up by winger Craig Sorbie early on when he had to be replaced by Paulo who was still celebrating Merchiston’s win in the schools cup final the night before (boo, hiss!).
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Full time - Edinburgh Accies 6 Watsonians 31
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A great win to complete the double over the Raeburn Place men in tough conditions. A job well done.
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Man of the Match - A number of candidate this week, Andrew Skeen did well again at stand-off and the pack as a unit stood up well to the physicality of Accies. Jamie Rennie also did well when he came into the back-row off the bench, but this week it goes to Eddie Howe for his great try and the smack in the mouth he took for his troubles.
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Scorers: Watsonians: Tries: Traynor, Howe, Pelter, Paulo. Pen: Skeen. Cons: Skeen 4.
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Watsonians: S Kennedy; C Sorbie, D Brown, M Mialo, C McWilliam; A Skeen, E Howe; K Traynor S Lawrie, K Coertze, T Callander, J Abraham, B Hennessey, G Hills. Subs used: S Paulo, J Pelter, G Wood, N Hart, J Rennie.
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GH
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watsoniansrugby.com
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Published: 30/1/08
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