Stewart's Melville RFC
Inverleith
Saturday 3rd September
Let's stay humble but let's be clear, Saturday was simply a massive day for the club in just so many ways.
Was it the sight of so many kids, mums and dads down to support Jason's Funday or was it the fact that 14 lads took the bus down to Selkirk, with Dave Hampton, only to record a magnificent 31 all draw with the Soutars? By the way, the final play saw Scott Murchie drop over in the corner to tie the scores, and, by that time, we were down to just 13 players! I can't begin to express my pride to all those who travelled down to represent the club at Philiphaugh. You guys take a bow.
Or was it the fact that 70 faithful souls pitched up for a most jolly lunch in the clubhouse hosted by President Bill, ably supported by brother Jim, Sean Lineen and our most honoured colleague, Colin Rigby, who, on his first day of the season opted to come down and share his time with us. Colin brings great credit to us all at Inverleith, becoming only our third President of the SRU following the much missed Freddie McLleod and Lex Govan. Everyone connected to the club wishes only the very best to Colin and, his long suffering wife, Christina during the next two years in office.
But all of these thoughts are but a back story to the main event.
Stewart's Melville RFC 27 pts GHK 21 pts
On the perfect setting, with Inverleith looking at its most resplendent best, both sides set about serving up a delicious game of rugby football.
GHK are well coached and drilled and, as we saw last year, no mean outfit as they breezed past all comers to take the title with room to spare. They were, frankly, in a class of their own last season. Not surprisingly, you could sense the tension in the clubhouse before kick off as some of us feared that it could be more of the same this time round.
Naturally I am biased but I would say that we served the finest performance seen in three seasons at least. How can this be?
Well it's like this. Possession is everything and our pack stole the honours in the set piece exchanges.
At the lineouts, Euan Macrury recruited over the close season from Dunbar, picked out Capt Sword, the seasoned Willie Malcolm and Courtney West virtually every time. It's so easy when you win all of your own ball. But when you steal some of the oppositions pill at the lineouts it's the real bonus.
But, not settling for line out dominancy, our pack, to a man, came together at scrum time. It was rock solid from start to finish with Danny Morrison and Steven Spowart making life very uncomfortable for their larger opponents. Ask any tight head what his worst nightmare is and it would be propping against our 5ft 7in pocket battleship, Danny! No thanks!
The ball is everything, and, on this performance, we should be optimistic that Saturday's match was not a one-off but more a building block. With the front five gaining the upper hand, it gave our back row a chance to shine and shine they did. Niall Hall always relishes a match against his old club, Willie gave a commanding performance at No 8 but what we have been missing pitched up on Saturday. Hugh Lindsay, back after several years in Singapore, was magnificent in his breenges over the gain line again and again! Where Hugh drove the rest followed and our pack relished the open play exchanges too.
Two moments changed the game.
The first was when another new boy, Harry Heskin from Derby (up here on a year's placement), sensed an interception and finished from 50 yards out under the posts. It was the classic 14 point score ... Harry, you have it all but, next time, remember: two hands to touch down!
The second was when our guests' tails were up and, pressing on our line, they were awarded another penalty. Sportingly, at 6 points down and with the clock ticking, their skipper opted to run rather than keeping the scoreboard turning over. Our defence was immense and we dug ourselves out, effectively winning the game.
Those two moments turned the match for me as you sensed from the touch lines it drained the life out of the GHK lads.
Special mention too for Adam Fraser at fullback. Solid, great boot on him and can tackle too. Welcome to Inverleith Adam! He's a player by the way ... but it's not down to the one person, it's down to everyone, the coaches Alex and John, Dr Andy and his physios but, most importantly, our sponsors, who make it all happen.
Saturday was one of those days you live for ... Inverleith buzzing, the clubhouse full of friends and a performance on the park to be proud of! What indeed is not to like!
But let's stay humble ... as my father Robin would have said, ' do the basics better than anyone else, you will be there at the end'.
Let's make sure we do the basics better than anyone else and, if we do, I feel sure we will be in the mix come the end of the season.
One huge step taken on the path yesterday.
Fin
