Berwick 17 – 59 Stewart's Melville
On the last day of January, we headed down to Northumberland to take on the already relegated Berwick RFC. After defections to Kelso and retirements in the summer, this has been a challenging season for Berwick, but, nonetheless, we received a warm welcome at the well supported pre match lunch.
The visitors started the game attacking the North Sea end of the Scremerston pitch but it was the hosts who took the lead with an early try. Pleasingly, this did not phase the visitors and we responded with a try from a rolling maul which Adam Fraser duly converted. The lead was extended with Ally Scott powering over from close range for a converted try to make it 5-14.
More pressure was being applied and James Ferguson flopped on the ball from a pushover scrum with Adam converting. Ally Scott finished the visitors’ first half scoring with his second try to earn us the bonus point. Unbowed, Berwick came back into the game with their second try of the afternoon and the first half ended 10-26.
The second half saw a very impressive display from Stew Mel with tries from Chris Baikie, Murray Aitchison, Adam Fraser, Rory Bayne and Michael Hatrick. Berwick responded with a converted try of their own and the game finished Berwick 17-59 Stewart's Melville.
Among the pleasing aspects of the performance was a functioning scrum and lineout which was secure on its own ball. Charlie Shade threw well while Ally Scott and Thomas Bald carried well on a heavy pitch. Murray Aitchison brought a new dimension to the back line with his impressive defending of the 10 channel and took his try very well. Man of the match was, however, openside Finlay Davidson who delivered an excellent all round performance.
January has finished with a win, a loss and a draw and 9 points taken from a possible 15. There are now only three games left this season, two of them at home.
We have struggled with injuries this season which has put a real handbrake on performances and results. Taking a wider view of the season, losing players of the calibre of Jamie McGurk, Hayden Hart and Ewan Stewart to long-term injuries was a body blow to the aspirations of the 1st XV.
The positives have, however, been the blooding of a number of promising young players such as Aidan Smith, Evan McDonald and Zac Sives. Matt Pleass continues to get experience at loose head prop with every passing game and Iwan Kelly has shown promise in his appearances for the 1st XV. Thomas Bald's short term return to Edinburgh added much needed power and ballast to the back row and we look forward to welcoming him back to Inverleith on his next return from his RAF duties.
Pleasingly, the underlying resilience of the playing group was shown in the away defeats to Dundee and GHK where patched up sides manfully competed against stronger opponents. Credit must go to Jamie Sword and James Ferguson for leading the playing group through the challenging days of November and December.
Finally, thanks to Berwick RFC for their hospitality and we wish them well for next season.
David Calder
Photographs courtesy of Bill McNie
