A rather dreich afternoon at Myreside saw a Premier 2 clash between home side Watsonians and Borders visitors, Peebles. Both teams did their best to play open, passing rugby, but the generally wet and gloomy conditions slowed everything down and, apart from a ‘nearly try’ by Peebles five minutes before the break, Watsonians managed to stay ahead 6-3. It was ‘oh, so nearly’ 9-3 but scrum-half, Brian Walls, hit the cross bar from nigh on half way, from a penalty awarded for a Peebles ruck infringement which had No.8, Paton, yellow-carded.
The half time entertainment was provided by a mini-rugby exhibition between Watsonians and Peebles P4’s. Lots of enthusiasm and lots of shouting from the coaches, as well as a fair degree of skill, seemed to be the order of the day.
Watsonians started the second half well on top, with a period of sustained pressure. Pressure which told about ten minutes in, when Southern Hemisphere ‘import’, Paul Tuala, broke through some ineffectual Peebles tackling, to run in from the ten metre line to slide in under the posts (pictured), and with Walls converting, the score now stood at 13 points to 3 in favour of the home side.
At this point Peebles seemed to get a second wind and took the game to Watsonians and played a fair amount of the remaining time in their 22, with only a couple of incursions by the home side, one of which ended in a bit of a scuffle. Once sorted referee, Gary Gordon saw fit to have a ‘wee word’ with the captains about – one must assume – general discipline.
The Watsonians defence held out, however, and it was only a penalty, awarded for a tackle so late that the ball had been moved through a couple of hands before the referee blew up, that allowed Peebles back on the scoreboard. The perpetrator, ‘Sonians No. 13, Brown, being the second player to see yellow on the day for his misdemeanor.
A late on attack by Watsonians saw a speculative drop-goal attempt from Walls about five minutes from time, which clawed its way over the bar to leave the final score Watsonians 16, Peebles 3.
The win sees Watsonians third in the Premier 2 table (topped by unbeaten Stewarts-Melville) with five wins from seven games and, so far, on course for a top-four place.
Report and Photo – John Preece
Web – http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography
