We report from the FOSROC Super6 match at the Ayrshire Bulls…
It had been over 500 days since Watsonians Rugby were last in FOSROC Super6 action, but this first outing of the 2021 campaign was well worth the wait on Sunday.
Millbrae is always a tough place to go, but Fergus Pringle’s men rolled up their sleeves and put in a fine performance to defeat the Ayrshire Bulls after an end-to-end 80 minutes that was live on FreeSports.
In the first half Watsonians scored a try through winger Harvey Elms on debut and skipper Lee Millar, the stand-off later named the FOSROC Player of the Match, kicked two penalties and a conversion as the visitor led 13-7 at the interval.
After the break, Millar added two more penalties while he also converted full-back Jamie Forbes’ excellent try as ‘Sonians held on to clinch a 26-21 win.
A minute of silence was held before kick-off at Millbrae to mark the passing of members from both clubs during the pandemic and then things got underway.
The first 13 minutes were pretty cagey before Millar kicked a penalty.
Six minutes later, good line speed and solid midfield defence saw the Bulls drop the ball around the halfway line and the visitors pounced.
In the end it was winger Harvey Elms, the experienced Scotland Sevens man on his debut for the club, who scored under the posts and when Millar converted it was 10-0.
Four minutes later the home side had their first points on the board when stand-off Matthew Minogue went over for a try which he then converted.
A penalty on the half hour mark stretched ‘Sonians lead to 13-7 and that was the way it stayed until the interval to set-up an exciting second period.
The Bulls started the second half strongly and, after Minogue had missed a long range penalty, loosehead prop George Thornton scored a converted try to give them the lead for the first time.
Watsonians responded though with the move of the day in the 57th minute, Elms bursting up the wing, chipping and chasing and then passing the ball to the onrushing Forbes who bagged a cracking score. Millar converted and it was 20-14.
As the game entered the final quarter there were still plenty more twists and turns to come though and in the 62nd minute Bulls winger Robbie Nairn scored their third try.
Minogue added the extras and the home side were up once again, now by 21-20.
When games enter the closing stages and they are tight that is when you need players to step-up and show good game management - and Watsonians did that.
The pack, aided by some replacements, found an extra bounce and that allowed Millar to kick penalties in the 67th and 72nd minutes.
The Bulls pushed hard for the points that would tie or win them the game for the next eight minutes, but the visiting defence was very organised and saw the team through to a fine 26-21 triumph.
Match stats
Teams:
Ayrshire Bulls: Matt Davidson; Robert Beattie, Tom Williams, Tom Jordan, Robbie Nairn; Matthew Minogue, Jordan Lenac; George Thornton, Rhodri Tanner, Michael Scott, Tom Everard, Edward Bloodworth, Ryan Sweeney, Yaree Fantini, Blair MacPherson (C). Subs: Alex McGuire, Ruairidh Sayce, Calvin Henderson, Ewan Bulger, Gavin Wilson, Harry Warr, Christian Townsend, Aaron Tait.
Watsonians Rugby: Jamie Forbes; Lomond Macpherson, Lewis Berg, Dominic Coetzer, Harvey Elms; Lee Millar (C), Reiss Cullen; Harrison Courtney, Cal Davies (VC), Angus Williams, Kwagga Van Niekerk, Michael Badenhorst, Karl Main, Harry Fisher, Sam Daly. Subs: Ross Graham, Thomas Jeffrey, Matias Sonzogni Argiro, Kieran Watt, Luis Ball, Campbell Wilson, Murray Scott, Scott King.
Scorers:
Ayrshire Bulls: Tries: Minogue, Thornton, Nairn. Cons: Minogue (3).
Watsonians Rugby: Tries: Elms, Forbes. Pens: Millar (4). Cons: Millar (2).
FOSROC Player of the Match: Lee Millar (Watsonians Rugby).
Referee: Finlay Brown.
Words by Gary Heatly
Images by George McMillan
Watsonians Rugby’s first home game of the 2021 season is on Friday, August 6 against Stirling County at Myreside at 7.30pm - keep an eye on the club’s channels for ticket information
