Merchiston Castle take last-gasp win at BT Murrayfield
An overtime try from Merchiston Castle secured them a one point victory over Dollar Academy in Thursday nights’s U16 Brewin-Dolphin Schools Cup Final. Pairing the U16 and U18 Finals at the National stadium proved to be a winning formula as over 5,000 ardent supporters screamed, cried and chanted their way through two tremendous matches on the International pitch. All four teams involved showed a high level of skill – and not just ‘for their age’ – coupled with a degree of commitment worthy of any professional side.
Dollar were first on the scoreboard with seventh minute try from stand-off, Grant Hughes. He dragged a couple of defenders over the line with him to touch down for a 5-0 lead, but, unfortunately, missed the conversion. They followed this up after a period of dominant play, in the 23rd minute with a second try from Dollar, this time courtesy of Rory Cooke. Hughes scored this conversion and Dollar were 12-0 ahead. Hughes then blotted is, so far, immaculate copy book in his own area. Merchiston had driven the game up inside Dollar’s 22, but lost the ball to a turn over. The pass back to Hughes inside his goal area was gathered but his clearing kick was fired straight into the advancing Hamish Scanlon. He then had the presence of mind to follow the rebound in and dived on the ball for Merchiston’s first try. Stand-off, Ronan Dowds, slotted the kick home and it was 12-7.
But not for long as Dollar came straight back into the game and scored their third try of the half with an neat overlap, Cooke being on the end of the line to receive the ball and go over. Hughes then scored from the touchline to take the score out to 19-7 to Dollar, who were looking good for the win.
Whatever the Merchiston coaches said to – or fed to – their team at half time did the trick, as it was a different team who came out for the second half. After being dominated and dragged all over the place in the first half, they came out with all guns blazing and put their first points on the board after four minutes from a Dowd penalty. They followed this up five minutes later with a try. Again dominating play, they took a tap penalty in the Dollar 22 and, catching the opposition on the hop, put Tyler Thomas over for the points. Dowds again slotted the kick home and the score now stood at 19-17 to Dollar.
With Dollar’s No. 3 in the bin, Merchiston kept up the pressure and Dowds broke clear and launched himself upfield. The play ended with another penalty which Dowds scored to give the Edinburgh side the laed for the first time at 20-19, with 10 minutes still to play.
With Merchiston on top and on the attack, they lost the ball and Hughes booted the ball upfield and followed his kick through. With the ball in the Merchiston area, Hughes won the battle with the three defenders to touch down and give the lead back to Dollar. Unfortunately, one of the Merchiston players was injured and the stretcher had to be called for as the medical teams dealt with a leg injury. Meantime, the conversion was missed, so the score remained at 24-20 with less than eight minutes left.
And then came the final play. With the clock standing at 70 minutes, Merchiston hammered away at the resolute defence, winning two penalties in the process, but keeping the game going. And then, with players tiring, something had to give and it was the Dollar defence. Hammering away and swinging the play from side to side, they found a gap and centre, MacKenzie Cox, evading the defenders and powered over for the match-winning touchdown (top). Dowds didn’t really care where the conversion attempt went as the match was over and Merchiston Castle had won by a single point, 25-24 to take the Cup and set the scene up for the U18 match to follow.
Could they beat that!?
Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.
