Sep
09
Dunfermline S2: 9 - 21 : Boroughmuir S2
After last week's hard fought game against GHA, the S2's headed over the bridge to Fife to McKane Park, home of Dunfermline.
Muir started the game better this week and were looking very much improved in the rucks and contact area. Dunfermline were also competing well and the commitment from both teams was great to watch. Muir eventually broke the deadlock and this followed by a further two tries before the end of the first period. The tries were all scored out wide and the subsequent conversions all missed.
1st Third (0 - 9)
Muir continued in the same manner in the 2nd Period and with some great defence managed to keep out Dunfermline. Two tries came after some strong breaks and then Dunfermline got on the score sheet after a dropped pass over our own line was pounced upon quickly. (3 - 17)
With a few changes made in the last period Dunfermline came more in to the game and scored a couple of tries after a period of pressure. Muir replied with the last try of the game after some good work from the Muir forwards to finish strongly. Final score 21 - 9 to Muir.
A great afternoon in the sun against a very well drilled Dunfermline side who made Muir work hard for their win. A thanks to the Muir support for coming across and to Dunfermline for their hospitality.
Portobello S1: 4 - 45 : Boroughmuir S1
This week's game took us down to Cavalry Park to play Portobello's S1's on a lovely sunny afternoon. Muir got the game underway with a great high kick which let us get our runners into the Porty line quickly. Porty did well, in what was their first competitive match, to keep the ball and drive it up the field. The sides seemed quit evenly matched in the first half as the ball went back and forth, some good tackles going in from both sides. The bigger forwards of the Porty pack were winning the ruck ball in the early stages, although there passing was not as clinical as our which meant we were able to pick the ball off them. Our well worked passing was getting to our wings which were having a good day in the try area. Throughout the second and third halves, the team's confidence grew and the forwards worked hard to turn the ruck count back in Muir's favour. This meant we could release the ball with confidence to our back line. During the second and third halves the forwards ran in some great tries of their own, by taking on the opposition, with some great running. The whistle in the third half came as a welcome relief to Porty who were on the end of another good Muir performance - final score Muir 45 - Porty 4.
What's good to see is the forwards are starting to see the benefit of close support play - something to keep working on. Man of the match goes to Sonny Reid, who despite being told by his coach not to go on big looping runs, did just that and scored to great tries! Again, it was good to see some hard work and great effort put in by all the players - well done! Thanks to the travelling support for keeping the Muir voice alive! And, lastly a big thank you to Portobello for making our visit a good one!
P7 v Linlithgow
P7 welcomed Linlithgow to a warm and sunny Meggetland for the first outing of the season.
The game got under way with some nervous ball handling but things soon settled down.
Both teams demonstrated some strong individual running but seemed reluctant to move the ball wide.
Linlithgow controlled the first half by being quicker to the ruck creating turnovers.
To their credit each of the Muir players showed some impressive ball presentation skills
Muir started the second half with some great passing, keeping possession and creating chances.
A deserved try came from a well worked ball down the line run in by the perfectly positioned support player. The new 5 man scrum and line out play seemed to work well with everyone getting stuck in.
Linlithgow were a strong well drilled team. However when Muir were keeping the ball in hand and playing out wide Linlithgow were under pressure which is a real positive that we need to build on. Thanks to Linlithgow for joining in with a joint training session at the end which all the boys seemed to enjoy.
P6 v Linlithgow & Forrester
It was great to see the sun shining at Meggetland on Sunday after the rain at training on Friday. We were hosts to Linlithgow and Forresters for a P4 - P7 joint training session and round-robin of games.
Given we are only 3 weeks into the season this was a warm up to get them thinking about the differences in the rules for those that have stepped up to a new age grade variation.
P6 - The boys now have uncontested scrums and kicking as part of the game, so a wee bit more to think about, and the session today was all about learning how to compete in the same environment of a managed training session, rather than a full-blown tournament.
It was great to see the boys making some great passing moves and using the extra space that the P6 pitch affords them.
Thanks to all the parents that came down and supported the boys. A couple of hours in the sun on a Sunday watching rugby can be hard to beat!
