League action returned on Saturday following a three-week break for the rescheduled fixture against Howe of Fife. Welcomed back to the colours was captain for the day, Hayden Hart and his fellow Kiwi, Curtis Williams. Curtis has endured a miserable run with injuries and it was great to see him back playing after a year out. As is often the case with rescheduled fixtures some players were unavailable due to other commitment but nonetheless a strong looking team took the field for Saturday. The game started with the home side attacking the castle end and we were first to open the afternoon’s try scoring with Brodie Miller squeezing in in the corner. Kicker for the day Miller duly converted his own score with a conversion from the touchline. The second score of the day was along shortly afterwards with Murray Aitchison taking a pop pass to head over, Brodie adding the extras 14-0. The home side were continuing to attack with width and pace and from broken play in the midfield Iwan Kelly released Rory Anderson to score in Arboretum corner with Brodie once again adding the extras. The visitors were however not for rolling over and soon replied with a converted score of their own and with their fellow Fifer, James Ferguson, watching on from the naughty step, they added their second converted try to bring the score to 21-14. The try scoring in the first half was completed with Iwan Kelly taking a superb line of a pop pass from Murray Aitchison to score for another converted try. The first half closed with the score Stew Mel 28-14 Howe of Fife.
Howe started the second half brightly and put the home side under concerted pressure, but Stew Mel kept the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty goal to extend the lead to 31-14. The fifth home try of the day was arguably the try of the day, following some sublime interplay between Jamie Thompson, Callum O’Hagan and Murray Aitchison which put Murray away to slide in in clubhouse corner. 36-14. However, this being a Stew Mel game it wouldn’t be complete without the opponents coming strongly back into the game and the home support reaching for the Valium! As the game headed into the final quarter, Howe scored three quick fire tries with the final one converted to make the score 36-31 and things were getting tense! However, in the dying stages of the game Howe knocked on and the ball was fed to Michael Hatrick who scored the final try of the game and the home side emerged victorious 43-31.
This was another highly entertaining fixture between the two clubs with 11 tries scored and some excellent individual performances from the home side. Iwan Kelly looks increasingly comfortable with 1st XV rugby, Ally Scott brought a high work rate to proceedings, James Ferguson carried effectively, Brodie demonstrated his talents as a goal kicker, the midfield combined effectively however man of the match was Murray Aitchison. Murray is a talented defender and brought his backline into the game with his passing game.
The next game is against Highland at Inverleith on Saturday 21 March which will be the penultimate league fixture before the season finishes at Peebles on the 28th March.
David Calder
Photographs courtesy of Jax Mackenzie Photography
