After the tropical conditions experienced during last weekend's home loss to Edinburgh Northern, the Scottish autumn had well and truly arrived by kick off at Doublehedges on Saturday, as a grey day and a vertical wind coming down from the clubhouse end of the ground hinting that the rugby may reflect the conditions, and so it proved. With both teams coming off a loss, and our hosts seeking a first win of the season, the encounter was always likely to be tense, and on possibly the narrowest pitch in the division, somewhat stuffy.

Leith began the brighter, playing with the wind, and attacking the wide(r) channels via some hard running from centre pairing Dave Robertson and Doug Watters, however post gain-line offloads were not sticking early on, as some resolute Liberton defence put paid to generating quick second phase ball. It was Robertson who made the breakthrough around the 15-minute mark, picking a perfect line to score wide on the right off a simple pop from stand-off Ben WIlkinson in the middle of the field. Wilkinson missed the tricky conversion, and Leith hoped that now that the gates were open, a few more tries would follow. It was not to be however, as despite dominating possession and territory for the vast majority of the half, the home defence stood firm, both through their own tenacity, and some unduly frantic attacking from Leith. The pack were operating well, with strong scrummaging and lineout, and some inspirational charges in the loose from the likes of Luke McKinney and Ollie Main, while stand-in full-back Steven Eadie had a good half, and having fielded a loose clearance kick a great 50m break down the left wing, he put Jon Derrin away inside the 22, but a good cover tackle put the Aussie winger into touch, in what was the most promising further attacking movement in the rest of the first half.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with Leith dominating territory and possession, and the early pressure told with substitute Ross Marwick finishing out wide on the right, following good hands and another impressive break and offload from Robertson. Following the missed conversion, Leith were determined to put the game to bed, and perhaps achieve a 4-try bonus, but were frustrated in their efforts by some poor finishing, some good home defence and a rising penalty count against our hosts, which included a yellow card for a stamp/old school ruck for the loosehead prop. A great break from stand-in captain Watters set up Wilkinson to engage Derrin and Eadie before the final pass went astray, and around this period the back row of Main, Neil Paterson and McKinney were increasingly involved in the loose making yards and setting up quick ball, as were replacement prop Colin Marshall and pack leader Bruce Connelly. Playing with the wind however the home side kicked intelligently, and gradually increased their share of territory and subsequently possession, while Leith were guilty of trying to play a little too much rugby in their own 22, and ceded possession via a couple of avoidable errors. After conceding a penalty outside the 22, expertly converted off the dirt and without a tee by the home captain, the hosts were back within 7 points, and a breathless final 10 minutes were assured after the hooker converted a 2nd penalty not long after. Tiffney was instrumental in bringing the home team back into the game in these closing stages, some clever gamesmanship in calling for a pass from Leith's McKinney resulting in his receiving the ball and kicking for his chasing support. Thankfully scrum half Andrew Paterson was able to outpace the onrushing Liberton backs and knocked the ball over the dead-ball line for a 5m scrum for the hosts. There they would remain for the final 10 minutes, amid re-set scrums, a brilliant effort to hold up a burrowing forward over the line, and some committed Leith defence. On the final play of the game Liberton came wide, the Leith backs able to push them toward the touchline, where Marwick made a crunching tackle into touch to end the contest.

A stuffy affair, but great to get back to winning ways. Onwards to the visit of Inverleith to Academy Park next weekend.

Leith tries: Dave Robertson, Ross Marwick
Man of the Match: Skipper for the day, Doug Watters organisation of the defence, and pressure-relieving breaks sees him squeak the award ahead of some other equally deserving candidates in the pack, and his fellow centre Robertson.