Saturday saw the visit of Dalkeith RFC to Academy Park as we welcomed back live rugby following the off season break. The Leith boys have been in pre-season training since June 1st, with a first training session highlight of watching the culmination of the previous Premiership season on the day we begin our next season…”

Coach Kevin of House Greenan, first of his name, has been busy at work over the past two and a half months getting the boys in shape and welcoming some new faces down to Academy Park.

The sun was shining down on Leith (someone should write a song about that) as Leith welcomed Dalkeith for the first taste of game action before the league starts in September. Coach had picked a large squad of players with the intention of rotating throughout the match, including the many of the regular bodies including 3x Academy Award winner Andrew Baxter and former Players of the Year; Kenny Dannfald and Craig Winton as well as President’s son Russell Smith on the sideline, not playing.

The match was to be played as four x 20 minute quarters and began with Dalkeith kicking off. It didn’t take long for points to be put on the board. Leith had managed to build some phases together and were generating some good quick ball for returning scrumhalf Dave Sommerville. Dave cleared the ball from a ruck quickly and passed to his flatmate Ross Johnston, as they made an early move to steal the best flatmates crown from Andrew Baxter and yours truly. Ross spotted a narrow defensive line from Dalkeith and sent a beautifully floated ball over the line that would make Finn Russell a tad excited. Debutant Greg Jackson received the ball and ran with it up the 5m channel towards the full back. Options either side, he took a slight step inside before popping the ball out to Nick Andrews on the wing who ran up the line and through the covering defence before scoring in the corner. Continuing his end of season try scoring form from last year, Andrews is the bookies favourite to win Top Try Scorer and Player of the Year at this year’s awards ceremony. Johnston’s conversion from the touchline hit the post.

Leith were the dominant side in the first quarter. Plenty of quick ball from the ruck kept the Dalkeith defence running all across the park. The second score came after 16 minutes. Dalkeith had maintained possession for multiple phases before Scott McAteer, in his first game of rugby for an age, stripped the ball. Everyone on the park appeared to stop playing aside from Leith’s Marcos Teixeira who picked up the ball and casually jogged from over half way to score under the posts.

Coach Kev ran in the changes at the first interval which resulted in a completely new look team. Leith struggled to regain any possession this quarter with Dalkeith holding the ball for the majority. Dalkeith were able to work the ball wide and score through their winger to get themselves on the scoresheet. Leith were able to respond quickly with a second score for Marcos after 26 minutes. A solid steal from the lineout by Fraser Forsyth allowed Leith to set up the ruck. Toby Kirkwood picked up the ball and passed it to Andrews who popped it to Marcos and allowed the Spaniard to power over the line.

Shortly after the third quarter started came the try of the match. Thankfully that try was for Leith because I wouldn’t have given it the light of day if Dalkeith had scored it. A quick turnover in the Leith 22 and a call to go blind, Andrews picked the ball from the ruck and delivered the perfect sky hook basketball, that would have made Kareem Abdul Jabbar proud, pass over the 7ft tall defender into the hands of Greg Jackson who with little to no room on the sideline gave a slick touch pass out into the hands of Kenny who had a clear field ahead of him with only the full back covering across. Running his trademark supporting lines, Andrew Baxter was right on Kenny’s shoulder. Kenny sent a grubber kick along the ground as the full back was about to make his tackle which allowed Baxter to run onto the bouncing ball and collect it before heading straight for the corner. A high tackle came in from the covering defence 5m short of the line. Leith worked the ball out with some very sick handling skills from backs and forwards alike. Johnston received the ball and as he had passed the ball towards Kirkwood, a Dalkeith player slapped the ball down. Leith gathered and set up a ruck where Craig Winton took a good line and dragged three bodies over the line to score the try. It’s always an odd one when the try of the season is scored in the first game but I’m sure Winton will have no qualms about stepping up on stage to collect an award for that one.

Dalkeith managed to capitalise on some poor kick-off returns from Leith. With the Leith players allowing the ball to bounce from the kick off and the defence to rush up, a rushed clearance kick was sliced and gave Dalkeith good field position. Dalkeith were able to string some phases together before shipping the ball wide and scoring on the wing. The conversion was good.

The final score of the game was a welcomed one for Leith as it was Marcos going over for his hat trick, which meant only one thing… jugs of beer after the game on Marcos. Leith had managed to pin Dalkeith down in their own 22. Leith managed another lineout steal on the Dalkeith 5m line and set up a ruck with numbers wide and the Dalkeith defence shuffling wide as well. Andrews picked it up blind and threw a pass out to Marcos who shoved off one defender and dived over for the try.

Unfortunately, in the 57th minute of the match, one of the Dalkeith boys suffered a serious head injury and the game was abandoned.

A classic first preseason game for both sides with many things to work on at training but also lots of positives that both sides can be proud of. Leith welcome Linlithgow to Academy Park next week as part of RBS Rugby Force week where we will be joined by some of the Scotland Internationals.

Leith Rugby wish Dalkeith the best of luck with their upcoming season and hope that their player who went down at the end recovers in time to join his pals in Ibiza this week.

Match Report written by Nick Andrews (obviously).