Stewart's Melville 32 – 21 Falkirk
Following hot on the heels of Storm Amy, we welcomed our friends from Falkirk RFC to a blustery Inverleith for the fifth round of the National Two season.
A healthy attendance at the pre match lunch was translated into a very decent crowd that was further bolstered by a few Ulster supporters looking for their rugby fix after their game against Edinburgh had been called off due to the weather on Friday night.
We kicked off attacking the Castle end and were quickly into the lead with a penalty goal from Adam Fraser and then a fine try from Adam which he also converted. Adam Fraser 10-0 Falkirk after 10 minutes.
The game was far from one way traffic, though, as two very evenly matched teams contested the middle half of the pitch. Stew Mel looked marginally stronger in the lineout where the Hart-Sword axis provided a reliable source of possession despite the blustery conditions. Falkirk looked to have an advantage in the scrum where their heavier forwards nudged the home pack backwards on occasion.
Stew Mel extended their lead just after the 20 minute mark when Ben Kenderdine finished off after some impressive interplay between backs and back row. Adam added the conversion and it was now Stew Mel 17-0 Falkirk. Unbowed, the visitors kept attacking and were rewarded with a converted try on the 34 minute mark that made the score Stew Mel 17-7 Falkirk.
The first half ended Stew Mel 17-7 Falkirk with both sides receiving yellow cards in the last moments of the opening period.
The second half opened as the first half had done with Stew Mel scoring! This time it was a try from winger Rory Bayne who gamely pressurised the last Falkirk defender into a miskick which Rory was able to hack forward and fall onto for his first league try for the 1st XV. The conversion was missed and we didn't have to wait long before Falkirk replied with a well taken converted try to make the score 22-14.
It wouldn't be a Stew Mel game without a try from a rolling maul by Hayden Hart and he duly obliged in the 55th minute. This was his sixth try in the league this season. We didn't have long to enjoy the lead, though, with Falkirk hitting back with their third converted try to make the score 27-21 at the 60 minute mark - Valium time again for the home supporters!
Luke Sandlant thankfully popped up to score in the 69th minute to relieve the pressure and the game finished 32-21.
Five points taken against a very decent Falkirk team who were unlucky to leave Inverleith with no points of their own. We look forward to visiting Falkirk in mid January for what will no doubt be another very competitive game. There were a lot of positives on Saturday, in particular the performance of the home back row and the increasing familiarity and fluency of the midfield which is a good omen for the rest of the season.
Next game is Kirkcaldy away on Saturday 11th October.
David Calder
Match photographs courtesy of Keith Ferguson
