Big defeat in the Borders

Leith travelled down to the borders to face a St Boswells team needing one more point to tie up the league. Conditions were pretty much spot on for a game of rugby as both teams eagerly look forward to the competition.

Despite going down an early score the Leith heads were not for going down. For the next 10 – 15 minutes Leith played some of the best rugby they have all season. Putting many of the structures, patterns and phases to good use and retained the ball for several minutes. Pressure finally took its toll after phases down the right hand side before quick ball over to the left allowed Craig Smith to scamper down the touchline to score in the corner. Conversion missed and the score was 5-5 with less than 10 minutes gone.

Leith continued to cope well in the next 15 minutes creating some problems to the St Boswells defence however lacked that cutting edge to make any further breakthrough. At the other end, again the Leith defence was coping, however the few mistakes we were making were being punished by tries as Boswells have done all season. This meant Leith went in at half time 5 tries to 1 down.

The second half was much of the same as the first as Boswell were clinical in taking the chance that Leith had handed to them. As before however Leith were showing that in patches they were able live with a team at this level, however, given that it was in patches meant that Leith were on the end of a scoreline that really doesn’t reflect the way of the game, particularly first half.

A lot of positives to take from the game despite the scoreline, If we played like that against other sides at this level a more positive result could well be expected. This is the level we must strive to achieve every week for the entire game. Well done to all of the boys who put their hand up for selection against Boswells which was never going to be an easy shift. Congratulations to the champions, whose players must now be delighted at the prospect of playing up in East 2 next season.

Try - Craig Smith

MOTM – Victor Floch