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ARNOLD CLARK MEN'S PREMIERSHIP: WATSONIANS BLOW MARR AWAY

ARNOLD CLARK MEN'S PREMIERSHIP: WATSONIANS BLOW MARR AWAY

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WATSONIANS produced a dominant performance that confirmed their status as play-off contenders, playing an entertaining style of rugby. While coach Davey Wilson is not reading too much into the lopsided nature of the result, there was plenty of evidence that his task of melding last season’s club and Super Series squads is progressing well.

Marr, who had several key men unavailable, looked like a side short on confidence and, while they defended solidly at times, it was very much a backs-to-the-wall effort, with scoring opportunities few and far between. There was no lack of effort on the part of the Fullarton men, but too often they were fighting solo battles. And, against a well-drilled outfit such as Watsonians, that made it a painful afternoon.

Wilson had some sympathy with Marr, understanding that they had chosen to not to take risks with some players who were perhaps not fully fit. “I think sides will prioritise squads,” he said. “I get it – 40 percent of the league is being relegated.

“It allowed us to work on some of the shape that we have been trying to develop and to challenge the boys to play with accuracy and to execute. There were times when we fell away and went off script, but, to be fair, some of the scores were pretty good. After last week’s frustration, it was good to come out and put in a bit of a performance.

“The key thing in terms of the league is that we need to try and stay at the right end. We have to ensure that when we play at Myreside we do the business. Away from home is always going to be a challenge.”

While Marr coach Kenny Diffenthal refused to use the absence of key men as an excuse, he did reel off a handful of senior players whose return will be key to what appears to be developing into a fight for survival.

“We spoke about doing the basics properly. If you don’t, teams like that are going to punish you all the time. Then, when you are up against it, you try to do more and end up playing into their hands,” he said of the performance, before insisting that there are still reasons to be optimistic of better fortunes.

“There’s still a long road ahead and the one thing we need to do is stick together and try to move forward. It’s not really that difficult to move forward after a result like that. There are still positives in that game. We’ll look at that and work on those positives.”

The pattern for the game was set in the opening minutes. A penalty despatched to touch offered Watsonians an early scoring opportunity, but the hosts squandered that chance by offending at the breakdown. The same lack of care resulted in two turnovers and a knock-on as the Edinburgh side continued to press but failed to capitalise on their pressure.

The inevitable score came in 12 minutes when Cal Davies snaffled an overthrown line-out ball and sparked a move that featured a mazy run from Freddie Owsley who linked with Zander Walls to send Murray Tink in at the corner. Jason Baggott converted then added the extras for a second time when the hosts’ driving maul clicked into gear and Tink was on had to dot down.

Luis Ball was perhaps fortunate to concede only a penalty for a high tackle on Callum Steele after 21 minutes, and the award allowed Marr a first visit to the opposition 22.

Marr had their best spell of the half but never came close to breaking through and it was the hosts who added the next points. This time the ball was moved wide and Campbell Wilson showed his power to break one tackle then evaded the final defender to dot down. Baggott landed another long-range conversion then maintained his perfect contribution from the tee after Harry Fisher had hurtled down the wing to finish well for the bonus point score.

Marr had a final chance to take something from the opening period. David Andrew gathered a line-out and the ball was moved wide but a penalty for holding-on in contact ended the move, and concluded a dismal first half for the visitors.

There was a brief flurry of Marr defiance after the restart, but their possession was nowhere near the opposition line, and the first score of the second half went the hosts way when Baggott sliced through and released Walls to sprint over before adding the conversion.

Owsley sparked another move that ended with Martin McGinley foiled just shy of the line. The try was only delayed briefly and the points came from a slick move that saw the ball swept through several hands to Rory Kerr, who completed the job and left Baggott a simple conversion.

Steele and Brandon Sweet continued to graft in open play for Marr, but too often the visitors were chasing shadows. Tink completed his hat-trick after a driving maul, and Owsley turned on the style to gather inside his own half and weave his way over for try number eight.

Baggott converted both before posting his first miss after delivering an exquisite cross-kick for Lomond MacPherson to score the first of a quick-fire double.

Watsonians were now taking every opportunity to rub salt into the Marr wounds and Matt Prichard was next on the scoresheet, with Connor Steele converting.

If there was any consolation for Marr, it came in the form of a spirited final 10 minutes in which they spent more time in the opposition 22 than they had managed throughout the afternoon. That pressure forced a string of penalties that earned Zach Gray a yellow card. However, while it may been a minor morale boots, that flurry failed to yield points.


This match report has been written by Colin Renton of The Offside Line - please visit their website here: https://www.theoffsideline.com/