By Donald Thomson
The sun was out as a large Myreside crowd paid their respects to the late Ally Donaldson before the kick-off of what would turn out to be an gripping, see-saw derby, with Watsonians seeing out a late victory over Heriot’s.
Watsonians came out with intensity, with Stu Allison making two line-breaks, the second allowing Max Garry to score in the corner inside two minutes. Bruce Weatherhead converted from a tight angle.
A Heriot’s turnover led to a Watsonians kick for touch, and some quick phases through the hands left an opening for Fin Mather to dot down under the posts, which Weatherhead converted with ease, making it 14-0 inside seven minutes.
A heavy collision from a Stu Allison carry led to Heriot’s full-back Dan King leaving the field.
Watsonians kept up the pressure but a deliberate knock-on from Harry Fisher at the 13-minute mark swung the game in the visitors’ favour, and Ali Johnston scored off the back of a scrum just inside the 22.
Heriot’s went through the hands from a lineout in the Watsons 22, with Isaac Coates spotting a gap and nipping under the posts. With the conversion the game was tied at 14-14 twenty minutes in.
Two minutes later, an Isaac Coates line-break created a 2 on 1 for Heriot's, and a simple pass to winger Aidan Boyle led to a converted try that put Heriot's up 14-21.
Heriot’s would keep the pressure on, but changes to the scrum 30 minutes in put momentum back in Watsonian’s favour, and we were rewarded as the clock ticked into the red.
Strong wing-play from Max Garry left the door open for Hamish Mather to score in the corner, with Weatherhead converting yet again to send the sides in tied at half-time.
Watsonians came out strongly, with Fin Mather converting a series of pick-and-goes after a lineout on the Heriot’s five metre line. Weatherhead added two points, making it 28-21.
Then Heriot’s changes swung the direction of play in their favour, with sustained strong play from their pack allowing substitute Michael Jones to force his way across the line just before the hour, with Isaac Coates converting again to draw the match level.
The stalemate wouldn’t last long as Watsonians hit straight back, as a Brodie Young moment of magic saw him break the line just outside the Heriot's 22 and beat the
defenders to the line to put his side back in front, with yet another conversion putting Watsonians up 35-28 at just past the hour.
Heriot's came straight back themselves, and a deliberate knock-on from Chris Bell, a late call-up at fly-half for the injured Angus Robson, meant Watsonians were down to 14 again. Heriot's used this to their advantage with Callum Jessop surging to the corner after the ball made its way through hands off a lineout. Heriot's drew level once again from the tee, just minutes after falling behind.
The next ten minutes would be back-and-forward as both sides looked to take the lead for good, and it would be Watsonians’ Gus Godwin who would do just that. A lineout on the Heriot’s five metre line saw two quick phases, with Godwin using his pace and power to force his way through two men and score what would turn out to be the winning try for Watsonians. Weatherhead converted to make it 42-35 with six minutes left to play.
Watsonians knuckled down and got to work defensively with substitute Josh Mitchell forcing a Heriot's knock-on with two minutes left.
However, Heriot's had one last chance as Watsonians failed to hold on to the ball and had a series of scrums deep into the red in front of the posts. Watsonians did not give up and forced the knock-on, which Stu Allison recovered to give Watsonians a hard-earned and memorable victory.
The win puts us on equal on points with Heriot's in the table, as they sit in fifth place. The league now takes a rest weekend, so our next Men's 1XV match is on Saturday, October 17, and what is bound to be another enthralling Edinburgh derby against an improving Edinburgh Accies.
There is a pre-match lunch at Myreside, so be sure to book your place now. £30 for members, £40 for non-members.
