A Single Point of Difference
Perthshire 28 – 27 Murrayfield Wanderers
‘Shire survive late fightback to regain the Adam Pattinson Memorial Cup.
After the storms of recent weeks the rain paused and the sun shone on the North Inch. In still, bright conditions the second half of the league fixtures began. Perthshire frustrated sit second from bottom as they have let too many get away in the dying minutes. A large crowd assembled in anticipation of another close match between the two sides as they competed for the Adam Pattinson Memorial Cup.
Perthshire kicked off and over the 10m Tom Colvin jumped up high using all his height to gain control. The Black & White shirts surged forward, driven by a series of storming carries from Kieran Maclean. With the penalty advantage scrum half Lewis Murrie sniped down the side of the ruck getting in behind, then a series of short plays by the pack were completed by Ben Marshall barging over for a try. Calum Bruce added the extras, 7-0.
With their first attack Murrayfield Wanderers exploited a huge space on the blindside to cover 50m, the winger only stopped by a brilliant John Kelly cover tackle. Perthshire then went back up the pitch courtesy of Ross Goodison. Taking a quick penalty the players were too excited and spilt the ball in the tackle. Whether the tackler was back the 10m or not the referee waved play on and, on the counter, Murrayfield span it out to the other winger who chipped kick downfield and won the foot race to score an unconverted try.
The whole match was a fairly even affair, probing plays by both teams were not making much headway. Murrayfield tried a long kick and, without panic, Thomas Pounder dived first to save it at the try line then was aided by prompt support to clear. It was short-lived as a high tackle gifted Wanderers a lineout 5m out. A further penalty at the next play was taken quickly and they crossed the whitewash and kicked the points, 7-12.
‘Shire fired right back into it, Tom Colvin winning a penalty from the restart. Murrayfield this time infringed at the lineout in their 22 and the Eagles opted for the scrum. James Mair picked from the base was held but offloaded to Dan Rae who was repelled, just, by the defence. A few quick phases then a switch to the blind side and James Mair finished it with a try. Calum Bruce on target retook the lead for Perthshire, 14-12.
The momentum was with Perthshire but they struggled to finish it off. Promising runs and attacks by Aidan Watson, Laurence Knight and Ross Goodison were not backed up quickly enough. However, the penalty count was against Murrayfield and ‘Shire were given a few more attacking chances, Calum Bruce next to go close, losing the ball in the tackle as he went to score.
The ’Shire scrum was in ascendancy and after another series of opportunities missed, the pressure exerted held in the Wanderers pack. The ball sent out to the right, the forwards went round the corner a couple of times pulling across their opposite numbers, then Lewis Murrie switched the play back to John Kelly who came off his wing, hit a sweet line and muscled over. The angle was favourable for Calum Bruce to extend the lead further, 21-12.
The half ended with the Eagles under some pressure as Murrayfield sought to pull a score back before the break. Sufficient controlled aggression in defence, exemplified by Man of the Match Rhys Darlington, forced Wanderers into mistakes and the referee signalled for half time.
It was a reversal of the penalty count in the opening exchanges. Perthshire were surrendering territory and possession with poor decisions and numerous infringements. Eventually Aidan Watson broke the siege and ‘Shire sprinted after him. Some quick hands and offloads took the play into the 22, then the ball kicked for the chase. Wanderers got to it first but the referee returned for the penalty. However the following lineout was overthrown and Edinburgh team now started to work their way back.
Stretched the ‘Shire line was just holding then the referee sent Captain Calum Chalmers to the sin bin for what he judged a deliberate knock on. With the man advantage Wanderers opted for the scrum. Shell-shocked the defence was soft, as weak tackles allowed in a simple first phase try. Unconverted the lead was cut to less than a score, 21-17.
After a solid shift, Kieran Maclean, was replaced by Cameron Craig who came into a team gone soft and conceding easy metres in defence. Backpedalling the Black & White shirts were disorganised and things looked ominous. Until up stepped James Mair who jackaled to win a penalty and like a switch the belief returned to 14-man Perthshire who could tackle and defend again. Murrayfield were throwing what they could but with little to no inroads now, Vice-Captain Simon McGarry leading by example as his players rallied.
The 7-man scrum won a penalty and momentum was back with Perthshire. The bench came on welcoming AJ Guthrie, Aedan Milne and Adrian Venter to the action. Soon the 10 minutes were up and Calum Chalmers was back on too.
The ‘Shire attacks were making ground but with nothing to show for it. Changing tactic to exploit space tight to ruck, Lewis Murrie & James Mair were causing chaos in the Wanderers defence. The visitors erred too many times and had a player show yellow and sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes after repeated infringements.
Opting for the scrum the pack heaved forward, Rhys Darlington & Cameron Craig bettering their opposite props. Out to the backs, AJ Guthrie delayed the pass to Laurence Knight who got through and battled 2 attempted tacklers to score. Taking over the kicking duties AJ Guthrie converted, 28-17.
Recently ‘Shire have conspired to snatch defeat for the jaws of victory, while there were many on the sidelines hoping this would not happen, the penalty count mounted against the home team. Murrayfield, with only 14 men, used the penalties to get into the 22. Taking a quick tap, a bounce pass to the winger stalled the defence enough for some nifty footwork to dance through and touchdown out wide, unconverted there were just 6 points in it, 28-22.
With less than 10 minutes remaining ‘Shire were making it hard and constantly on the backfoot. Restored to 15, Wanderers seized their opportunities. Only a last gap James Mair effort to dive on a kick stopped another try. Losing patience the referee decided Lewis Murrie was offside once too often and shown yellow.
There were tired bodies on both sides but Murrayfield kept on pushing for the winning score. The Eagles were holding on but eventually the line was stretched too thin and breached. The conversion would take the lead, but the kick struck the post and ‘Shire were still in front, 28-27.
There were 2 minutes left, and the restart went short. Wanderers had the midfield scrum and the extra player. They got into the ‘Shire half and within range, but the discipline held and Adrian Venter seized the moment to pounce and win a ruck penalty.
Perthshire booted it down but then fluffed the lineout. This was compounded by a few more penalties and Murrayfield were back in ‘Shire territory. The final plays were desperate, Wanderers trying & probing everywhere, the Eagles tackling while trying to maintain iron discipline. Eventually with the 22 beckoning the ball was knocked on the referee consulted his watch and blew for full time.
Exhaustion from both sides was the main response. Even the supporters took a bit of time for their heart-rates to come down. Outscored by 5 tries to 4 it was the assured kicking of Calum Bruce & AJ Guthrie that was the difference. Having clapped their opponents off the pitch Perthshire gathered and Claire Pattinson presented Calum Chalmers with the Adam Pattinson Memorial Cup.
This was the last of 3 matches to conclude on the North Inch. In the earlier kick-off the Colts put up a strong fight but after an even first half were overrun by 10-50 by Melrose Wasps. The Eagles (2XV) lost 7-70, following numerous injuries the match ended up 12-a-side against Strathmore 2XV. The sole try scored by Hector Inglis, converted by Mikey Evans. Despite those results both teams put out full squads and player numbers have started to build.
Next week the Men’s teams are both away: the 1XV travel down to Stewartry; while the Eagles trip takes them to Bo’ness. These matches will be targeted for wins. Head Coach Smudge has plenty to build on and areas to tighten up as the teams seek to convert more opportunities into victories.
Photos taken by Football East Region.
