After last weeks battle of 2nd and 3rd, Leith took to the field in a battle of 3rd and 4th with our Ferry Road neighbours. Leith hadn’t recorded a victory since their home win against arch rivals Trinity a couple of games ago. Conditions were favourable and Leith looked to get back to a brand of fast, free flowing rugby and record an essential win in the race for 3rd place.

In the early exchanges it was Inverleith who were exerting all the pressure and had the territory as Leith struggles to hold onto the ball for more than a couple of phases. However the defence was resolute and remained strong as Inverleith piled on the pressure. It is a sign as how far the Leith team have progressed that no points were conceded here, last season Leith’s smaller pack would have succumbed to pressure and conceded from one of the catch and drive attempts. However not today and that gave Leith the chance to start playing with some ball of their own. Leith’s first try was against the run of play. After holding onto the ball for a couple of phases we had hit it up wide left. Blair Skipper then hit Craig Smith with a long pass, he chips over the top for Andrew Paterson to run onto, he kicks it forward and Blair Skipper who had followed play scoops it up, fires a pass infield to Craig Smith who beats the cover to score under the posts. Kenny Dannfald added the extras.

However It wasn’t long before Inverleith hit back with a try of their own. After conceding one too many penalties, Inverleith worked themselves in to a good field position and were able to catch and drive their way over the line. The game began to ebb and flow between the teams with each trying to get the upper hand. And it was Leith who struck the next blow. Inverleith were camped in their 22m and after a poor kick from their 12, Doug Watters fielded the kick outside of the 22m and gave Andrew Paterson the opportunity to take on his man, Pat beat one man and passed to Craig Smith who chipped into the corner and out jumped the covering 10 to touch down. The game continue to change in momentum as each team had their chances to get points on the board. Both teams duly accepted with Dannfald and the Inverleith 10 trading penalties, bringing the halftime score to 15 – 8.

Leith knew that they had another couple of gears to step up and a higher tempo would mean that Inverleith would probably begin to fall away. With that message from the coaches, Leith did begin to up the pressure and started to create more and more chances. For much of the beginning of the 2nd half Leith were camped inside the Inverleith 22m however could not create the guilt edge chance to put them away. Leith thought that they might rue these missed opportunities and a Dannfald missed penalty as Inverleith levelled the game in a rare foray into the Leith half. Steven Eadie was the unfortunate player who got snagged when trying to clear the ball from his own in goal area, giving Inverleith a simple try.

Eadie almost made up for his mistake by getting on the scoresheet himself, however the last man managed to stop him on his way to the line. However it was an Eadie break that led to Leith moving back in front. After more and more pressure being applied to the Inverleith line a surge into the 22m, stopped Stevie just short. Some quick recycling tied many of their forwards in close to the ruck meaning that quick ball allowed Blair Skipper to give Craig Smith a simple coast under the posts from 10ms out. Leith took the game by the scruff of the neck and another try followed soon after. This was again delivered by good forward play in the middle of the pitch which gave Andrew Paterson the opportunity to step his man and race down the far touch line. The winger then drew the last defender and passed infield to a grateful Blair Skipper to dot down under the posts.

Leith were far from finished though and added another to their tally as Inverleith had the stuffing knock out of them. A simple Phase 1 back move from a lineout, which, along with the scrum, gave a terrific platform to build phase play on all day, had the Inverleith defenders at 6s and 7s as Craig Smith was able to go over unchallenged for his fourth try of the day and 24th of the season. Dannfald added the extras for each second half try bringing the score to 36-15. There were a few late surges from both teams as Leith hit cruise control however no more scores and Leith finished the game as bonus point victors.

The victory means that 3rd place is certainly within the grasp of the team however it is certainly by no means guaranteed. With each team still having 3 games to play, Leith are 8 points ahead of Inverleith and this weeks opponents Penicuik. With each team having to negotiate at least one tricky fixture against one of the newly promoted sides it remains all to play for. A big week training and performance next week will go along way to cementing third place.

Tries – Smith (4), Skipper

Conv – Dannfald (4)

Pen – Dannfald

MotM – Craig Smith