Report by Sean Bates

Saturday the 25th of January saw the mighty Leith 3rd XV make the short trip to Inch Park for the third friendly against Lismore’s 2nd XV; with one game apiece there was everything to play for and there was the feeling of a league match as the two teams got into their warm ups.
After a bit of a delay as the three managers (Walkerburn also came to the party) worked out their starting XVs, Leith kicked off to start the proceedings.

The first 40 minutes saw a highly entertaining and evenly-matched game take shape. Lismore opened the scoring with two well-worked tries before the Leithers started to take control. Strong carries by propping duo Robert Stitt and Choo Lawrie made good metres around the ruck, while Richard Organ marshalled the backline to good effect.

Defensively Leith were starting to take shape under the command of Captain Fantastic Chris Jetuah, and the evergreen Keith Aitchison (MOTM) opened Leith’s account with the first of his three tries, racing away after intercepting a loose Lismore pass. Not to be outdone, Choo drove over not long after.

Out wide the backs were also starting to click; Jack Fraser and David Keogh linking up to good effect and Eoin Murphy's hard running lines earning him a try of his own. With five in the half, Stitto emerged from a well worked maul to earn his spot on the score-sheet, followed shortly by Calvyn Blyth crashing over for a half time score of 27-15.

Half time saw wholesale changes in the backline; pistol Pete Duncan coming off after a hard-fought 40 minutes (only to pop up two minutes later in a Lismore jersey!) and Alessio Recoveri coming on for his Leith debut.

The second half started how the first had ended, with Leith youngster Abdullah Mohamed hitting the gas on the wing for a try, and Leith kept up the good work, aided by excellent performances by all of our Walkerburn contingent as well as a massive 80 minute shift by Ross Wilson, who was hitting rucks and making carries from the first minute to the last. The final play saw Aitchy claim the last of his tries and not to be outdone by prop-turned-kicker Choo, nonchalantly knocked over his own conversion from the touch line. Final score 49 – 20.

A massive thanks to Lismore, Walkerburn, the ref, and all of the supporters who came down. It was great that the three clubs came together so that 40 guys could get a run around the paddock, and a excellent example of the way the game is meant to be played.