Leith 2XV 45 - 17 Inverleith 2XV

Match Report by Will Tuft

Question 1: What venue are we at today?
On a glorious early September afternoon, bathed in the most resplendent sunshine that Edinburgh could muster, so resplendent that at least two of the home team’s players had to apply suncream, the Leith Rugby 2XV embarked on their 2019/20 campaign to ascend through the East Reserve leagues and better their hugely promising debut run at this level.

Question 2: What half is this?
As always, we begin with the first half, undertaken at a raucous pace that the hard grounds of Japan this September would be envious of. With the sun at their backs, Leith pushed their cavalcade forward from the outset, being shepherded around the fox ravaged turf with aplomb by human highlight reel half-back pairing of Fergal McNamara and Kenny Dannfald who employed the hard running of Mr New Zealand 2019 Sean Bates and debutant Izzy De Boer to puncture holes in an abrasive and jackal-happy Inverleith defensive line.
The opening gambits were heavyweight to say the least as the home side camped deep in the Ferry Road side’s 22 and were unfortunate not to cross the whitewash on a number of occasions within the first few minutes after demolishing the gain line through the peerless Ben Place and the very much peered Michael Hepburn, for whom this match displayed an array of running and hard hitting that belied his coughing during pre season. Hands which may have still been covered in suncream can be the only excuse for a series of errors that allowed the Inverleith side to escape from the pressure cooker of their own in-goal.

Question 3: What team did you play last?
Despite a little rustiness around the breakdown giving away a few needless penalties, the men in blue and white applied significant amounts of harassment, with a game structure honed through the recent pre season matches against Bannockburn and the Livingston tournament, meaning that with the ball in hand, gaps were opening up across the pitch. Dannfald was able to take advantage of these gaps to glide in like a heavily oiled salmon for the first of his two scores and add the extras to open his account for this season.
Inverleith are no side to back down from a challenge however and quickly regained some level of parity, capitalizing on some lineout jiggery-pokery to tumble over out wide and bring the game into a contest from which point there was only one winner.

Question 4: Did your team win their last game?
After some excellent carries from returning maverick David Meadows and prop turned seven turned centre turned winger Felix Palin, the ball found it’s way to Dannfald, who half shinned a chip, regathered and sprinted clear before knee sliding his way to line to dot down his second and start a ten minute period that effectively forced Inverleith back into their shell.
With confidence building, it was clear that the running rugby in outside channels was the recipe for try time and through excellent support lines, the seemingly ageless Christian Jetuah sprinted in from twenty yards. This score was added to moments later by captain George Lees, as several well run lines and outside passes allowed the man described as ‘most likely to be an eel’ to tear away from the visitors defence and streak to a well deserved brace of scores for Leith, of which Dannfald slotted one. Half time read a very comfortable 24-10 lead for the home side.

The second stanza started in a similar fashion as the blue and white calvary marched it’s way forward before using the ball intelligently to utilise outside backs Lex Dunko and Andy Barr, both of whom had been menaces to the softer edges of Inverleith’s defence in the first half. Barr, especially, proving adept at moving the drift defence around to snaffle his first of the season and extend Leith’s lead alongside Dannfald’s kicking.
The visitors were game however and continued to probe the Leith defence, poking holes in broken field and in the broken face of centre Will Tuft, for whom a swift trip to hospital looking like a character from IT signified the end of his efforts as debutants and returning players flooded the field. Dylan Bompas and Pete Duncan taking their places on the wings and Ross Wilson muscling into the pack for the remainder of the game.

Question 5: Who scored last in this game?
As the game became a little scrappier and front row union Willie Cook and Robert Stitt rubbed their hands with glee at the amount of knock ons, the game was taken far away from the grasps of Inverleith as Michele Crolla, on for the hamstrung De Boer, popped up running a line that Sam Burgess would be proud of to barge his way around a couple of tackles and announce his return from the world of short shorts and no arm tackles.

Unfortunately, this is the point at which I am failing the question aspect of my head injury assessment (HIA) as I have no idea who scored last, so leave you in the capable hands of Captain Fantastic George Lees and according to protocol, will see you in three weeks...

Web Team: "George, can you describe the final two tries following Will's removal from the field for stitches?"
George: "I have no clue what happened in the game."
Web Team: "Try"
George: "I know Kenny [Dannfald] or Fergal [McNamara] did a chip kick from a scrum - or maybe it was a ruck - over to the wing, and Dylan Bompas caught it, offloaded back to Dannfald, who passed inside to McNamara to score. Lovely flowing Fijian rugby"
Web Team: "Sounds terrific"
George: "We then conceded in the dying moments when their 10 scored from a run to the blindside and that's where the game ended. I'm sorry I'm useless at remembering."
Web Team: "That's OK George, Will will be sidelined for 3 weeks and able to follow events even more closely from the touchline."
George: "I'll be going then."
Web Team: "Yes please."

Final score 45-17 to Leith, and the 2s are at home again next weekend, with the visit of Ross High in a 12.30pm KO.