Big win in the Borders

Having started the season with a bright if patchy performance against Lismore, Leith knew the trip down to Earlston would present a tougher challenge, and the toughest since coming back for 2014/15, with our having lost down there last year in a bad tempered fixture. Leith started well, and after getting on top up front and at the breakdown, a turnover allowed Blair Skipper to pop to his supporting flanker in Russell Smith, who cantered over from the ten-metre line. Conversion by Kenny Dannfald. It was from another turnover that the backs set in motion a move wide and Dannfald came back on a hard line to skate under the post for the second try a few minutes later, converting from in front. Steven Eadie added the next try, again stemming from a turnover, and running hard off a short ball from loosehead, Robert Stitt to go under the posts. Converted by Dannfald. The home side, who had missed two penalties early on, then switched kicker and added two to bring the score back to 21 - 6. It was Leith who finished the half the stronger however, and from a lineout won by Andy MacIntosh at the tail, Skipper hit Craig Smith wide, who handed off the 13 and stepped the full back to open his account for the day. The conversion by Dannfald saw a half-time score of 28-6.

The second half started scrappily, and Earlston kicked another penalty, before Smith got his second, intercepting a pass from his opposite man on the edge of his own 22 and gassing it to the try line. Ryan Burgess then got in on the act fielding a clearance kick on the half way line and sprinting in untouched, and stepping the fullback for good measure. Substitute Dave Robertson then opened his account for the league season, when after good strength and hands from fellow replacements Ross Marwick and Craig Winton respectively Robertson went under the posts from wide on the left. Earlston scooped a try of their own shortly afterwards, when a series of pick and drives near the line eventually paid dividends with their openside crashing over, leaving Leith disappointed to have conceded a late try in consecutive weeks. Smith completed the scoring and his hatr-trick in the final minute chipping over the top and getting a lucky bounce ahead of Robertson, to pick up and touch down. Conversion by Dannfald for a final score of 54-16.

Final score: Earlston 16 - 54 Leith

A big thank you to those who travelled down to cheer us on, it was great to see you there and the guys really appreciate the backing. Roll on next week.

Scoring

Tries – Craig Smith (3), Russell Smith, Kenny Dannfald, Steven Eadie, Ryan Burgess, Dave Robertson

Conversions – Kenny Dannfald (7)

Man of the match – Craig Smith

Leith Team

1 Robert Stitt, 2 Willie Cook, 3 Paul Allison, 4 Andy MacIntosh, 5 Ben Place, 6 Pete Mitchell, 7 Russell Smith, 8 Mark Phillips (Capt.);

9 Ryan Burgess, 10 Blair Skipper, 11 Ross Kilgour, 12 Ben Wilkinson, 13 Craig Smith, 14 Steven Eadie, 15 Kenny Dannfald (V.Capt.);

16 Craig Winton, 17 Stuart Fox, 18 Sam Walker, 19 David Meadows, 20 Doug Watters, 21 Dave Robertson, 22 Ross Marwick.