Leith run out winners in cold affair

Following Moray House/ Watsonians 4XV not being able to field a team Leith managed to pick up a friendly fixture against Edinburgh Northern 2nd XV, and after an early morning pitch inspection (just!!) the game was set for a 1pm kick off. Leith were able to blend youth and experience as Organ, Allison, Cook and Aitchison bumping up the average age of the team whilst Shearon and Derrin were able to start on the wings and young James Balmer waiting on the sideline added some youth. A few of the first 15 were able to get valuable game time how ever most were trying new positions i.e. a prop and a centre on the flanks was a interesting mix.

As the game kicked off the snow fell down and everyone knew it would be a testing occasion, referees and captains all in agreement that we would just play 30 min halfs to limit the suffering of the players and those on the sidelines. Leith went straight into attack mode and had several attempts at the Edinburgh Northern line before eventually making the breakthrough. After good set piece work from the forwards and clearing out in the middle of the pitch, Ben Wilkinson was able to float a pass out wide to Lucas Shearon who ran over unchallenged for his first try of the season. Dannfald added the extra making it a 7 point score. Leith were on the charge again an were soon probing deep into the Northern half asking questions of their defence, scrum half Watters was then able to spot a gap in fringe defence a nip through, tackled just before the line he popped of to the on rushing Joe O’Neil for the score underneath the posts which was converted. The rest of the 30 minutes passed pretty quickly and at half time Leith were 14-0 to the good.

Leith rang the changes in the 2nd half with Mpofu, Eadie, Balmer, Hastings and Young all coming on for much sought after game time. The 2nd half was a bit of a torrid affair as the wind, rain, sleet and snow swept in making the conditions difficult for both teams to get any momentum going in the game. Both teams were giving a good go of it despite the testing conditions. Leith were first to take advantage in the half after the experienced Leith pack was able to push Northern back over the line for Aitchison to touch down. Northern responded with a try of their own. However the game didn’t have much left in it a substitute Hastings was able to show some ‘pace’ with a neat dummy and go to beat his man on the outside and race over from the 22m for the games final score.

With both teams suffering the ref agreed much to everyones glee to call the short the already short 2nd half which allowed everyone to retreat to the warmth of the showers. All in all a good blow out in tough conditions, the rugby wasn’t vintage but good for everyone to get playing again. In his first game for the club Liam got a man of the match for a sterling performance in the scrum as well as good work around the park

Tries – Shearon, O’Neil, Aitchison, Hastings
Convs – Dannfald 2
MOTM - Liam