Leith win on the Road

Leith made the long trip south west to face a Langholm team who had got the better of the Leithers last season. However this was a different Leith side and the team were looking forward to playing on the expansive but soft pitch.

With the sun high in the sky the game kicked off and Leith went on the offensive immediately pressing their hosts when they could. However the hands were still in ‘warm up’ mode which meant the final pass did not allow the Leith team to take advantage of the early pressure.

It was indeed Langholm to get the scoring underway as a few big runs down the middle were not stopped early enough and with Leith on the defensive back the pressure became too great and the Langholm man was able to bundle over from short range. However Leith went back into attack mode looking to get themselves on the scoreboard and they didn’t have to wait to long for this to happen. From an attacking penalty in the Langholm 22m the forwards bowled over a few defenders before it gave Stand Off Doug Watters the chance to scythe through the midfield and off load in the covering tackle to Kenny Dannfald a couple metres short of the line. This gave the captain the easiest of finishes and he converted his own try to make it 7-5 to Leith.

Leith were looking to take control of the game now and put some points on the scoreboard, after Dannfald offloaded the ball to Eoin Murphy who went through the whole in the defence like a train and made the 2 on 1 with the covering player simple as he gave hooker for the day Greg Hancock a run in under the posts, which Dannfald duly converted. The travelling team weren’t to have it all of their own way however as the Langholm team struck back again in a try that was scored wide out in the corner. Conversion made, meaning the score was 14-12 to Leith.

The scoring wasn’t finished in the first half however as Leith struck back yet again. With more and more pressure being applied to Langholm the penalty count was increasing, this meant the Leith were having the chance to keep the ball and continue to notch up the pressure. All of this led to Watters getting a ball in the Langholm 22m area, taking the ball to the gain line and giving an inside pass to Dannfald who was able to beat the last defender to dot down for his 2nd try. This was converted and after a missed Langholm penalty right on the stroke of half time the score at the break was 21-12 to Leith.

Both teams knew that the next score was crucial to the destination of the points and thus the opening of the 2nd half was a touch frantic and cagey as the teams were trying not to give an inch. However it was Leith that were first to make the break through. After some midfield play which was effectively going no where the Langholm 10 opted to kick the ball on the halfway line, however Dannfald was able to get an arm up there to charge the ball down. He stabbed the ball forward twice in a foot race to the line, which in the end winger Jon Derrin was able to pounce* and take the ball over the line (*Kenny is definitely not bitter that this was for his hat trick). Try converted meaning the score was 28-12.

Leith didn’t have to wait too long for the next one as from the kick off the ball was sprayed to the left hand side of the pitch where the Watters/ Dannfald combination teamed up again with a switch near the left touch line on the Leith 22m which allowed Dannfald to go on the diagonal to the opposite touch line on the Langholm 22m before passing inside to the on rushing Craig Williamson who in turn was able to give Hancock a run in for his 2nd try of the day. However Leith weren't to have it all their own way as Langholm took a quick tap which allowed their Scrum Half to chip and chase from the half way line to get a score back for the home team.

However with 10mins to go Leith put it out of sight as pressure down the right hand side of the pitch left a huge gap as the ball was moved out left. This allowed Mike McLeish, who had been causing issues in the loose all day the chance to stretch his leg and execute a 2 v 1 that gave Luke McKinney his first score of the season. However in the dying moments the home team were able to claim their try bonus point as the powerful 13 was able to bundle over from close range to make the final score 38-22 to Leith

Overall a very good result for the Leith men, Langholm is never an easy place to play and to come away with the maximum points is a good result. Still there is plenty to be working on during the week as we look ahead to the visit of Edinburgh Northern at the weekend.

Plenty of candidates for the Serrano Manchego Man of the Match award this week, McLeish and Paterson in the forwards were excellent, while Dannfald, Watters and Williamson all had good games in the backs. However the Serrano Manchego Man of the Match award goes to Greg Hancock as the openside flanker stepped up to the hooking berth this week with aplomb and scored two good tries.

Special mention goes to Leith stalwart Keith Aitchison, for making the long drive from Stirling to help the team out as front row cover was required for the team to have a full bench. Thanks Keith!!

Tries – Dannfald (2), Hancock (2), Derrin & McKinney
Convs – Dannfald (4)
Serrano Manchego MOTM – Greg Hancock