The weather conditions were set to perfect, when Marr travelled the short distance to Braidholm to take on GHA.
GHA having lost their opening two matches to Hawick and Currie respectively, were keen to get one over their local rivals last Saturday.
However with Marr undefeated, they were determined to continue their winning ways are were totally focused on continual improvement.
It was GHA that got off to the perfect start when they caught the Marr defence sleeping with winger Jackson Baillie found himself in an over-lap position to score an easy try in the corner.
Marr thought that they had equalized five minutes later, but referee Hollie Davidson adjudged Mackenzie Pearce to have committed a double movement when crossing the line.
Colin Sturgeon, who was pulling the strings for Marr popped a great pass to centre Gregor Paxton who ran in from 22 metres alowing Marr to draw level. Colin then added a try of his own when he stepped outside his opposite number to score a classy try.
Marr were then reduced to 14 men when Fraser Grant collapsed the maul illegally as GHA drove towards the Marr line. The referee then awarded correctly a penalty try that pulled GHA back into the match.
With a depleted team Marr showed great character and confidence to release Gregor Ness down the wing, who powered through one tackler and show good pace to touch down in the corner, giving Marr a well-deserved 19 points to 12 lead at half time.
It took Marr 10 seconds to score in the second half, when Gregor Paxton picked up a deflected ball to find himself in too much space for GHA to stop him from running between the sticks.
Romanian international Milan Marinkovic then managed to turn over a ball 22m out and popped a lovely ball to his prop Andy Cornwell to pull one back for GHA.
Marr’s superiority in the set piece started to show and they managed to drive up the field towards the home team’s line. After several phases and with the GHA defence out of position Marr flung the ball wide, to where it was Gregor Ness with the overlap to score his second of the game.
With Marr now bringing on their fresh replacements, they added two more scores firstly Scott Bickerstaff with one and replacement winger Jack Scott with the other.
GHA added one last try at the dying death, however it was always going to be Marr who won this match with much to fire power in the set piece for GHA to contend with.
Craig Redpath will be happier with this performance that last week, but knows we will still have to improve if we are to trouble Currie, our fellow league leaders, who we play at Fullarton next Saturday. That is going to be a true cracker!
Final note to our latest centurion, fan favourite William ‘Wilko’ Farquhar. Wilko has been invaluable to this team over the last 8 seasons, popular with fellow team’s members and supporters alike. Maybe one of his best achievements to date is that he finished Marr’s top scorer in the Premiership two years ago. Not bad when you look at the try scoring machines that Marr possessed then, like both Bickerstaff’s, Ben Johnston and Ross Miller.
Man of the match goes to Gregor Ness, who scored two great tries however Colin Sturgeon was at his very best, dominant and efficient with the boot and perfect distribution from hand. Other good performers were big Bene Grant as usual and Gregor Paxton for a solid performance in mid field.
GHA will end up safe in the Premiership as they showed when they have the ball they are a very dangerous team. They know that they have to work on issues when they don’t have the ball.
Quick note about our referee. Sometimes we don’t mention a ref that you don’t notice. The reason being, when you don’t notice the officials that means they have had a good match.
Hollie Davidson the first female to referee a top class match in Scotland, showed why she has been chosen for progression in the game. She showed brilliantly clear communication to the teams and not once did anyone doubt a decision that she made. This referee is destined for the top.