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Marr Rugby round up: Marr’s never give up mentality rewarded to snatch victory with final kick
Kevin Quinn11 Nov 2014 - 18:15
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Marr Rugby 1st XV match report
Marr Rugby round up: Marr’s never give up mentality rewarded to snatch victory with final kick
BT National League 1 Biggar RFC – 16 Marr Rugby – 17
Marr Rugby’s first away win of the season brought four vital points to add to their tally for the season so far and keep them in eighth place. With the midway point approaching five clubs, including Marr, are battling for every point to make sure they remain above the lower reaches of the league table.
Biggar is amongst the group of five clubs and playing at home in soft and wet conditions their experienced side would have fancied their chances against a young and mixed experienced Marr squad which included Ollie Rossi, Danny Clark, Ali Walker and making his 1st XV squad debut Matt Skeoch. Notable absentees included influential Paul Burke, Stephen Adair, Aaron Rankin and Johnny McLung. Marr though benefited from the continuing availability of Ben Johnston and D’arcy Rae.
Ground conditions and worsening weather with heavier rain falling as the match progressed meant that this was always going to be a forwards dominated battle. Biggar’s front row included Polish internationalist Craig Bachurzewske and former Currie player Donald Voas so a real test awaited Marr’s ‘Rhino’ Fraser Ferguson and D’arcy Rae. Phil Siave switched to hooker to cover for Adair and in the early stages of the game Marr quickly showed they were a match for their experienced opponents.
Marr’s pack was driven on by Scott Nimmo who bounded about the field as if it was a spring day and set the benchmark that partner Kris Kirk followed and Marr’s dynamic back row of Fraser Grant, Kyle Vallance and with a man of the match performance Ben Johnston excelled with some superb tackling and dynamic play in the loose.
Marr’s starting backs line up of Grant Baird, Gregor Ness, Andrew Gault, Colin Sturgeon, Andrew Mill, Scott Bickerstaff and Rory McGee quickly realised the conditions meant lean times for slick attacking opportunities and that defensive lines needed to be solid.
After an opening five minutes where Marr started strongly it was Biggar that opened the scoring. Openside flanker Lewis McLachlan pounced on a poor lineout to secure the ball and burst through deep into Marr territory. Scramble defence managed to stop his charge but at the cost of a penalty that was in easy kicking range. The score sparked some added intensity into Biggar’s play and after fifteen minutes they added a second penalty after Marr infringed at a breakdown. More misery followed as Marr failed to properly deal with and secure the ball following the restart. In one of the few flowing bursts of the match Biggar centre Andrew King broke through Marr’s midfield and the move ended with a try scored in the corner. The conversion was missed and suddenly Marr were left facing an uphill struggle. Coach Craig Redpath and Scott Nimmo (sponsored by Jim McGuffie) passed on some words of counsel and wisdom as Marr re-grouped. This time from the restart there was no mistake and Marr immediately responded with their first score. The forwards took play back into Biggar territory and as the defence started to slow the advance Ben Johnston collected an offload and went on a 40 metre rampage; shrugging off tackles and carrying defenders as he charged towards the line to score. From an awkward angle Rory McGee slotted home the extra points.
The second quarter of the match was scoreless. Both sides had opportunities but defences held firm and cancelled each other out.
Biggar started the second half very strongly and pressured Marr’s defence. They quickly won a penalty and opted to kick to the corner for an attacking lineout. They attacked the narrow side but found no way through. Retaining possession they quickly spread the ball into midfield and once again centre King was the key to finding a way to unlock Marr’s defence as Biggar added a second try near to the posts. A simple conversion was on offer but the kicker failed to convert in what turned out to be a critical moment of the match.
Just after the hour mark Marr’s forwards and backs finally got the opportunity to play in some space. From midfield they spread play into Biggar territory and Scott Bickerstaff managed to get on the outside of the defence to score in the corner. Rory McGee added the extra points with another superb kick from a wide angle.
Over the following fifteen minutes both sides effectively cancelled each other out. Whether the worsening weather conditions or the tension and nervousness were deciding factors both sides struggled to win their own lineout ball. Excellent tackling by both teams seemed to be taking the match into deadlock as the closing stages approached. However Marr’s youngsters stuck in and pressured the home side. With less than five minutes remaining Marr won a penalty and the kick took play to Biggar’s 22m line. The throw in exorcised earlier errors as Marr’s pack perfectly gathered and set up a rolling maul. This chundered forward and as momentum was gained some of Marr’s backs joined in to add to the drive. In desperate defence to protect their line Biggar illegally pulled the maul down and were penalised. From a wide angle and in driving rain Rory McGee’s kick appeared to make it through the posts but the match officials disagreed and Biggar’ players and fans breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Entering the final play Marr fielded the restart kick well and immediately pressured Biggar’s line with another juggernaut maul. Once again some of Marr’s backs added their support to the purple and gold throng and Biggar were forced to bring down the maul as the try line beckoned. With time up Marr had little option but to opt for a kick at goal and Rory McGee was left to have the final say on the result of the match. His kick from out wide perfectly split the posts and this time the match officials agreed and added three points before sounding the full-time whistle to give Marr the win.
This was a hard fought and evenly matched contest but Marr’s tenacity gave them the slight edge and earned four vital points.
Marr’s man of the match: Ben Johnston (sponsored by Purple and Gold Futures)
Marr scorers
Tries: Ben Johnston (1) and Scott Bickertsaff (1)
Conversions: Rory McGee (2)
Penalty: Rory McGee (1)
BT National League 1 Biggar RFC – 16 Marr Rugby – 17
Marr Rugby’s first away win of the season brought four vital points to add to their tally for the season so far and keep them in eighth place. With the midway point approaching five clubs, including Marr, are battling for every point to make sure they remain above the lower reaches of the league table.
Biggar is amongst the group of five clubs and playing at home in soft and wet conditions their experienced side would have fancied their chances against a young and mixed experienced Marr squad which included Ollie Rossi, Danny Clark, Ali Walker and making his 1st XV squad debut Matt Skeoch. Notable absentees included influential Paul Burke, Stephen Adair, Aaron Rankin and Johnny McLung. Marr though benefited from the continuing availability of Ben Johnston and D’arcy Rae.
Ground conditions and worsening weather with heavier rain falling as the match progressed meant that this was always going to be a forwards dominated battle. Biggar’s front row included Polish internationalist Craig Bachurzewske and former Currie player Donald Voas so a real test awaited Marr’s ‘Rhino’ Fraser Ferguson and D’arcy Rae. Phil Siave switched to hooker to cover for Adair and in the early stages of the game Marr quickly showed they were a match for their experienced opponents.
Marr’s pack was driven on by Scott Nimmo who bounded about the field as if it was a spring day and set the benchmark that partner Kris Kirk followed and Marr’s dynamic back row of Fraser Grant, Kyle Vallance and with a man of the match performance Ben Johnston excelled with some superb tackling and dynamic play in the loose.
Marr’s starting backs line up of Grant Baird, Gregor Ness, Andrew Gault, Colin Sturgeon, Andrew Mill, Scott Bickerstaff and Rory McGee quickly realised the conditions meant lean times for slick attacking opportunities and that defensive lines needed to be solid.
After an opening five minutes where Marr started strongly it was Biggar that opened the scoring. Openside flanker Lewis McLachlan pounced on a poor lineout to secure the ball and burst through deep into Marr territory. Scramble defence managed to stop his charge but at the cost of a penalty that was in easy kicking range. The score sparked some added intensity into Biggar’s play and after fifteen minutes they added a second penalty after Marr infringed at a breakdown. More misery followed as Marr failed to properly deal with and secure the ball following the restart. In one of the few flowing bursts of the match Biggar centre Andrew King broke through Marr’s midfield and the move ended with a try scored in the corner. The conversion was missed and suddenly Marr were left facing an uphill struggle. Coach Craig Redpath and Scott Nimmo (sponsored by Jim McGuffie) passed on some words of counsel and wisdom as Marr re-grouped. This time from the restart there was no mistake and Marr immediately responded with their first score. The forwards took play back into Biggar territory and as the defence started to slow the advance Ben Johnston collected an offload and went on a 40 metre rampage; shrugging off tackles and carrying defenders as he charged towards the line to score. From an awkward angle Rory McGee slotted home the extra points.
The second quarter of the match was scoreless. Both sides had opportunities but defences held firm and cancelled each other out.
Biggar started the second half very strongly and pressured Marr’s defence. They quickly won a penalty and opted to kick to the corner for an attacking lineout. They attacked the narrow side but found no way through. Retaining possession they quickly spread the ball into midfield and once again centre King was the key to finding a way to unlock Marr’s defence as Biggar added a second try near to the posts. A simple conversion was on offer but the kicker failed to convert in what turned out to be a critical moment of the match.
Just after the hour mark Marr’s forwards and backs finally got the opportunity to play in some space. From midfield they spread play into Biggar territory and Scott Bickerstaff managed to get on the outside of the defence to score in the corner. Rory McGee added the extra points with another superb kick from a wide angle.
Over the following fifteen minutes both sides effectively cancelled each other out. Whether the worsening weather conditions or the tension and nervousness were deciding factors both sides struggled to win their own lineout ball. Excellent tackling by both teams seemed to be taking the match into deadlock as the closing stages approached. However Marr’s youngsters stuck in and pressured the home side. With less than five minutes remaining Marr won a penalty and the kick took play to Biggar’s 22m line. The throw in exorcised earlier errors as Marr’s pack perfectly gathered and set up a rolling maul. This chundered forward and as momentum was gained some of Marr’s backs joined in to add to the drive. In desperate defence to protect their line Biggar illegally pulled the maul down and were penalised. From a wide angle and in driving rain Rory McGee’s kick appeared to make it through the posts but the match officials disagreed and Biggar’ players and fans breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Entering the final play Marr fielded the restart kick well and immediately pressured Biggar’s line with another juggernaut maul. Once again some of Marr’s backs added their support to the purple and gold throng and Biggar were forced to bring down the maul as the try line beckoned. With time up Marr had little option but to opt for a kick at goal and Rory McGee was left to have the final say on the result of the match. His kick from out wide perfectly split the posts and this time the match officials agreed and added three points before sounding the full-time whistle to give Marr the win.
This was a hard fought and evenly matched contest but Marr’s tenacity gave them the slight edge and earned four vital points.
Marr’s man of the match: Ben Johnston (sponsored by Purple and Gold Futures)
Marr scorers
Tries: Ben Johnston (1) and Scott Bickertsaff (1)
Conversions: Rory McGee (2)
Penalty: Rory McGee (1)
Further reading