13-try win at Walkerburn

Leith made the trip to Walkerburn last Saturday in another rearranged fixture, originally postponed in February. One of the most picturesque places to play in Scotland, Walkerburn are a difficult opponent on any occasion, but particularly on home turf, and so the Leithers travelled south conscious that nothing but a fully-focussed performance would lead to the desired result.

Leith started well, with good hands on first phase ball seeing Doug Watters put Dave Robertson over from outside the 22, before Keith Aitchison stormed onto a ball from Alessandro Bettini to put Robertson in again. Walkerburn’s flyhalf for the day landed a long-range penalty before Chris Johnson got in on the try-scoring, collecting a pass from Ben Wilkinson to dot down, before searing pace from second row David Meadows saw him dive over in the corner. The completion of Robertson’s hat-trick and two typically pacey Ryan Burgess scores rounded off the tries in the first half, with 4 conversions from Wilkinson resulting in a half time score of 43-3.

Half Time: Walkerburn 3 – Leith 43

After Johnson came off his wing to go 50 metres for the first try of the second half, Leith dropped off slightly and allowed Walkerburn two scores of their own, earned through excellent pick-and drive work at the fringe of the ruck, the resulting pressure leading to a yellow card for Robertson.

Watters then scored backing up a good break from Kenny Dannfald, before Mark Phillips charged off a ball from a short lineout to carve up 30 metres, and after being tackled just short of the line, popped to Pete Mitchell for his first try for the club. At this point the Walkerburn stand-off was red-carded for abuse of the match official.

Dannfald then jinked his way over after a quick lineout from Craig Smith, before scrum half Bettini scored on a big dummy from the back of the scrum, then broke the line again to put halfback partner Wilkinson in for his first Leith try.

Full Time: Walkerburn 13 – Leith 79 (although Ben will argue 83!)

Tries: D Robertson (3), C Johnson (2), R Burgess (2), D Meadows, D Watters, P Mitchell, K Dannfald, A Bettini, B Wilkinson.

Conversions: B Wilkinson 7 / 9

Leith: Kenny Dannfald (people’s captain), Ryan Burgess, Dave Robertson, Doug Watters (delegated captain), Chris Johnson (Craig Smith 60), Ben Wilkinson, Alessandro Bettini, Craig Winton, Willie Cook (Grant Aitken 40), Paul Allison (Robert Stitt 50), Mark Phillips, David Meadows (Ian Briscoe 65), Pete Mitchell, Russell Smith (Greg Hancock 40), Keith Aitchison (Shuggie Rodden 40).

Sub not used: Patrick Duignan