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Bears winners at Pennypit

Preston Lodge 2nds 22; Boroughmuir Bears 30

06 January 2013

Jan

06

Match Reporter - Chris Evans

It has been a long and frustrating six weeks of hibernation for the Boroughmuir Bears.  The   last time they took to the field was on the last weekend of November, with the inclement weather decimating the fixture list in December. So it was not surprising that the players were chomping at the bit to play the first game of 2013. The opposition were Preston Lodge 2nds, who proved a tough test earlier in the season for the Bears. To add to the occasion, the PL team included a former Bear Ali Wood who looked a menacing prospect at outside centre.

Despite the long lay off, the Bears looked lively and reasonably fit in the warm-up but were a little sluggish when the game kicked off. The home team capitalised on this and after ninety seconds scored the first try of the match. A brave last gasp tackle from scrum-half Jimmy Lynch, left him with four stitches and a concussion, and he was replaced by coach Alan Sievwright.

The Bears fielded a very mobile pack today, which included Richie Battson and Luke Tarry in the back-row, and Stu Clark and Richard Marshall in the front row. All came to the fore from the re-start, carrying the ball well and taking the game to the home side. The Bears were soon able to gain some good territory in the PL twenty-two and some powerful pick and go’s from Andy Clark and captain Rod Hutchison brought them tantalisingly close to the try-line. The PL defence was proving hard to breach, however some quick feet from hooker Stu Clark was just enough for him to create some space and dive over the line. The try was converted by Chris Evans...just!

After a shaky start, the Bears grew with confidence as the first half wore on. Although it was a mild day, the pitch had unsurprisingly cut-up quickly due to the rain over the past few weeks. This meant that the game became quite attritional, with little ball finding its way out to the backs. The referee was strict at the breakdown and the Bears just about got the majority of the decisions. This was in part due to the great work done by Tarry and Battson in slowing and turning over PL ball.

On twenty minutes, the Bears scored their second try. A probing kick from full-back turned hooker Stu Clark forced PL to concede a line-out five metres from their line. The dependable Bears line-out secured ball through Andy Clark and from their Paul “Bus” Richards controlled the ball at the back of the maul and eventually touched down for a great pack try.

After another ten minutes of tit-for-tat rugby, the Bears again gained the upper-hand. Some great handling from centre Richie Sievwright and debutant full-back Rob Dewar brought play up to the PL twenty-two. Quick ruck ball allowed the Bears scrum-half, now in the form of Chris Evans after Sivvy had retired, to release Rory Scott on a mazy run. With the line beckoning, the PL defence scrambled back to tackle Scott, however, he gave a superb offload on the inside to lock Gordon Pearse who would not be denied from five metres out. His swan dive was a poor effort but his support play could not be faulted!

Shortly before half-time, PL hit back with their own try but the last points of the half fell to the Bears, with Evans kicking a penalty. The half-time score was PL 10, Bears 20. At half-time, coaches Gordon Laidlaw and Sievwright were pretty happy with their charges performance but asked for the discipline to be improved as too many silly penalties had begun to creep into the game.

The Bears started the second half well and extended their lead after a few minutes with another penalty kick from Evans. However, the main goal was to secure a try bonus point. On sixty minutes they were able to do this and it was Bus Richards that was on hand to score a near carbon-copy of his first half score, after another well executed catch and drive. Rory Scott took over the kicking duties from Evans and nailed the conversion.

Preston Lodge were not about to lie down though and put the Bears under a serious amount of pressure in the final quarter. They scored two more tries of their own to gain a well deserved try bonus point but the Bears did just enough to hold on and deny PL a losing bonus point.

The final whistle brought an end to an entertaining game that finished Preston Lodge 2nds 22, Boroughmuir Bears 30. Although it was not an expansive game by any means, it was a tough and enthralling contest, that even the tough to please referee conceded to enjoying!

It was not a day for the backs, especially the back three but they all played their part in the victory. Rob Dewar was fearless under the high ball and Chris Whitelock and Chris O’Neill were as solid as ever on the wings. Credit must also be given to flanker Myles Skirving who again filled in at centre well when Sivvy went off suffering from festive fatigue!

However, the forwards ruled the day for the Bears, none more so than kiwi flanker Richie Battson. He carried the ball well in attack but in defence he really shone putting in some massive hits and turning over the ball at will. He even drew the praise of the referee who was mightily impressed by his text-book legal turnovers. Like his fellow countryman and mate Jackson Achilles, he is probably destined for dizzier heights at the club but for now the Bears are please to have him in their ranks.

Next week the Bears face top of the table Kelso and on this form are capable of causing an upset against the Borderers.

 

15. Rob Dewar, 14. Chris Whitelock, 13. Rory Scott, 12. Richard Sievwright 11. Chris O’Neill , 10. Chris Evans, 9. Jimmy Lynch, 8. Andy Clark, 7. Luke Tarry, 6. Richie Battson, 5. Gordon Pearse, 4. Rod Hutchison, 3. Paul Richards, 2. Stuart Clark, 1. Richard Marshall Subs Used: Alan Sievwright, Myles Skirving

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