Mar
30
By Chris Evans
Boroughmuir 2nd XV 62, Dundee HSFP XV 20
The Boroughmuir 2nd XV continued their good form with a comprehensive victory over bottom of the table Dundee HSFP 2nd XV on Saturday. With the 1st teams season finished, it allowed the Magic 2’s the opportunity to play on the main pitch, in front of a small but vocal crowd.
The 2nds were able to field a strong team, which included some players with recent first team experience such as scrum-half Sam Johnson, Redha Guedroudj, usually a winger but lining up at inside centre for the 2nds and young hooker Darren Miller. The ever versatile Stu Clark moved from hooker to blindside flanker and was joined on the flanks by the consistently excellent Ali McLeod.
Before the match the 2nds were confident that they would be able to register a big score against Dundee. However, the visitors started the match strongly and it was a rude awakening for ‘Muir, as they instantly found themselves on the back foot and conceded a penalty, which their winger duly converted. The 2nds were perhaps guilty of trying to play too much rugby in the opening exchanges and made a few unforced errors.They did, however, register the first try through Ross Bradford. The conversion was missed by Chris Evans, which started off a frankly dreadful goal-kicking display by the stand-off!
Dundee were gifted a score shortly after, when an offload by Evans was intercepted by the sharp Dundee left-wing who ran a try in from the halfway line. Nevertheless, ‘Muir enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the first half with the forwards and backs combining well to punch holes in the Dundee defence. The scrum was a real weapon for the 2nds all game and after a couple of re-sets from five metres out, Liam Black was eventually able to touch down for a push over try.
The 2nds managed to get themselves back into the Dundee twenty-two again shortly after and exerted more pressure at the scrum, this time with a Dundee put in. The ball popped out on the ‘Muir side with win Jordan Webster picking up and being held up short of the line. Liam Black gathered the ball on the ground and fed Stu Clark who dived over the line for a try.
In recent weeks, the 2nds have been fortunate to have the vastly experienced Billy Blyth in their ranks and the veteran prop scored a cracking try blasting his way past several Dundee forwards to score in the left corner. This try received the loudest cheer of the afternoon from the Billy Blyth fan club in the clubhouse gallery. This was the final score of the first half, which saw the Magic 2’s leading 20-5.
Although the 2nds had secured a bonus point by half-time, the first half performance left plenty of room for improvement. Coaches McCallum and Knight called for greater structure in the game and also a tightening up of the defence, as Dundee were dangerous on the counter attack. After two industrious first half performances, Lynton Brinck and Blyth were replaced by Jamie Scott and Ross Young at the interval. Credit must be given to Rosco for his efforts to make the game, as he’d been on a 12 hour round trip to Thurso and back giving his sweet-heart and 2nds physio Fi a lift home. The things you do for love, eh Rosco!
The second half started where the first had finished with ‘Muir in the ascendency, with scrum-half Sam Johnson claiming two tries in quick succession. Full-back Stu Currie, who was his usual consistent self throughout the game, took over the goal kicking but was unsuccessful with his efforts as well.
Following this, Harry Fenton replaced Sam Johnson in a clear cut case of jug avoidance by the starting scrum-half! The 2nds went through a rocky ten minutes following their fifth try and Dundee capitalised with a second try of their own which was converted.
The sixth ‘Muir try was possibly the highlight of the game and it came from substitute lock Jamie Scott, who had already made an impact from the bench with some rampaging runs. From twenty metres, Scott took a pass from Fenton, sized the Dundee openside flanker up and proceeded to brutally steam roll over him, à la Jonah Lomu, and then use his pace to run a try in under the posts.
Although it is not an area of the game that is often talked about, the re-start takes by ‘Muir were excellent all day. In particular Gordon Pearse and captain McLeod were solid under the kick-offs which allowed the 2nds to maintain possession and launch attacks. It was from one such kick-off, fielded by McLeod that gave Ross Bradford his second try. With the Dundee defence standing off McLeod, he was able to catch and make good ground up the middle of the park before drawing the full-back with a pass to Bradford who cantered in for a great score.
Dundee scored a third try midway through the half and due to the poor kicking display by ‘Muir thus far, made it slightly closer than the home side would have liked at that point. However, ‘Muir digged deep and dominated the final quarter, which saw a second team debut for journeyman Chaz Campbell and also a return to the field for Brinck.
Jordan Webster scored an intercept try from the half-way line after some suffocating defence by the ‘Muir backs, with Guedroudj especially prominent. By this time Bradford had taken over the kicking and put his new illuminous boots to good use by registering the first conversion of the day for ‘Muir.
Ali McLeod scored a deserved try soon after and the last try for ‘Muir went to right wing Chris Whitelock, who was on hand to take an inside pass from Ross Bradford to scorch over from twenty metres out. Both tries were converted by Bradford.
When the final whistle was blown Boroughmuir were emphatic winners, 62-20.
This was a thoroughly entertaining game for the spectators to watch. Both teams came to play open and entertaining rugby, which ultimately led to some great tries being scored. The pick of the backs were Ross Bradford and Sam Johnson. Usually a winger, Bradford showed he may have a future at outside centre with solid defence and great distribution adding to the running skills that he has displayed in the past few seasons. Sam Johnson controlled the game well for the first fifty minutes and gave the backs a good platform to launch their attacks. He was also a danger in attack, as demonstrated by his brace of tries.
All the forwards played well today but the stand-out forward and the coaches man of the match was Ali McLeod. He put in some thumping hits during the game, snuffled out some dangerous attacks by Dundee but also with ball in hand was solid and dangerous. It was a true all round performance by the captain. Perhaps he should have taken the kicks as well!
The 2nds remain in second place and play Stirling away this cominng Thursday evening, hoping to solidify this spot, after some great recent performances.
Try Scorers: Ross Bradford (2), Liam Black, Stuart Clark, Billy Blyth, Sam Johnson (2), Jamie Scott, Jordan Webster, Ali McLeod, Chris Whitelock
Conversions: Ross Bradford (3)
15. Stuart Currie, 14. Chris Whitelock, 13. Ross Bradford, 12. Redha Guedroudj, 11. Jordan Webster, 10. Chris Evans, 9. Sam Johnson, 8. Liam Black, 7. Ali McLeod (c), 6. Stu Clark, 5. Gordon Pearse, 4. Lynton Brinck 3. Billy Blyth, 2. Darren Miller, 1. Paul Richards
Replacements: Ross Young, Jamie Scott, Chaz Campbell, Harry Fenton, Andy Knight
