Rugby – Watsonians v Stewarts-Melville, RBS Edinburgh Regional Cup

It was like deja-vu all over again as Stewarts-Melville travelled across the capital to Myreside to visit Watsonians in the RBS Edinburgh Regional Cup, hoping that they could reverse the league defeat of two weeks previously. It wasn’t to be, however, as Watsonian’s took the victory 22-16 after scoring the opening try just four minutes into the match as winger, Matt Henderson, slipped through a yawning gap in the Stew-Mel defence to take the first five points, followed up by scrum half, Brian Walls’, conversion (pictured) to go 7-0 ahead.

It was to be Walls’ boot that led the Myreside team to victory on the day with five successful penalties, keeping Watsonians score ticking over and, crucially, when Stewarts-Melville went ahead briefly, getting them back in front. Leading 13-6, Watsonians ‘dropped the ball’ for a short time and the visitors took full advantage, scoring two tries in four minutes. The first from Richard Borthwick following a cross-field passing move which saw the full-back collect a huge pass from Mike Hanning to go round the outside of the Watsonians 11, Ali Rowe, and score in the corner. Mike Hanning followed this up with a second try in the opposite corner. With neither kick from Hanning going over the score stood at 16-13 in favour of Stew-Mel. A yellow card for a ruck infringement just before half-time gave the home side an opportunity to draw level and, with another Walls’ kick, see the half out 16 points all.

With the lights on, the second half opened well for the Myreside men with another penalty from Walls following a foul at the breakdown close to the Stew-Mel line. They came close to touching down on, at least, another two occasions in the half with a dropped ball in front of the posts and Walls just failing late on to collect a kick-through inside the visitors goal area.

On the whole, the second-half belonged to the home side, keeping Stew-Mel pinned deep inside their 22 for long periods, allowing them the odd foray up the pitch. However, too many mistakes from the Inverleith team prevented them capitalising on Watsonian’s seeming lack of ability to take advantage of possession and territory to convert pressure into points on the board, with a second Walls’ penalty being the only other score in the period. Overall, though, a deserved win for Watsonians. They kept up the pressure on a Stewarts-Melville side who have only suffered two defeats, so far, this season  – both at Myreside – and, although try scoring was a bit lacking, once ahead in the second half they prevented Stew-Mel from scoring , which, essentially, is the next best thing.

Report and Photo – John Preece
Web – http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography