Musselburgh opened their new league season in BT National League 2 after yet another reconstruction by the SRU.

The prospect of facing Cartha Queens Park, who finished as runners-up in Championship A last season, appeared on the face of it to be a daunting one.

Burgh, however, took the initiative from the kick-off, with Declan Slaven and Michael Roy prominent in the early exchanges. The visitors, when they managed to wrest possession from Burgh, were often guilty of mishandling and dropping the ball in defensive positions.

Having made the early running and following good support play, Neil Hogg put Michael Roy in for the opening try, which was unconverted for 5-0.

Musselburgh, having opened the scoring, were looking to push home their early advantage, but the visitors forced a penalty, which Burrows converted for 5-3, but the hard work of Cartha’s forwards was being negated by poor handling. Burgh had a penalty missed by new centre Alfonso Horomeia as the home pack took control.

Roy was making the hard yards and a run by Andrew Cook was stopped in his tracks. The pressure eventually told and after a fine break by Slaven, the supporting Graeme Bowman went over for Burgh’s second try and 10-3.

The play continued to flow in the same direction as Burgh continued to pile on the pressure. Greg Leitch appeared to have the line at his mercy before being tackled without the ball, only for the referee to give a knock-on. Slaven then took a knock and was replaced by Euan O’Brien.

After a fine touch finder in the corner, Burgh scored from the resultant line-out with a move right off the training ground as Hogg went over in the corner for another unconverted try and a half-time score of 15-3.

The second half started as the first had ended, with Burgh in control, and fine incisions by Cook, Doig and Hook were all stopped short before Sandy Watt collected an errant defensive kick and slalomed his way between the posts for Burgh’s fourth. The conversion by Ryan Hook bumped the scoreboard up to 22-3.

Cartha’s stand-off Michael Sherlock was showing good pace and invention, but all too often he lacked support or passes were dropped. Any possession Cartha enjoyed via the hard work of Wicks, Paul and Irvine was spoiled by a lack of penetration in the backs. The pace of Burgh’s attack always made Cartha look vulnerable and a fine move up the blind side gave James Doig the chance to use his speed for try number five, which was converted by Hook for 29-3.

Musselburgh were by now playing with a great deal of confidence, so much so that there was the unusual sight of hooker Hogg kicking perfectly for position in the corner! From the resultant lineout, Roy pushed over for his second try of the day, which was unconverted for 34-3.

Musselburgh continued to probe and press and after great support play by Bowman, showing a real captain’s example, he scored his second try of the match, with Hook adding the extras for 41-3.

The scoring was concluded after the visitors lost possession in their own 22, allowing Hook in for Burgh’s eighth try and a final score of 46-3.

This was a great start to the new league season against a strangely subdued Cartha, who had such a fine season last year. Tomorrow (Saturday) sees a test for Burgh when they travel to Hamilton for what should be a difficult fixture.

Musselburgh: J Doig, S Watt, A Cook, A Horomeia, A Hook; R Hook, G Leitch; D Paton, N Hogg, C Owenson, W Lander, M Roy, G Bowman, A Lamb, D Slaven.