Alloa Vs Leith

Pre- Season Match Report- Alloa RFC vs Leith RFC

Alloa RFC 7 vs Leith RFC 5
1 try (converted) R. Burgess
We made the short trip through to play Alloa on Saturday 22nd August. It had been around 10 years since the
clubs last played each other, although there were still some ‘weel kent faces’ in the Alloa side. Alloa were
unlucky not to be promoted to the Scottish Hydro Caledonia Division 1 this season after winning the Midlands
Div 2 with an impressive 91 points- 7 clear of their nearest rivals, Harris Academy. Alloa had only lost one
match and drew one last season, regularly posting 70+ points past their opposition. Their highest scores of
the season though were a 113-13 and a 95-0, a daunting challenge for the guys in their first pre season
match. To add to this, Alloa played their first league match the following week and therefore were at least one
week ahead of Leith in their 09/10 preparations.
The match was to be divided into 2 periods of 20 minutes and 1 period of 40 minutes, something which most
welcomed due to the presence of the sun. Playing into the wind for the first 20 minutes Leith started the
match the brighter team. There was some excellent off-loading and support play which quickly tired the Alloa
forwards out. After only 10 minutes their front 5 appeared to be struggling. Leith looked like the only team who
were going to score in the first 20, Ryan Burgess and Ross Kilgour looking the most likely to break through
with Marius Breidenhann and Gareth Marshall creating the opportunities. The first 20 ended 0-0.
The second 20 saw Leith dominate the first 10 minutes, playing with the wind this time, Craig Smith kept Leith
in the Alloa half. Again the off-loading and support play was making gains. This resulted in Ryan Burgess
going over in the left hand corner for the opening score of the match. The try was created in the middle of the
pitch where their players were drawn in, Marius Breidenhann spotted the space outside for Ryan to go over
unchallenged. After the score, Leith took their foot of the pedal for the remaining 10 minutes or so. This may
be put down to match fitness in the first game back, or possibly the fact that Alloa had a large squad which
allowed them several substitutions. 0-5 at the end of the two 20 minute periods.
The start of the 40 minute period saw Alloa return to their starting team with their larger forwards recuperating
for the second 20 minute period. Alloa started to keep the ball amongst the forwards as the Leith back line
had prevented them from making any memorable advances, Ryan Burgess remaining fairly un-challenged at
full back other than to return kicks. With the Alloa forwards rested and Leith having to readjust the pack
through injuries to Daniel Berger and Keith Aitchison, in what was becoming a feisty encounter, Alloa started
to gain the upper hand. The heat and the match fitness began to tell on the Leith front 8, who did well to hold
and push back the larger pack for most of the game, however their work around the break down drew in the
Leith fringe defence and allowed their scrum half to go in under the posts for a converted try.
Leith continued to hold out the Alloa team for the rest of match, which was predictable after the fringe defence
was organised and their game plan failed to develop past a 9 man game. Match fitness was the key to the
game here and Leith can take heart from this as the Alloa team were becoming frustrated with their lack of
success. The first 30 minutes were exactly what the coaching staff were looking for, something which we can
hopefully maintain for the game against Lismore in the second of our pre season matches.
A special thanks to Alloa RFC for hosting the match.