Leith welcomed their derby rivals Trinity to Academy Park for their first home game of the regular season. Having already played two games away to Livingston and Inverleith, the Leith boys were keen to break in their home pitch. The pitch itself had been heavily molested by foxes over the summer and many holes in the turf had to be filled in promptly before the festivities of the clubs Rugby Force day were to get underway.

As the 2nd XV played the first of the Rugby Force doubleheader, a select few of the 1st XV gathered at Leith Links to carry out a Litter Pick as a club contribution to the community. After the Links were cleared of various cans and used condoms, the team turned the game faces on.

Leith had won two of the three encounters against Trinity the prior year, with the boys in black taking the spoils in the cup but the boys in blue sneaking a win at Raeburn Place and then an absolute demolition of Trinity at Academy Park, featuring the try of the season by Dave Sommerville. Trinity were struggling at the end of the previous season, but this would not be the case on this occasion.

Just as the game was about to kick off the wind picked up, providing difficult conditions for kicking - but more of that later.

Ross Johnston got the game underway and Trinity took the ball from the kick-off. Sending their big mobile forwards into the Leith defence, they were able to slowly gain ground. Leith hadn’t fully woken up yet and began giving away some silly penalties at the ruck. Trinity were able to kick the ball down to the Leith 5m line. Having shut out Trinity at Academy Park last year, Leith were looking to emulate the defensive performance once more. It was not to be. The big unit of a bloke that Trinity had in their pack took the ball from the 5m line and charged over the try line for the score. Trinity 5-0.

Shortly after Johnston was able to shorten the deficit with a penalty in front of the posts shortly after to make the score Trinity 5-3.

The next notable moment of the match came shortly after the Leith penalty. Double Man of the Match and resident coach briber, Scott McAteer, was shown the cheese by the referee for trying to offer to have his eyes tested for a discount price (probably). Hero to Zero for optician Scotty Mac. His herculean task of man of the match in every game this season all but ended after only game 3, as he went to the bin. Trinity took the three points on offer. Trinity 8-3.

Despite being down to 14 men, it was Leith to next make the scoresheet. Another 3 pointer from "Magic" Johnston kept the Leithers close. Trinity 8-6.

Coach Kev’s heart skipped a beat when Trinity were able to muscle their way over for another try after they managed to get the ball down into Leith territory once more. This Trinity performance was a far cry from their performance at the tail end of last season. Much improved and they were deservedly winning the match by this point. Trinity 15-8.

On minute 23, returning 2nd XV back up reserve scrum half David Sommerville picked up from the ruck and threw a lovely pass to Josh Campey. Josh managed to break the tackle of Dobby the house elf on the wing and passed the ball to Nick Andrews, playing out of his best position, on the wing. Andrews charged up the wing and drew in the last defender. He gave the boy a wink before popping a lovely ball inside to Andrew Baxter to sprinted passed him and then round the cover defence to score. Baxter finally on the scoresheet for the season. Magic drilled the conversion. Trinity 15-13.

Leith won the ball back from the kick-off after a well taken tap back from the forwards and into the hands of Andrews. The forwards strung a few phases together and Sommerville managed to use the quick ball to release the backs. The Leith backs outnumber the Trinity backs by 5-2 and the Leith backline casually passed the ball along the line with a walk-in try awaiting the winger, Ben Wilkinson. Ben 10, not to be confused with popular children’s character Ben 10, caught the ball and moonwalked over the try line before producing a tinny from his shorts and downed the whole thing… is what I wish I could say. Unfortunately, Ben dropped the ball as it worked its way wide. A certain try, butchered. Ben would make up for his blunder later on.

Trinity scored another penalty on 40 mins to end the half. Half time score; Trinity 18-13.

The second half had lots in store for the capacity crowd of maybe 100 people. Leith received the ball and immediately worked their way down the field. The Trinity defence had half gaps everywhere and every Leith ball carrier was making yards. Ben 10 made a huge break and was brought down short of the line. The forwards were pushing phase after phase on the try line before quick ball out to the backs. The ball ended up in the hands of Baxter and instead of returning the favour and passing to Andrews he selfishly walked in under the sticks for his second of the day. The team celebrated; Andrews teared up. Magic kicked the points after. Leith 20-18.

Leith started the second half as Trinity started the first. Being the dominant side and putting the opposition under lots of pressure. Handling mistakes from both sides would stop the game regularly and silly high tackling penalties from Leith kept Trinity in their half. Despite being ordered not to open their mouths in the second half by Coach Kev, 2nd XV back up reserve scrum half, Sommerville took exception to his and asked the referee: “Can you help out at the half marathon next weekend?” The whistler showed him the yellow card faster than Kev could drink a bottle of wine and Leith were once again back to 14 men.

Trinity were able to stay in the Leith half and keep the pressure on. They were finally rewarded with 8 minutes to go when Trinity centre, Tom Brady, threw a forward pass over the Leith defence. Andrews was unable to play the ball and the Unit from the first Trinity try once again crashed his way over for the third try of the game for the men from Bangholm. Conversion was good. Trinity 25-20.

Sommerville was back on the park for the final minutes of the game, with Leith trailing at home with 3 minutes to go. Leith bombarded their way down to the Trinity 22 and were applying all sorts of pressure on the visiting defence. The defenders were being sucked in and the ball was played out to the wing. Ben 10 caught it, hooray, and charged through two defenders to touch the ball down right in the corner on the last play of the game. The Leith boys were jubilant. 25-25 was the score and they had salvaged at least a draw from the game.

Magic Johnston walked back 40 yards and placed the ball on the tee. This kick was to be tough. He took his usually number of steps back and across. He proceeded to stare down the posts, and the opposition before letting fly. The ball flew straight between the uprights and Leith had won the game 27-25. The Leith team all charged towards Magic in complete ecstasy. Magic, being the humble gent, he is, refused to celebrate until he shook the hands of his opponents. He whispered “from downtown” to every Trinity player. (He didn't)

Final Score 27-25 to Leith.

North Berwick up next in two weeks. North Berwick will be one of the teams fighting for top spot and will be a major threat to Leith. Magic Johnston isn’t worried though - he'll be in Japan keeping Finn Russell out the side.