Edinburgh Under-18 8,
South Under-18 23
GREAT stuff. Honest endeavour, grafting commitment, youthful
exuberance, and a fair smattering of honest-to-goodness rugby skills
combined to provide one of the most entertaining games this weary scribe
has seen all season.
After a string of best forgotten results, Border representative rugby
has been in the doldrums of late, but at Biggar on Saturday the
district's teenagers proved that reports relating to the death of the
game in its traditional Scottish heartland are greatly exaggerated. The
Border youngsters, under the coaching care of Jed's Roy Laidlaw and
Robbie Lindores, overcame their physical disadvantages and produced a
convincing and well-deserved victory over their city counterparts.
Edinburgh, well served at lock by Scott Murray and Craig Hunter, held
an early territorial advantage and took the lead after 13 minutes when
driving forward play saw them camped on the South line.
A scrummage offence just five yards short of the try line led to a
penalty which, perhaps unwisely, they opted to kick rather than gamble
for the extra points that a try and conversion would have brought. No.8
Alan Freeman did the honours.
The South response was not long in coming. Both stand-offs favoured
the high ball into enemy territory. Kevin Utterson's effort found Gary
Inglis in trouble and Stuart Harrison's clearance being fielded by Keith
Millar. The ball was whipped along the line and Alan McFarlane sped over
for the try.
Having weathered early Edinburgh pressure, the South made intelligent
use of their threequarters to keep Edinburgh on the defensive. Scott
Tomlinson ended a spell of intense pressure when he crossed for the
inevitable try and Gary Brannan converted.
After the interval secure lineout possession found the ball once again
transferred along the South threequarters in copy-book fashion, and the
impressive Donald Hughes ran in for the try.
After 48 minutes Brannan kicked the South into a 17-point lead when
Edinburgh conceded a penalty after yet another stirring drive by the
South pack.
Colin Turnbull gave the South a 20-point cushion with yet another
penalty goal, and it seemed as if the Borderers would coast to a
deserved but easy victory.
But then Edinburgh found another gear. For the final 20 minutes they
took the game to the South with some aggressive running by backs and
fowards.
South were forced to make some big tackles in a largely successful
effort to keep their line intact. The only blot on the copybook was the
try conceded when Edinburgh's scrum half Stuart Armstrong sneaked away
from the base of a scrum to run in largely unimpeded from 25 metres out.
A fine game, a good win for South, and a shining advertisement for
rugby.
Edinburgh Under-18 -- G Inglis; M Urwin (both Ross High), S Harrison,
G Watson (both Biggar), A McLean (Boroughmuir); N Thomas (Portobello), S
Armstrong (Biggar); S Paris (Livingston), R Scott (Haddington), G Talac
(Musselburgh), S Murray (Preston Lodge), C Hunter (Livingston), A
Truscott (Corstorphine), A Freeman, (Portobello), S McNeill (Ross High).
Replacements -- F Campbell (Biggar), C Newton (Currie), A Brotherston
(Haddington).
South Under-18 -- S Tomlinson (Selkirk YC); G Smith (Melrose Colts), D
Hughes, C Turnbull (both Hawick PSA), A McFarlane (Jed Thistle); K
Utterson, G Cowe (both Kelso Harlequins); K Millar (Melrose Colts), S
Rutherford (Berwick Colts), D Farries (Gala Wanderers), J Szkudro (Jed
Thistle), G Brannan (Langholm Colts), S Riddle (Melrose Colts), S
Gilchrist (Berwick Colts), K Gray (Gala Wanderers).
Referee -- I Crawford (Hutchesons'/Aloysians).
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