Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud

Leith made a trip up the M90 on Friday night for a friendly game with Kinross RFC, reciprocating their visit to Academy Park in pre-season 2015. The 2 clubs have developed a relationship in the intervening period, initially via former Leith coach Tam Bennett, who was in charge at The Muris at the time, and latterly by assisting one another with players, where Leith 2s, or Kinross do not have a fixture. It was great to finally get a team up to The Muirs for a Friday night fixture under the floodlights.

The rain throughout the day made for some sloppy conditions underfoot, as well as in hand (“It’s like ******* soap!”: scrum half Jose Manuel Trujillo) and the Leith side, largely featuring players who hadn’t played much rugby lately, made a slow start in the early exchanges. A dropped passa t the 15 minute mark saw it hacked through and finished well by Kinross, and they doubled their lead a few minutes later, as a couple of dropped off tackles, allowed another score under the sticks for a 14-0 lead to the home side. Having perhaps been guilty of trying to play too much rugby in the conditions – see hooker Willie Cook’s basketball pass (forward) to fellow front-rower Robert Stitt….on the wing – Leith began to straighten up, notably through returning centres Owen Jenkins, and Ross Kilgour, playing his first game in 4 months after illness. Standoff Ben Wilkinson also kicked intelligently to sway territory and possession in Leith’s favour for the remainder of the half. On the half hour mark, after a great break up the middle from wing Jon Derrin, the ball was recycled to the forwards, and tight-head Stitt, perhaps a little isolated, was able to spin in the tackle and plop the ball down to cut the deficit to 14-5, which despite continued territorial dominance, it remained as the half-time whistle went.

The 2nd half began in see-saw fashion, and Kinross added a third score out wide for a 19-5 lead, before Leith regained control of territory, with the boot of Wilkinson and some strong running from Derrin, (now at inside centre) and useful charges from the pack, including locks Toby Kirkwood and Ben Place, and the peerless Keith Aitchison. It was another forward who provided the most decisive charge however, as Cook through an outrageous midfield dummy, and in a blur of muddy (ankle) boots, surged 30 metres (80, by the time we were in the bar) to score out wide, and surely secure the 10 jersey for the remainder of the season. That said, standoff Wilkinson nailed the windy, mud-stained conversion from out wide to get us back to 19-12, so perhaps Cookie should now play centre. Leith kept the pressure on, and with a new 9-10 axis of Craig Winton inside Wilkinson controlling things, and Paul Haggon returning to the field the pack grew in dominance, providing the platform for another score out wide, wing Justin Smith going over in the corner after the tiniest hint of a forward pass was missed by the official. Wilkinson again sent the ball straight through the middle from the touchline, to tie the game up at 19-19 with about 15 minutes to play. Losing the lead sparked the home side back into action, and territory went back and forward, before Leith spent a long period in the Kinross 22, opting to tap and go on 3 kickable penalties, such was the enthusiasm to play now the rain had stopped! The Kinross defence held out resolutely however, and after the concession of a penalty and subsequent field position, the Kinross number 8 (?) made a powerful run, evading a couple of defenders to dot down under the posts and a 26-19 lead. Leith dominated the final period seeking the tie-up score, however the ball didn’t quite go to hand, and after a knock on during the final play, the ref’s whistle brought an end to a highly entertaining game, despite the conditions, and one played in excellent spirit. Both sides were able to blood new front row players, away from the battle of league action (in our case Jamie Gentleman held up really well in his first outing up front), and the game’s status as a friendly allowed for an expansive game. More opportunities like this please!

In the clubhouse afterwards, Leith’s Jose Manuel Trujillo (D*ck of the Day) took out the pint comp, before the Leith boys took a schooling on ‘The Bottles’. We’ll need to get in practice before the next fixture between the sides, intended for pre-season 2017.

Credit to both sets of players for producing what they did in the conditions, and a big thank you to everyone at Kinross, particularly President Martin Bell for their hospitality on the night. Best wishes to our hosts for the rest of this campaign, and we look forward to seeing them again at the Leith 7s on April 8.

Tries: Robert Stitt, Willie Cook, Justin Smith
Conversions: Ben Wilkinson (2)
Man of the Match: Jon Derrin