Musselburgh 35

Aberdeen Grammar FP 27

MUSSELBURGH RFC made it two wins from two in Tennent’s National League Division 1 with a bonus-point victory over Aberdeen Grammar on Saturday.

A late try from scrum-half Kyle McGhie sealed victory for Burgh after an end-to-end 80 minutes.

The visitors started well and gave Burgh a torrid time up front early on, with props Schosser and Reddish to the fore, and only last-ditch defence kept them at bay.

The home side were unable to get out of their own half for long spells and the Aberdeen pressure told on 23 minutes when Chris Jollands went over for an unconverted try (0-5).

Just two minutes later, the visitors were in again and it was another of the back-row trio who scored – flanker Nolan this time touching down.

But despite Burgh’s lack of possession or territory, they got back into the match when, after a few phases close to the visitors’ line, replacement Craig Owenson burrowed over.

His younger brother Danny converted and it was a three-point game (7-10) on the half-hour.

As half-time approached, Burgh took the lead as Willie Fleming intercepted a pass to sprint up field – he passed to Czech internationalist Martin Cimprich to score.

However, the visitors went in 12-15 ahead at the break when number eight Jolland scored his second try of the half.

The second half was just two minutes old when Burgh re-took the lead, scrum-half McGhie going over and Owenson converting to give the hosts a four-point cushion (19-15).

But that lasted just four minutes as Jollands grabbed his hat-trick try from a pushover scrum, but the conversion was once again missed so the Aberdeen Grammar’s advantage was just a single point.

Danny Owenson kicked Burgh ahead once more with a penalty but Aberdeen Grammar re-established their advantage when Sean Mills touched down, Aplin converting for 22-27.

An entertaining contest took a further turn on 55 minutes when Ronan Stott went over in the corner after a slick handling move.

Owenson missed the conversion so the scores were level at 27-27, but the Burgh stand-off was back on top kicking form on 63 minutes as his penalty put the hosts 30-27 ahead.

Then finally, in the last minute, all the Burgh nerves were soothed by a breakaway try by McGhie – the try was unconverted, but Burgh recorded their second win in a row.

Musselburgh travel to recently-relegated Marr on Saturday looking to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Musselburgh: S Thomson, R Stott, R Smith, R Watt, M Cimprich; D Owenson, K McGhie; C Slaven, R Gregor, R Stott, W Fleming, G McKinstry, C Pryde, M Maltman, D Slaven.