View from the touchline:
Waysiders/Drumpellier RFC - 0 Marr Rugby – 37
A steady, determined and composed performance netted Marr a well-deserved bonus point win against Waysiders/Drumpellier in a match played in very tricky conditions against a side fighting for league survival.
The pitch at Langloan is usually heavy and the recent run of poor weather made it particularly muddy, so much so that by the end of the match both sides looked as though they were in the middle of having mud bath treatments. Composure, strength, fitness and stamina would be the key to success.
The first quarter saw Marr press and test WD’s defences but no way through could be found. A combination of some resolute defensive play and mishaps at breakdown or in passing meant that Marr gained no advantage from their efforts. Marr’s attacking work rate was high and was matched by WD’s efforts in defence. Finally, just after the twenty minute mark, the breakthrough came after WD adjudged offside deep in their half and Rory McGee slotted a simple penalty to get the scoreboard started. From the restart Marr again camped in WD’s half, kept plugging way and were rewarded with another kickable penalty. With just over 30 minutes played Marr struck again, this time taking advantage of a line out near to WD’s line. A perfect take and driving maul led to Calumn Craig touching down.
This seemed to spark WD into offensive mode and they followed Marr’s lead by encamping deep in our half and started hammering our defence with a series of probes by their heavy pack of forwards. Marr’s defence was exceptional and repelled some thumping charges and bursts as WD edged closer and closer to the try line. Marr’s determination paid off when it was WD who finally surrendered possession to allow us to clear our lines and close the first half.
The first quarter of the second half was a case of strong WD defence neutralising Marr’s efforts as they tried to probe to find and exploit any weakness. Marr’s work rate remained high and on fifty minutes they got their reward with try number two. This was scored by Scott Bickerstaff and came from a well worked attack off a Marr scrum in midfield. WD’s defence, which had up to this point been very good, finally left enough space for Marr’s backs to create a gap and good support play enabled Scott clear a way through to touch down near the corner.
In response WD lifted their efforts and for the next ten minutes gave Marr’s defence a sound test but their efforts were to no avail. Solid tackling from everyone in purple and gold meant that the attacks were disrupted and WD were thwarted when Rory McGee sent a clearance kick deep into the other half to launch a counter attack. As WD fell back to recover the ball, Marr’s forwards and backs pounced. Steven Kirk was instrumental in Marr gaining possession and with WD still trying to scramble a defence, gaps opened, some quick handling saw the ball reach Scott Bickerstaff to allow him to sear in from 30 metres.
The score deflated WD. In attack they had offered their best shots but found Marr in no mood to give any quarter. In defence they had worked very well to stem the purple and gold onslaught but the pressure was finally telling. Stamina also began to play its part and Marr took advantage to run in two more scores in the final ten minutes.
Fraser Ferguson secured the bonus point after bursting through to start a midfield break. With supporting players on either shoulder he was able to slice a path through the WD defence, leave them in his wake and complete the thundering rhino charge for the line to touch down and celebrate his first try of the season.
Marr’s final score came just before the end of the match. Forwards and backs yet again combined well to cause havoc in WD’s defence and Scott Bickerstaff was on the end of the final pass to score and claim his third of the day.
The final whistle brought an end to a WD’s misery and allowed Marr’s players the opportunity to reflect on a well-deserved victory against stubborn opponents and won in very trying and challenging conditions.
Hard to pick a man of the match. Every one of Marr’s forwards followed Don Morrison and Paul Burke’s lead by tackling like demons and turning defence into attacking opportunities. Andrew Bate and Rory McGee skilfully and controlled our play and in the centre Gary Thomson made some significant contributions. Marr’s tries were well taken and came from a whole team contribution so my MOM is all of the Marr squad who spent time on the field. Hard work at training paid off handsomely with a great result.
At Langloan we showed that the future, albeit quite muddy, was still very much purple and gold.
