East Lothian Courier | Sport

Published: Thursday, 25th October, 2007 09:00

Rugby Round-Up

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Kelso 27 Haddington 19

The hosts just about deserved their win, with their forwards largely dominant and their backs snuffing out any threat that the Scarlets posed.

Yet Haddington only have themselves to blame for losing when it was theirs for the taking midway through the second half.

Another late withdrawal left Haddington without influential No.8 Nico Maybury. Quinton Caulfield moved to that position and Ross Martin came into the second row. Neil Watt deputised for Rhodri Thomas on the wing.

In perfect conditions at Poynder Park, Kelso kicked off. Haddington had barely taken a breath when they were caught cold as Kelso’s stand off, Michael Samson, put a delightful cross-field kick into the hands of winger Richard Minto, who strolled over to establish an early 5-0 lead.

Kelso continued to control the ball, starving Haddington of any quality possession, although Sam Johnston and Donald Snodgrass escaped the clutches of Kelso on occasions.

Jamie Peters pulled the Scarlets back into contention with a well-struck penalty after 17 minutes.

That led to Haddington’s best spell of the first half and they almost took the lead as Callum Cockburn looked to have scored – only for the touch judge to pull him back for a foot in touch.

But an error allowed Kelso the field position from which John Szkudro drove over (10-3).

The Haddington scrum was creaking and matters got worse as Neil Watt was yellow carded for infringing at a ruck. Kevin Utterson kicked the penalty (13-3).

Captain Donald Snodgrass was Haddington’s main threat and it was a break by the centre which led to a penalty right at the end of the half (13-6).

The second half was only minutes old when another Peter penalty narrowed the gap to 13-9.

Haddington had their best spell of the game at this point and a break by Sam Johnston was carried on by Dougie Orr who sucked in several would-be tacklers leaving space for Donald Snodgrass to dive over. Peters added the conversion for Haddington to go in front for the first time at 16-13.

Peters increased the lead again to 19-13 with another well-struck penalty.

Haddington threatened again but, with 10 minutes left, Kelso scored through Gillespie after a number of pick and drives by their forwards, and kicked three late penalties.

Haddington face Musselburgh tomorrow (Saturday).

Leith 19 Dunbar 14

This was another example of a game slipping from Dunbar’s grasp when, with superior speed and skill, they should have killed off their opponents.

During the first quarter, Dunbar had most of the possession and when Leith killed the ball at a ruck, Keiran Donnellan slotted the penalty. Another penalty and a sin-binning were conceded for stamping by a home player and Donnellan added another three points.

Towards the end of the first half, Leith began to use their big, heavy forwards to tie in the ball and rumble forward menacingly.

Rather than play to their own strengths and spin the ball wide, Dunbar decided to take Leith on up front with little success. Leith, however, were rewarded with a try when their prop went over following a rolling maul.

The second half started as the first ended with Leith using their strong pack to push forward, but during one of the home side’s mauls a forward broke free and interfered with play from an offside position and Donnellan converted the penalty.

Leith were happy to kick their way out of trouble and tie in the ball with their forwards, only rarely releasing the backs.

Similar to their first-half try, a Leith prop barged over from a maul and this was followed by a try from the outside centre. Both tries were converted.

A sign of what could have been for Dunbar came near the end when, for once, quick ball was released to the backs and captain and outside centre Andrew Forrest scored an excellent try.

Dunbar’s next game is on November 3 when they welcome Hawick Harlequins.

Preston Lodge 8 RHC Cougars 69

On paper, it looked like an even game was in prospect when RHC Cougars came to the Pennypit, as both teams had claimed four wins this season. Sadly for Preston Lodge, this didn’t prove to be the case as the Cougars turned on the style to score 11 tries and inflict PL’s heaviest defeat of the season.

It was, in fact, PL who started the game in perfect fashion, as winger Ali Wood scored a try in the first minute. After Blair Cowan won a textbook lineout on five metres, the ball was passed through the backs and Andrew Clark dummied to create the break and a simple pass allowed Wood in at the corner.

Although Graeme Patterson missed the conversion, he made amends with a penalty two minutes later when the Cougars’ backs were caught offside.

Alas, with less than five minutes on the clock, that penalty was to complete the home scoring.

The Cougars responded immediately as the backs showed off their handling skills before scrum-half Ross Taylor made a break and scored in the corner.

The backs also got the chance to show how they could run at pace and winger MacIntyre made no mistake as he grabbed the first of his three tries.

The Cougars’ four try bonus point was won before half-time following indiscipline from PL that allowed a free-kick to be marched up field by the referee. Replacement front row, Kelly, took the chance to score in the corner and make the half time score 8-24.

The Cougars’ forwards turned on the power and the scoring continued at regular intervals throughout the second half. Five of the seven tries that were scored after the interval came from forward drives that the PL pack could not stop.

The pick of the tries was scored by full-back Heslop after a fine solo run from half way saw him weave through the defence to score under the posts.

PL next face a difficult away trip to league leaders Falkirk.

l TICKETS are still available from PL’s past players and past presidents’ lunch on November 3, before the match with Hillfoots. Call Gerry O’Brien on 07734 051675.

Ross High 41 North Berwick 15

THIS local derby took on added significance with Ross looking to keep their 100 per cent home league record intact and North Berwick looking to build on their winning performance the previous week.

Ross took an early lead from a North Berwick infringement. Dean Jones stroked the penalty over to claim the first three points.

Not to be outdone, North Berwick brought the game all square with a penalty of their own. The 20 min mark came and Ross made substitutions, including Henderson for Welsh and ‘Taz’ McNeill for Strachan. The switch proved crucial when ‘Taz’ pounced on a loose ball, beat two defenders and scored the first try of the day. Jones converted.

With Welsh returning to the field, he showed great strength and, helped by his pack, bulldozed over for another Ross try. Again Jones converted.

North Berwick weren’t down and out yet and managed to pull back two tries before the interval.

The match ended as a contest when ‘Taz’ claimed his second score and Jones added a further conversion and penalty to his personal haul.

Ross High’s Michael Patterson scorched down the wing. Despite being tackled close to the line, he still managed to bundle over and score.

In the dying minutes, the host’s Glen Cunningham scored a good team try on the left wing, with Dean Jones finished off a perfect kicking show with the final conversion.

Ross can be happy with the way they controlled the game. North Berwick played excellent rugby, but found it hard to get going.

The Tranent side are in Scottish Cup second round action tomorrow (Saturday), playing hosts to Gala YM. North Berwick’s next league fixture is at home to Earlston on November 3.

ROSS HIGH'S Martin Stewart was one of 11 rugby community coach apprentices honoured at a graduation ceremony led by Scotland lock Alastair Kellock in Glasgow on Monday.

The apprentices, sponsored by rugby clubs and working in tandem with the SRU’s community rugby department, have graduated with a Scottish Vocational Qualification having delivered the opportunity to thousands of Scottish schoolchildren on a weekly basis to experience rugby and become physically active.

Mark Coull of Preston Lodge has also graduated but was unable to the ceremony.

West of Scotland 29 Musselburgh 3

EARLY penalties were exchanged – but little did Burgh know that their points contribution to this encounter would end with Wells’ early kick.

The formidable West pack drove from a lineout, which saw Malone, Sinclair, Vos and Park spread ball for Morrison to touch down for an 8-3 advantage. The conversion failed as the second quarter started.

West were looking for more. Five minutes later Wright and Spottiswoode combined to send Perrett over, Sinclair converted (15-3).

There was no respite for the visitors. On the half-hour Service gave to McLaren for the prop to barrel over. Sinclair did the business for a 22-3 interval lead.

Burgh later replaced Olivier with Bisset, Grodynski moving to number nine.

The visitors fought gamely but it was West who scored again when winger Wright intercepted and sped over the line.

Sinclair converted on the 30 minute mark for a confortable 29-3 lead. Burgh camped in the West twenty-two but there was no way through.

The final whistle blew and Burgh could have no complaints about the outcome.

They faced a formidable West pack and an efficient back line. The exposure of the Burgh young men to this higher level of rugby may have been a bit of an eye-opener to them, but can only boost their development.

On the plus side, the Musselburgh heads never went down and they had a number of good patches of play. Lack of penetration was the main problem.

And, encouragingly, four of last season’s Colts started this game. This Saturday’s visit of Haddington is the county’s ‘game of the day’.

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