Leith Rugby 20 - 8 Edinburgh Northern RFC

The first game at Academy Park in 2014 saw Edinburgh Northern make the short trip across the city. Leith, with memories of defeat to Trinity the week before and Northern earlier in the season, were looking to make amends for recent below par performances.

Leith didn’t leave their good pre game preparation in the dressing room and started the brighter of the two teams. Leith were starting to gain more and more possession and with it came territory with the visitors seldom coming into our half in the first 10 minutes. After more pressure the visitors conceded a penalty which Doug Watters duly slotted over to put Leith 3-0 up. The same pattern of position and territory formed the story of the next 20 minutes however Leith were failing to find a cutting edge to breakdown the stuffy Northern side. Two missed penalties saw the score remain at 3-0 deep into the 1st half.

By now Northern were starting to gain a foothold in the match, dominating at scrum time and working their way into the Leith half. A high kick from the Northern 10 put Toban Hunt under pressure which gave Northern a scrum 10m from the Leith line. Pressure at the scrum and the resulting pick up and drive proved too much for home defence and Northern got over for the score. The resulting conversion was missed meaning the score was 5-3. The kick off would be the last play of the half but the action wasn’t quite finished there.

After Northern regained the kick off and rumbled forward around the fringes, Leith forced a turnover through more accurate breakdown work and punched forward through two phases in the backs. From the second ruck in the middle of the pitch scrum half Ryan Burgess was able to pick the ball up and snipe round the side, putting him through 1 on 1 with the Northern fullback. Nimble footwork and good pace allowed him to beat his man and touchdown under the posts. The conversion put Leith 10 – 5 up at the break.

Half Time score: Leith 10 - 5 Edinburgh Northern

Leith knew they had to start the 2nd half with even more intensity than they did the first and find the cutting edge to break down the resilient Northern team. Possession and territory ebbed and flowed with neither team able to get a good grip on the match before Northern drew first blood when they were able to convert a penalty to reduce the lead to 2 points. This seemed to kick Leith into life, with the home side winning a penalty and a chance to notch 3 more points. Doug Watters penalty was successful to restore a precarious 5 point lead.

A return to action for Doddie McHardy and Robert Stitt helped to freshen the Leith forwards and ensure that the pressure was kept up on Northern moving into the last quarter. Some extended play deep in the Northern half resulted in a 1st and then a 2nd yellow card for some repeat infringing at the breakdown for the visitors. Leith declined these opportunities to have a shot at goal to have a go for try which would more than likely see them home and dry. The numerical advantage eventually paid off after some good, quick forward phase play producing space out in the backs and a stroll in for Craig Smith. Kenny Dannfald added the extras making the score 20 – 8 with 10 to go. Leith went hunting for another try but were not able to get over again.

Final score: Leith 20 - 8 Edinburgh Northern

Although there is plenty to work on and improve before next weeks match against Berwick this game represented one of Leith’s most controlled and complete performances so far this season. This must be the minimum standard for our remaining games this season with promotion-chasing Berwick travelling to Leith next week before a tough trip Dalkeith to play the champions elect.

Scorers:

Tries – Ryan Burgess, Craig Smith

Conv – Doug Watters, Kenny Dannfald

Penalties – Doug Watters (2)

MOTM – Ryan Burgess