Quartet for Pritch keeps the momentum going
As coach Davey Wilson pointed out to our pre-match lunch, the team has thrived on being the underdogs this season, repeatedly confounding pre-match predictions to come up with the points.
On Saturday the expectations were reversed, but Edinburgh Accies had shown more than enough evidence of resilience in recent outings to make the third Edinburgh derby of the season at Myreside far from a foregone conclusion.
As so it transpired, with the men in light blue and white maintaining pressure throughout to force errors as the Watsonian XV looked to get into their now customary expansive groove.
Like the Heriot’s and Melrose games, when we got our noses in front, the opposition were able to peg us back, three times drawing level and even when two scores clear going into the final quarter, there was no room for complacency right till the final whistle and a 40-28 five-pointer.
Hooker Matt Pritchard deservedly saw off stiff competition to make the Offside Line’s team of the week with his four-try haul from driving mauls, hitting his jumpers every time to exploit what Accies officials conceded afterwards had been a significant problem in previous weeks. A quartet of touchdowns is no mean achievement when coming off the bench.
Gus Godwin probably had his quietest game since his arrival in the summer, but even so the big Australian centre still caused all sorts of problems for the Accies defence and bagged a brace in the process. And Bullseye Bruce Weatherhead was on the money with five of his six conversions.
There was certainly plenty of abrasion in the forwards, with Fin Mather being his usual handful with the ball, Boston Kerapa beginning to hit his straps, and skipper Stu Allison leading by example with a big defensive shift.
Momentum and a winning mentality is everything, and the result should give the boys every confidence going into this weekend’s testing encounter with an always dangerous but mercurial Hawick at Mansfield. But far from taking anything for granted, if we are not at our best, especially up front, then we will come up short.
No-one can read anything into their opening day’s 80-13 thrashing at Goldenacre, and last weekend at the Greenyards it was not until the third quarter that Melrose were able to break down a dogged Greens defence to pull away and notch up a 33-12 win.
With five wins out of seven and four try bonus points, we remain fifth in the league, but level with Heriot’s in fourth on 25 points, while Hawick are three from the foot on ten, with a game in hand.
We’re back at Myreside next week when we host Kelso, who have become something of a bogey side, so clear your diaries of golf, squash and paddle and come down to shout on the boys.
Troon-bound seconds notch up big win
In the Inter-City Reserve league, our 2nd XV had a comfortable afternoon on M1, strolling to a 70-10 win over Musselburgh, and now sit fifth in the table on 20 points from six games.
They will certainly not be expecting another promenade in Troon against Marr this weekend, although the Ayrshire men went down 54–19 at Stirling County last weekend.
Marr have had a difficult start to the season, with their only victory a creditable 17–14 win over Boroughmuir. They have had one unfulfilled fixture when Hawks couldn’t raise a side and their game against Currie was postponed, and their only other outings were an 80 – 7 leathering from Ayr and a 12–45 home defeat to GHA.
But it’s a difficult time for Glasgow Hawks, who have been deducted three points for their fifth unfulfilled fixture, their only appearance so far a 47–47 draw at Musselburgh.
Struggle for 2As games continues
We have every sympathy for Hawks, because once again we have had to concede our 2A’s fixture, our fourth cancellation for which we have been docked two points.
With two opposition cancellations, the team has only played once, a 50–19 defeat at Peebles, and even that had to be played as a friendly because we did not field a 2nds that day.
It means the 2As are second bottom of East Region Reserve League Division 1, with two “wins” from seven fixtures. If you know of anyone who is looking for a social game of rugby, the 2As need you.
Big clash awaits Women’s XV
There is no game this weekend for our women’s team, but they’ll be returning to duty next Saturday with a tough encounter at league leaders Hillhead Jordanhill RFC. Our girls are sitting just behind in second place, so it should be a tight affair and they’ll travel in confidence that they can cause an upset.
It’s a 1pm kick-off and the game is being live-streamed so we’ll try to get it up on the screens in the pavilion so you can watch the action with a pint before the Kelso match.
Last few places available for the Hoodoo lunch
We are looking forward to a great afternoon at the George Hotel for our Hoodoo lunch on November 6, the day before the All Blacks game, with Gavin Hastings and Sean Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick the star attractions. There are still some places left, but it’s filling up, so if you want to be a part of it, email info@watsoniansrugby.com