Leith Triumph at Broughton 7s

Leith travelled the short distance to Broughton RFC for the first 7s tournament of the year. Drawn in a group with Edinburgh Northern, Inverleith, Liberton and Moray house the men fro Leith knew it would be a testing afternoon but one where silverware was a possibility. The weather was very unseasonably 7s like with hail, wind and showers blow through Wardie but luckily the majority of the time we were on the field it was ok.

Leith V Inverleith
The first game of a tournament and of a 7s season can always be a bit nerve-racking, despite the weeks of training you never really know until you get on the pitch how the transition from 15s to 7s will go. Initial exchanges were tit for tat with both teams scoring a couple of tries. Just before the break Ross Kilgour picked his way through a gap. From here and going down the hill in the 2nd half Leith pulled away to a comfortable 26 – 12 Victory.
Tries – Paterson, Eadie, Kilgour, Marwick

Leith V Moray House
Next game up against the men from East 3. However in failing to pull together a 7s team Moray House had source a number of Watsonians to play for them. Having spectated their first couple of games Leith knew this would be a bit of a test. Again it was turn about in scoring tries, with Leith scoring some efforts from deep. In a scrappy game it was in the last minute that Moray House scored a try, however with the conversion going woefully wide Leith won the game 19-17
Tries – Wilkinson, Marwick, Dannfald

Leith V Edinburgh Northern
With results going their way the Leithers were about to hit their stride and put in a performance. Edinburgh Northern were the unfortunate party in a game where everything Leith touched seemed to go right for them. With this the game finished 54-7 giving Leith a healthy points bonus which would be useful.
Tries – Kilgour 2, Skipper, Carr, Paterson, Marwick, Dannfald, Eadie

Leith V Liberton
Even though this was the final group game it was more like a semi with either team looking like they could progress to the Grand final. However Leith new that with a healthier points difference it would take a big effort from Liberton to deny Leith a final shot. However with this game coming directly after the previous game against northern anything could happen. It almost looked like it might happen as Leith were reduced to 6 after Paterson was sin binned for a trip, with this advantage Liberton raced into a 2 try lead. Leith pulled one back through Carr but with the half time break and liberton playing down the hill it was going to be an uphill struggle, literally. Leith’s woes worsened as Liberton scored another early in the 2nd half. But in a true test of will Leith battled back first through Dannfald in the corner and then with the last play Kilgour up the wing. It was left to Ben Wilkinson to slot the difficult drop goal to give Leith a 19-17 victory and on to the final.
Tries – Carr, Dannfald, Kilgour

Leith V Ross High
The final saw the days two unbeaten side square up in a game to decide the fate of the tournament. The East 3 winners had impressed all day with a mix of youth, experience, pace and power faring them well so far. However it was Leith who race to a lead with Andrew Paterson Scampering down the wing from a scrum on the 15m. Ross High responded soon after but Leith were on the offensive again with Kilgour slicing through the middle to go under the posts. In the final play of the half Leith were plying all the pressure and Greg hanncock sent a looping pass out wide for Craig Winton to touch down for his first ever 7s Try, 19-5 at half time. With Leith playing uphill in the 2nd half they were trying to keep as much ball as possible and frustrating their opponents. Ross High scored a break away try mid way through the 2nd half, although Leith managed to hold out to the very last play, where Ross High scored a length of the pitch try and with the conversion it made it 19-17 to Leith.
Tries – Paterson, Kilgour, Winton

Overall a really good day out. Always good to get a taste of silverware and even better in the first tournament of the year. Our thanks go to Broughton for inviting us and hosting a successful tournament. The players, officials and refs for making the tournament possible.

Tries – Kilgour - 6, Paterson 3, Dannfald 3, Marwick 3, Carr 2, Eadie 2, Skipper 1, Wilkinson 1, Winton 1.