Rugby – Stewarts-Melville v Jed-Forest, BT National League, Div. 1

Stew-Mel lose fourth in a row to Jed-Forest.

Despite winning the first two matches of the current season, a raft of injuries means that Stew-Mel have slumped to four consecutive losses in the National League – Div. 1, with the latest being to Jed-Forest in a fairly inauspicious match at home.

The first half was dominated by penalties and turnovers as both sides tried to gain an advantage over their opponents. Stew-Mel suffered greatly in the lineout with most of their own lineouts being lost to the opposition jumpers or mistimed.

The only points in the half came from a late Jed penalty which stand-off, Gregor Mein slotted home for a 3-0 lead at half time.

The first few minutes of the half were fairly even, but the older and wiser heads on the visiting side began to dominate play and, 10 minutes in, the first try of the match was scored. Using their territorial advantage well, Jed-Forest threw their forwards at the defence and, eventually the pressure told and Skeldon and Hogg combined to break through with Hogg touching down for the try. Mein scored the conversion and the score was 10-0.

Less than a minute later, Jed added to their tally with a backs’ try straight from the restart. Mein collected the kick off and moved the ball left through the hands. Centre, Gregor Young pulled the defence in and managed a fine offload from the tackle of Stew-Mel’s Ali Greig into the hands of full back, Lewis Young. Young then had a fairly clear run in from near half way to dot down under the posts for their second try in as many minutes. Mein slotted home the simple conversion and, at 17-0, things were looking ominous for the home side.

The match continued in much the same vein, with Forest attacking and Stew-Mel defending desperately, while making the odd foray upfield. They had a chance to score with a rolling maul from close in, but accidental offside brought that to a shuddering halt.

However, with about 10 minutes left to play, a half-pitch gallop from full back, Ciaran Whyte saw the home side avoid a whitewash with a well taken try, Bowen adding the extras for 17-7.

The introduction of Fraser Strachan soon after the score livened things up a bit for the home side, but they couldn’t get the break required and the match finished with that 17-7 win for Jed-Forest.

Imaged from the match will appear here over the next few days