Leith 54 - 16 Inverleith

Academy Park was basking in sun and warmth as we were treated to some unseasonable weather as kick off approached. Leith were looking to keep to winning ways after last weeks tight 10-6 victory at Liberton, whilst Inverleith were also looking to make it 2 in row after they recorded their first victory of the season the previous week against Earlston.

Leith kicked off the game attacking the Easter Road end of the ground and were determined to have a go at an Inverleith side which had a few new faces in it, as well as some familiar foes. Despite some early Inverleith pressure Leith were first to strike. The pressure in the Leith half was easily soaked up by the home side's defence, the speed of the Leith attack and clinical precision lead to Eoin Murphy and Doug Watters making some yards on the left hand side of the park, this led to quick ball in the Inverleith 22m which was sprayed wide to find the unlikely combination of 2nd row Mike McLeish and Prop Bruce Connelly, with the former giving the big Hawick prop the chance to dance down the touchline to touchdown. Kenny Dannfald kicked the conversion and after some confusion the referee awarded the kick to make the score 7-0.

Leith didnt have to wait long to extend their lead and scrum half Andrew Paterson was on hand to pick up a brace of tries. The first one came after Watters and Dannfald linked up well which allowed Dannfald to get beyond the tackle and offload to the on rushing Andy MacIntosh, the openside was able to make it into the 22m before being felled. With the defence on the back foot and trying to get back into position it gave Andrew Paterson easy pickings as he danced round a couple of defenders and touch down under the posts. He didnt have to wait to long for his next try either. Leith were on the front foot and were able to stretch the Inveleith defence on the bigger Academy Park surface, gaps were starting to appear, an when one of the Inverleith 'posts' was too far from the ruck and strayed offside it gave Andrew Paterson the perfect opportunity to snipe round the corner and run it in from 35ms. Dannfald converted both to make it 21-0.

Despite being on top on the scoresheet Leith were still making life a bit difficult for themselves as they gave away a few too many penalties which invited Inverleith to attack them. However the defence was holding firm and repelling the attack at every chance, set piece was becoming dominant with good work from Laurie, Cook and Connelly in the front row, whilst Neil Paterson and Luke Mckinney were being their usual disruptive and destructive selves when given the chance. Leith did lose MacIntosh to a Yellow card after the penalties mounted. Leith did repel the attack and get back on the front foot again and when Paterson broke through the middle of the park once again we thought there would only be one result. However instead of beating the full back for pace he drew the tackle and offloaded to his half back partner Ben Wilkinson who sprinted in from 35ms for Leith's bonus point try. With the conversion successful it meant the half time score was 28-0 and the message at half time was for more of the same but to cut out the penalties and silly mistakes and a score could be racked up.

However it was to be the opposite as the action got underway with Leith attacking Lochend Road. The tally of penalties and poor decisions was increasing which were giving the visitors vital field position and a chance to attack the Leith line. The defence was holding firm and not relenting until there was 1 driving maul to much and Inverleith scored in the corner. The same scenario repeated itself a few minutes later and despite both kicks being missed, which left the score as 28-10, there was a sense that another Inverleith score would bring them back into it with 20 minutes to play. There was a sense of urgency about the home sides play again which allowed wingers Steven Eadie and Ross Marwick to stretch their legs and put some pressure on the away team out wide, and it was the 2 wingers who played crucial parts in the 5th try. After Leith broke into the Inverleith 22m line, quickly recycled ball allowed Eadie to come in off his wing and attack in the middle of the field, his pace allowed him to get on the outside but was snagged 10ms out. More quick ball going the same way gave Wilkinson the chance to feed Marwick to go over the whitewash for a try.

The 6th Leith try was all down to the pressure in the Leith defence, from Inverleith attacking between Leith's 22m and 10m line the defence hassled and pressured the attack pushing them backwards and backwards again and again, Colin Marshall was being particularly instrumental in leading the defensive line and turn over the ball with the help of new boys Andy Homer and Cameron Whiteside on the flanks. This ed to the ball being coughed up in midfield and it gave Doug Watters the chance to give Mike Mcleish the chance to stretch his long legs and outpace their centre from 40ms for the try. This was the Straw that broke Inverleiths resistance as their heads went down and tiredness set in. From the resulting kick off Homer took a kick off and immediately made a few yards as he broke a few tackles, quick hands from Wilkinson, Murphy and MacIntosh who gave an expertly weighed pass to Watters who had the simple task of drawing the last man and popping off to Dannfald to score. Finally Leith's last try came as they attacked the wide channels through Barr and Dannfald. After the ball was forced back from the tackle it, Eoin Murphy was able to scoop the loose ball and go 75ms powering through the heart of Inverleith defence and stepping the full back to score. All converted to bring Leith's tally to 54.

There was still time left on the clock and Leith were keen to get a couple of more scores, however it was not to be as Inverleith had the last score of the day out in the corner after they made the pressure told. Final score Leith 54 - 17 Inverleith. Overall a good performance and result from the Leith team although still plenty to be working on before a tricky trip away to Inch Park next Saturday.

Some fantastic performances all over the park in the backs and the forwards. In the forwards, Colin Marshall in particular was fantastic in the unfamiliar surroundings of the 2nd row, he applied himself greatly, shoring up the set piece, organising the defence and doing some great work in the loose, However this week's Serrano Manchego Man of the Match goes to Ben Wilkinson for the way he was able to control the game and get both the backs and forwards firing in the the loose which helped put Inverleith to the sword.

Tries - A Paterson (2), Connelly, Wilkinson, Marwick, McLeish, Dannfald, Murphy
Conversions - Dannfald (6)
Serrano Manchego Man of the Match - Ben Wilkinson