Nov
17
1st XV - No game
2nd XV vs Stirling County
No report was provided by the 2nd XV management, but we understand that Muir 2nds were in a strong position going into the 2nd half? Unfortunately due to an injury to the referee, the game had to be stopped. The game will be arranged for a later date. Boroughmuir wishes a speedy recovery to the match official.
Bears with Strong fight against Peebles 1/2 Combined
By Chris Evans
Peebles ‘A’ 48; Boroughmuir Bears 12
After last weekends heavy defeat to Peebles ‘A’, Boroughmuir Bears did not have to wait long to try and make amends for the poor performance, as they faced the Borders side in a Friday nigh match under the Gytes flood lights. Numbers at training steadily improved this week and there was a definite sense of optimism going into the game.
The Bears coaches were able to field a strong pack of forwards but backs were lacking and as such a number of the forwards had to fill in. Hooker Stu Clark replaced the injured Harry Fenton at scrum-half and back-rowers Luke Tarry, Roy Stewart and Max Brannan started at inside centre and both wings respectively.
Peebles started the match in strong fashion and dealt the Bears an early blow with a try from their loose head prop. The home side were playing the game at a high tempo and it took the Bears a while to get accustomed to it. However, the defence was strong, in particular from the likes of Luke Tarry and Hawick raised flanker Fraser Hartop.
Gradually the Bears were able to gain some possession and with improved ball retention they were able to build some phases. On twenty minutes, the Bears registered their first try after sustained pressure on the Peebles line. Stuart Clark marshalled his forwards into good positons with some neat passing and eventually veteran hooker Danny Rutterford found a gap and crashed over the line for a well worked score. Chris Evans missed the conversion.
However, back came Peebles and they twice exploited some lapses in concentration from the Bears to score a couple of tries before half-time. The score at the break was Peebles 17, Bears 5.
At half-time the Bears felt they were still in the game and came out in the second half looking to attack some more. However, a poor opening twenty minutes of the second half saw the Bears lose discipline and organistion in defence and they conceded a number of tries.
However, the Bears heads did not drop this week and they continued to battle on. They were rewarded with a consolation try with ten minutes to go, when Peebles fumbled a line-out and prop Richard Marshall scooped up the ball and showed an impressive turn of pace to finish from twenty metres out. Evans converted the score.
It was too late to deny Peebles a deserved victory and it was the home side that finished the stronger of the two teams. They were unlucky not to score a try at the death and it was only a cynical penalty conceded by Evans at the end that ruined their chances of reaching the half-century for two weeks in a row. Evans was shown a yellow card and was called a silly boy by the referee to boot!
Final score Peebles 48; Boroughmuir Bears 12.
Although the score did not necessarily reflect it, this was undoubtedly a better performance by the Bears. As mentioned there was a lot of players playing out of position but they all fronted up and put in good performances. Peebles are a strong, settled side and stand a good chance of wining the league, so the Bears should not feel too disappointed. In adversity their were some strong performances from the likes of Luke Tarry and Chris Whitelock in the backs, and Danny Rutterford and Fraser Hartop in the forwards. The man-of-the-match for the Bears was Stu Clark, who had a combatative game at nine. He directed the forwards well and was also a threat with ball in hand.
Many thanks to the small but loyal group of supporters that made the trip to Peebles to cheer on the Bears.
The Bears do not have a game scheduled for next week, so focus will turn to the game against city rivals Edinburgh Accies in two weeks time.
15. Chris Whitelock, 14. Max Brannan, 13. Mike Smith, 12. Luke Tarry, 11. Roy Stewart, 10. Chris Evans, 9. Stu Clark, 8. Andy Clark, 7. Gordon Pearse, 6. Fraser Hartop, 5. Kyle Mackinnon, 4. Rod Hutchison, 3. Andrew Wildgoose, 2. Danny Rutterford, 1. Richard Marshall
Subs: Lewis Robinson, Darren Miller
