Leith 24 - 15 Langholm, Saturday 10th February 2018

Leith came into Saturday’s game with Langholm on the back of 2 defeats, and due to the Christmas break and predictable winter cancellations, looking for a first competitive 1st XV win since late November. The visitors from the ‘Muckle Toon’ have had an outstanding season, and came into the game in 3rd position in the table.

Following a horror show performance at home to Edinburgh University Medics last time out, a fortnight of hard work had followed to set the team back on track, and the Leithers began brightly, with the pack building phases well and setting a strong platform for halfbacks, Fergal MacNamara and Kenny Dannfald to ensure Leith played the opening 20 in the right areas. The centres, Robbie Allen and Ross Kilgour, also got themselves into the game, breaking the gainline to set up good field position. Shortly afterwards however, a miscommunication in defence resulted in Langholm gathering their own kick and chase, and a Leith infringement at the breakdown gave the visitors standoff the opportunity to level the scores, which he duly did.

Despite being camped in the Langholm half, and 22 for much of the opening quarter, all the Leithers had to show for it was a Dannfald penalty, cooly knocked over 10 minutes in. That was until just over 20 minutes in, and after some powerful carrying deep in the visitors 22, from Jamie Drummond, Choo Lawrie, and captain Stuart Wilson, number 8 Luke McKinney picked up at the base of the ruck and stretched out on impact to dot the ball down over the line for the game’s opening try, converted by Dannfald for a 10-3 lead. Following a missed penalty attempt in the dying embers of the 1st half, it was a 7-point lead which the home side took into the break.

With Leith fairly dominant in the set-piece, scrummaging well, and with Fraser Forsyth dominant in the lineout, and the back row and centres securing ruck ball, the half-time message was more of the same, and despite some injury troubles early in the 2nd stanza, George Lees replacing Ross Kilgour, with debutant Patrick Campbell moving to centre, and the timeless Willie Cook coming on for Winton, Leith kept the foot on the peddle.

Another barnstorming run from McKinney, saw the number 8 offload to fellow Ulsterman Wilson, and the loosehead-playing-tighthead crashed over near the posts, to bring delight to the Leith touchline. Dannfald’s conversion moving the Leithers 17-3 ahead. It was a margin which was short-lived however, as Langholm began to make gains out wide, and despite some excellent cover defence from the likes of Lees, Campbell and fullback Andrew Paterson, eventually the pressure told and Langholm moved the ball from a tap penalty to go over in the corner through their right winger, to cut the lead to 17-8.

Leith kept a cool head however, and with scrumhalf MacNamara kicking well, were able to capitalise from a long clearing kick to touch, with Leith securing a penalty at the resulting Langholm lineout. From here the forwards rumbled towards the line, and McKinney again picked and went to shove his way over the line under the posts for a converted try and a 24-8 lead with under 20 to play.

Langholm were to score again, going over near the posts for a converted score, not long after lock Forsyth had gone to the bin, but the honours would go to the home side, and after a considerably improved Leith showing, a final score of 24-15 was ample reward for a performance dripping in effort, determination, and control.

Special mention to the man of the match, Andy MacIntosh who, along with the returning Cook, and Ben Place demonstrated the commitment to the breakdown that has typified Leith sides down the years. MacIntosh in particular was immense over the ball, ensuring there was plenty of it for the young(er) guys to play with!

Thanks to Langholm for a game played in good spirits, and best wishes for the rest of the season in the top 6.

Leith will now compete in the middle 5 section of the elongated East Division 2, and with the fixtures reversed from the first portion of the season, will finish with 4 home games, against Inverleith, Penicuik, Earlston and Gala YM.

Leith Scores
Tries: Luke McKinney (2), Stuart Wilson
Conversions: Kenny Dannfald (3)
Penalty: Kenny Dannfald
Man of the Match: Andy MacIntosh

Leith: 1 Choo Lawrie, 2 Craig Winton (16 Willie Cook), 3 Stuart Wilson, 4 Fraser Forsyth, 5 Ben Place (18 Reece Barclay), 6 Andy MacIntosh, 7 Jamie Drummond, 8 Luke McKinney; 9 Fergal MacNamara, 10 Kenny Dannfald, 11 Patrick Campbell, 12 Robbie Allen, 13 Ross Kilgour (20 George Lees), 14 Jon Derrin (21 Owen Jenkins), 15 Ben Wilkinson (22 Andrew Paterson). Not used: 17 Paul Allison, 19 Michele Crolla.