The final match in the first round of fixtures saw Marr Rugby welcome Dundee High to Fullarton. Last season the visitors gave Marr salutary lessons of life in NL1 in both the home and away fixtures. With the clubs starting the day sitting in joint second place and Dundee arriving with an impressive run of seven wins from their last eight matches behind them Marr would have started as bookies underdogs. Despite this Marr’s purple and gold army of supporters know that this is when their side is often at its most dangerous and so it came to pass.

Dundee’s pack is one of the biggest in the league and included prop Alan Brown, a former Glasgow Warriors and Barbarians capped player. In last season’s matches they dominated the set piece and Marr’s front row and back five knew they were in for a testing time. With Stephen Adair still unavailable through injury Ollie Rossi again started at hooker, Andy Kelly (sponsored by Paul Feeney) returned at prop and on the other side of the front row Pieter Killian started at loosehead. Winning a penalty from the first scrum it looked as though Dundee’s pack might again have the edge but Marr’s eight stepped up a gear and went on to hold their own and at times dominate.

Stand in captain Paul Burke was in great form and set the standard of determined play that the rest of Marr’s forwards and backs followed.

Early Marr pressure was rewarded after four minutes with a converted penalty. Almost immediately Dundee had a chance to level with a penalty advantage from the first scrum but the kick went wide. For the rest of the first quarter Marr enjoyed most of the possession and spent significant periods camped in Dundee’s 22m area. Marr’s pressure started to win penalties and at the end of the first quarter Dundee were reduced to 14 men as pacey winger Matacagi Ice was yellow carded.

Shortly afterwards Marr finally managed the breakthrough. Dundee had kicked to clear their lines and Rory McGee countered with a testing up and under that Stuart Howie (sponsored by Fusion Sportswear) raced onto and collected. He was tackled just short of the line and Dundee’s cover defence was forced to carry over and concede a 5m scrum. Taking full advantage of the extra man Marr stretched the defence and Rory McGee managed to shrug off a tackle and score a converted try. Eight minutes later Scott Bickerstaff added a second after good interplay involving Colin Sturgeon and Angus Johnston created an opening that he sliced through and touched down. The first half ended with no further score.

The opening phases of the second half were evenly balanced as Dundee started to enjoy more attacking possession. As they pressed home an attack in Marr’s 22m area they gained a penalty after Stuart Howie infringed and was yellow carded for handling in a ruck. Dundee opted to kick to touch and winning possession from the close range lineout Alan Brown’s charge was unstoppable. Despite being reduced in numbers Marr bounced back and quickly added two converted penalties.

During the final quarter Marr turned up the screw and once again Dundee was forced into desperate defence. They had some rare attacking opportunities but these were disrupted by good pressure from Marr in loose play and at set-pieces with Kris Kirk and Angus Johnston both doing some great plundering work in the lineouts.
With five minutes remaining Marr scored a final try. The move started deep in their 22m area after a Dundee attack was stopped and turnover ball secured. Ben Johnston set off on a trademark charge. He put in a deft chip kick that he then ran on to collect and made a further 25m before being tackled. Quick recycling from Kyle Vallance and Grant Baird released Scott Bickerstaff at full tilt down his wing and he took play to just short of Dundee’s 22m area before being tackled. Keeping the momentum going Grant Baird was able to spread the ball wide and Conor Bickerstaff took full advantage of the available space to race in fend off the final defender and touch down.

The match ended with no further score. Marr’s team performance was one of the most consistent of the season so far. Support and pressure play in defence and attack was very good and more often than not passing was crisp and precise. The win was hard earned but well deserved and as Marr now look to the start of the return legs of the season gives the side a good platform to move on from.

Marr man of the match: Paul Burke (sponsored by Wheelie Clean)

Marr scorers
Tries: Rory McGee (1), Scott Bickerstaff (1) and Conor Bickerstaff (1)
Conversions: Colin Sturgeon (2)
Penalties Colin Sturgeon (3)

Next fixtures – Saturday 28th November (2pm kick-offs)
1s – home v GHA
2s – home v GHA
3s – away v Whitecraigs 2s