We report from the FOSROC Super6 match as Watsonians win at Myreside against Heriot’s after a hard fought 80 minutes…
Watsonians remain top of the FOSROC Super6 table after they fought back from 21-3 down to win 24-21 against Heriot’s at Myreside on Friday night.
It was a typically hard fought Edinburgh derby with loads of entertainment between these two old rivals which warmed up the supporters on a cold evening, a number of whom had enjoyed a cracking pre-match meal within the George Watson’s College junior school ahead of kick off.
As well as having to battle back from a deficit points wise, Watsonians also had a yellow card in the first half and suffered a number of injuries, but this squad is made of stern stuff under head coach Fergus Pringle.
They are still top of the table with one regular season match to come and then the play-offs in March and they dug deep for this latest win.
The visitors got off to the perfect start after just two minutes when Edinburgh Rugby centre Chris Dean, on his return from injury, ran a good line to score a try. It was converted by full-back Ross Jones.
Watsonians got themselves into things thanks to a penalty by skipper Lee Millar before Heriot’s scored try number two in the 14th minute.
It came from winger James Couper after a backs move and with Jones converting it was 14-3.
Things got even better for them in the 27th minute when they were awarded a penalty try by referee Mike Adamson.
To make things worse for the hosts No.8 Morgan Inness was yellow carded in the incident.
With 14 men, Watsonians managed to give themselves hope when centre Lewis Berg showed good strength to barge over for a try.
It was converted by Millar and it was 21-10 at half-time.
Watsonians started the second half with purpose and centre Joe Reynolds burst down the blindside and fed a pass into replacement scrum-half Ali Harris, but he was stopped short of the try line.
They were awarded a penalty try after 46 minutes after good work by the pack though to reduce the gap to four points and Heriot’s back-row Jack McClean was sin-binned.
Heriot’s were back up to 15 men, as the last quarter of the match came around, but it was the home side who were now on the front foot.
And they went ahead for the first time in proceedings when full-back Jamie Forbes went over for a really well-worked try converted by Millar.
The home side went looking for the bonus point fourth try in the remaining 15 minutes, but credit to the Heriot’s defence who stood firm under pressure.
Back-row James Miller was named FOSROC player of the match for his great carrying and work around the breakdown while the replacements who came on for ‘Sonians did a great job.
In the other Super6 match played this weekend the Southern Knights made sure of their top four spot by beating Stirling County 31-10 on Sunday.
Watsonians: Jamie Forbes; Lomond Macpherson, Lewis Berg, Joe Reynolds, Angus Guthrie; Lee Millar (C), Murray Scott; Harrison Courtney, Cal Davies, Jack Stanley, Brian Leitch, Jamie Hodgson, Michael Badenhorst, James Miller, Morgan Inness. Subs: Ross Graham, Sam Grahamslaw, Jonny Gibson, Mesu Kunavula, Harry Fisher, Ali Harris, Andrew Chalmers, Ruaraidh Smith.
Scorers: Tries: Berg, penalty try, Forbes. Pen: Millar. Cons: Millar 2.
Next up is a home game against the Southern Knights on Saturday, February 29 at 3pm - it is the last match before the play-offs
Words by Gary Heatly
Images by Rugby People, more here
