We report from the FOSROC Super6 match at Meggetland…
Watsonians Rugby made it three wins from three in the FOSROC Super6 2021 season with a 36-13 away triumph against Boroughmuir Bears at Meggetland on Friday night.
Stand-off Marc Morrison kicked 11 points and was later named FOSROC Player of the Match while the pack played well to lay a good platform for the backline and the bench once again made an impact.
The result backs up wins over the Ayrshire Bulls and Stirling County and gives Watsonians a 23 point lead going into the second leg of Allan McNish Memorial Trophy clashes on October 3.
The home side had the first chance to get points on the board when they were awarded a penalty after two minutes, but stand-off Tom Pittman’s effort drifted wide.
Sixty seconds later the same player’s clearance kick was charged down by Watsonians back-row Luis Ball who gathered neatly and then ran in for a try. It was converted by Morrison for 7-0.
In the eighth minute Pittman settled down after a tough start to the evening and kicked a penalty to make it 7-3.
No.8 Sam Daly was player of the match for Watsonians in last week’s triumph over Stirling County after he scored the winning try and he was at it again in the 16th minute.
He took a quick tap and barged over from short range, Morrison’s conversion making it 14-3 to the visitors.
Their period of ascendancy continued and the third try came in the 25th minute when Ball went over from short range. Morrison’s conversion made it 21-3.
The Bears had to get the next score and they did, scrum-half Kaleem Barreto jinking his way through and setting up full-back Tom Brown for a five pointer. Pittman converted.
Before half-time Morrison added a penalty as the visitors led 24-10 with 40 minutes to go. One negative for the leaders was the loss of full-back - and skipper - Jamie Forbes to injury.
The second half did not get off to as quick a start as the first and it took until the 54th minute when Pittman kicked a penalty for the home side.
As the hour mark came and went the score remained the same before replacements Ross Dunbar and Karl Main from the Bears and 'Sonians respectively were yellow carded.
With 11 minutes to go Watsonians scored their fourth try - to pick up the bonus point - through replacement Steven Longwell. Morrison converted.
Boroughmuir second-row Euan Ferrie was then sin-binned and ‘Sonians try number five came from substitute Ross Graham.
Match stats
Teams:
Boroughmuir Bears: Tom Brown; Glen Faulds, Michael Gray, Robbie McCallum, Jordan Edmunds; Tom Pittman, Kaleem Barreto; George Cave, Craig McKenzie, Dan Winning (CC), Jack Fisher, Euan Ferrie, Craig Keddie (CC), Rhys Tait, Trystan Andrews. Subs: Cameron MacMillan, Ross Dunbar, AP McWilliam, Ewan Stewart, Scott McGinley, Murray Johnstone, Martin Cimprich, Mzwandile Mncube.
Watsonians Rugby: Jamie Forbes (C); Harvey Elms, Lewis Berg, Dominic Coetzer, Jordan Venter; Marc Morrison, Murray Scott; Matias Sonzogni Argiro, Cal Davies (VC). Angus Williams, Kwagga Van Niekerk, Michael Badenhorst, Luis Ball, Connor Boyle, Sam Daly. Subs: Ross Graham, Sam Grahamslaw, Steven Longwell, Karl Main, Harry Fisher, Roan Frostwick, Scott King, Lomond Macpherson.
Scorers:
Boroughmuir Bears: Try: Brown. Pens: Pittman (2). Con: Pittman.
Watsonians Rugby: Tries: Ball (2), Daly, Longwell, Graham. Pen: Morrison. Cons: Morrison (4).
FOSROC Player of the Match: Marc Morrison (Watsonians Rugby).
Referee: Ian Kenny.
Words by Gary Heatly
Images by Graham Gaw, more here
Watsonians Rugby’s next game in the FOSROC Super6 is away to Heriot's next Saturday, August 21 at 3pm - info re the pre-match lunch can be found here
