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Marr Rugby  Fixtures & Results

View from the touchline:

Well done to the 3rd XV - a great effort!

Meanwhile in a much drier Castle Douglas...

Stewartry RFC 8                                Marr Rugby 32

Better

Marr’s trip to Greenlaw was fruitful with an improved performance that netted a bonus point win courtesy of four tries, scored by Paul Burke, Scott Bickerstaff and Connor Bickerstaff (2).

We got off to a perfect start when within five minutes we were a score ahead. Stewartry infringed and from the resultant penalty we set our stall out and a perfect kick to the corner from Rory McGee set up an attacking lineout.  A textbook catch and driving maul allowed Paul Burke to choose when he wanted to break and despite the efforts of two defenders he was unstoppable.

For most of the first half Marr continued to dominate possession and territory but with little reward.   Stewartry’s defence was sorely tested but held well and at other times our final pass let us down.  Stewartry had few chances to test our defence but took one very well when a break from their standoff cut a perfect line and earned a well deserved try.   As the first half came to a close Marr’s efforts finally bore fruit when Sean Reddox, who had a very good match, stripped the ball during a tackle and set up a counter-attack that attack that saw Marr breakthrough midfield and Connor Bickerstaff receive the ball in sufficient space to mesmerise the defence and score from thirty metres, with Rory converting.  From the restart Stewartry bounced back and earned a kickable penalty that was converted. Marr closed the first half with another great attacking move that was thwarted by Stewartry infringing and Rory converted the penalty kick to give an 8 – 17 advantage at half time.

Shortly after the start of the second half the lead was further stretched with another perfect penalty kick from Rory McGee.  The final half hour saw Marr maintain the pressure on Stewartry’s defence and gain the reward of two further tries.  Number three was scored by Scott Bickerstaff and followed some great team play.  A rare Stewartry attack was broken up and Dougie Steele launched a howitzer clearance kick from Marr’s half that ended up deep in Stewartry’s twenty-two.  Marr’s lineout, which worked extremely well throughout the game, pinched the ball from the throw-in and after a couple of phases of forward drives the ball was released to the backs.  Quick ball down the line was fed to Scott who blitzed in to touchdown in the corner, despite some heroic attempts to stop him.   Marr’s bonus point try was scored ten minutes later by Connor Bickerstaff and again it was the end product of great team play to break through the stubborn defence.  

In the final quarter Marr kept plugging away and deserved reward for their efforts but to no avail.  This included a fabulous break from man of the match Andrew Bate who made a telling break from a scrum midway in Stewartry’s half to take play up to and over their try line. He was supported by Sean Reddox and their efforts deserved a try but with the referee unsighted, Marr had to make do with a scrum.

Bits that worked well – the lineout with Steven and Kris Kirk plundering Stewartry’s put in at will and along with Fraser Grant winning great ball at our put ins;  Robert Kennedy toasting his opposite number; the front five who worked their socks off; the back row who scavenged with great hunger; our half backs who controlled the game very well; the back line who kept plugging away and at times were perfect in timing and decision making.  All credit goes to Stewartry for doing their utmost to thwart Marr’s attacks and it was these efforts that kept the score restricted to just four tries.

A good day out for those who enjoy watching rugby.

The future is a wee bit brighter...

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