Leith 8 - 7 Penicuik

In conditions on Saturday that would've been described as dreich in the Amazon nevermind Leith, we welcomed Penicuik to Academy Park for the last game of 2013. Leith were hoping to round off a great year for the club with a win, and go into 2014 with the top half rather than the bottom half of the table in view.

Leith began the game 'with the wind', (although with the swirling gusts, it was sometimes hard to decipher which side had the advantage in each half) and set up camp in their visitor's half of the field seeking to build a lead. Some stout defending from the Midlothian side, as well as some understandable handling errors in attack saw Leith continually frustrated, and Penicuik improved field position in the second twenty with some good pick and drive play and a strong lineout, to threaten themselves. The home side were disappointed to end the half at 0-0, knowing they'd blown some good opportunities, both for tries as well as the short-range penalties which they elected to run, or kick to touch. A tough second half was in store.

However it was Leith who began the second half the brighter, twice going close to the line, including once being held up over it, before Kenny Dannfald kicked a penalty awarded for hands in the ruck near the try line, to lead 3-0. The visitors played rugby in the Leith half whenever possible, and forced their hosts to run it back, with any kicking often producing farcical results. It was from a long kick into the Leith 22 that saw Penicuik score the opening try in somewhat freakish circumstances, with Craig Smith unlucky to see his volleyed clearance end up in the arms of the visitor's winger who did very well to claim it at such close range and score near the posts. The resulting conversion (no gimme either given the conditions) was knocked over and the visitors led 7-3 at the hour mark.

Credit to everyone in blue and white for their response, sticking together to run everything back at the opposition, first forcing a penalty which was missed, before a great break from substitute Lucas Shearon gave Leith the field position required to seek a winning try in the dying minutes. With 2 minutes remaining Leith turned over the ball and went wide, and some good hands from Dannfald fed centre Dave Robertson who set up Ryan Burgess 40 metres out. Burgess did exceptionally well to outpace the covering Penicuik defence and score in the corner to great cheers from teammates and the brave souls on the touchline. After the conversion was missed, Leith held on for the final minute to win a hard-fought, but good-spirited game 8-7.

Summer rugby. Please.

Team:

15 Kenny Dannfald, 14 Andy Barr, 13 Dave Robertson, 12 Doug Watters, 11 Craig Smith, 10 Ben Wilkinson, 9 Ryan Burgess

1 Cal McKay, 2 Craig Winton, 3 Colin Marshall, 4 Ben Place, 5 Mark Phillips (CAPT), 6 Pete Mitchell, 7 Neil Paterson, 8 David Meadows

16 Willie Cook, 17 Jack Whyman-Farina, 18 Jamie Martin, 19 Andy MacIntosh, 20 Greg Hancock, 21 Lucas Shearon, 22 Steven Eadie.

Scorers:

Penalty: Kenny Dannfald
Try: Ryan Burgess

Man of the Match: Colin Marshall