Leith 77 - 7 Earlston

Match report by Kevin Greenan.

Leith welcomed Earlston to Academy Park on Saturday, and following last weekend’s limp defeat at Hawick, were hoping for a better result against another Borders team. They started strongly receiving the ball from the KO, and after the forwards took the ball on, clean ball allowed standoff Craig Smith to attack the line, playing a 1-2 with galavanting prop Bruce Connelly before putting openside Craig Alan over from close range. Smith missed the conversion for a 5-0 lead.

Earlston worked hard to keep the ball thereafter, and applied some pressure of their own, allowing them to break into the Leith 22. The visitors kept the phases going and were camped on Leith’s 5-meter line for some time, however resolute defending and great communication forced Earlston into a mistake – and after 14 phases of defence, Leith cleared their lines. Leith started to take control after that and Smith made another break but a good tackle from Earlston 15 stopped him 7 meters out – with Craig Williamson securing the ball, and a good ruck clear scrum half Fergal MacNamara floated a pass out wide for winger Ross Marwick to open his account for the afternoon. Conversion good from Smith, 12-0.

MacNamra then put up a box kick with Earlston’s defence flat and fullback Andrew Baxter collected the kind bounce and offloaded in the tackle from his opposing fullback, however Andy Homer knocked on with the tryline begging. It wasn’t long till the home side scored again however, as from a lineout on the Earlston 22, and another quick ruck, Smith fired wide to Doug Watters who beat the cover defence to score out wide. Conversion missed by Smith. 17-0. Leith put Earlston under pressure from the resulting restart, resulting in flanker Jamie Drummond charging down a clearance kick - Smith picked up the ball and passed to Watters who the ball to Doug who unselfishly put Marwick in for his second in the corner. Con missed Smith. 22-0.

With the bonus point secured Leith started to open up their play, and following a successful Smith penalty, and with the backs keen to run the ball at every opportunity, Andrew Paterson went close, being b undled into touch by the cover defence as he made for the line. Paterson was the instigator of Leith’s next score however, as quick thinking and a quick lineout thrown to Smith, who gave early ball to Baxter who broke two tackles in running 30m to score under the posts . Con good Smith. 32-0 HT.

Leith made changes at HT with Baxter making way for Kenny Dannfald who went to 10, and Smith to 15. Leith carried on were they left off in the first half, bringing in blindside winger Marwick onto the ball in midfield. The winger broke several tackles before passing to Dannfald who scored under the posts, converting his own try for 39-0. The forwards were enjoying their day around the breakdown, and were providing very clean ball at the ruck, releasing a backline now brimming in confidence, and shortly after a blind side sweep saw Marwick in for his hat-trick, before he made way for Nick Andrews.

Another strong scrum from Leith produced quick ball for the backs, with Dannfald putting left wing Paterson in on the opposite flank to score. 49-0. Leith were looking to keep a clean sheet but good pressure at the clearance kick from the visitors saw No9 replacement Somerville’s charged down and the visitors were on the board, 49-5/7 (we’re not sure).

Shortly after a gazelle-like break from lock Toby Kirkwood saw him run 20 metres before the Earlston defender managed to catch him he had options both sides but unfortunately the pass didn’t go to hand. Williamson was then rewarded for all his hard work in defence when he ran under the posts for the first of his two scores, the extras added by Dannfald for 56-5. Then after a great take from the restart from Forsyth put Leith back on the front foot again, hooker Craig Winton broke the line and galloped upfield, passing to Teixeira, who kept the momentum going bouncing off a few defenders before he was tackled 8 metres out, Sommerville sniping the try under the posts from the back of the ruck. Con good Dannfald, 63-5. More great control ball from Leith’s forwards again allowed Williamson to take a crash ball inside from Andrews to score, Con good Dannfald. 70-5. Leith’s final score came from the restart with some good offloading from the forwards creating space for Dannfald who had Andrews outside him but stepped back inside the defender to score, converting his second try for 77-5. All in, it was a great forwards performance who were dominant at set piece and the break down, allowing the backs to score 11 tries.

Leith: O’Neil (Wilson), Winton, Connelly, Paterson, Kirkwood (Forsyth), Drummond, Allan, Homer (Teixeira), MacNamara (Sommerville), Smith, Paterson, Williamson, Watters, Marwick (Andrews), Baxter (Dannfald)

Tries: Allan, Marwick (3), Watters, Baxter, Dannfald (2), Paterson, Sommerville, Williamson (2)
Conversions: Smith (2), Dannfald (5)
Penalty: Smith
Man of the Match: Ross Marwick for a hat-trick of tries.