Marr S1 at Linlithgow

Marr College/Prestwick Academy had yet to win on the road this season and Saturday saw them facing their longest trek to Linlithgow and a bus departure time of 7.40am (on a Saturday !). However sometimes the best results come when you warm-up the least and the Linlithgow trip was no exception. By the time we dropped off the S2s at a different location, got to the school, got changed, moved changing rooms (as we should have changed elsewhere) and climbed up to the pitch there wasn’t much time left; some quick passing, hitting the pads, rucking and backs’ moves and we were good to go.

Unsurprisingly, the early pressure came from Linlithgow who has been warming up a while but having withstood this onslaught a break by David Craig from our own 22 put Cameron Paterson clear and he ran over half the pitch before being caught just short of the line but was able to offload to Logan Cotter in support who went over for the score. Harry Murray converted for 0-4. We then gave away a penalty at a ruck when threatening but soon won the ball back and Andrew Baird made a sprint down the wing only to be illegally hauled down just short of the try line. No penalty try was forthcoming and we couldn't cross from the penalty, eventually conceding another penalty at another ruck. Linlithgow kicked for touch and won the resultant line-out but good pressure allowed us to win the ball back and Cameron Paterson went over from 10 metres out for 0-7. The remainder of the first period saw the Marr wingers swap scores from relatively far out as Shaun Smith and Logan Cotter bagged a try apiece to make the score at the end of the first period 0-13.

The second period saw an early score as we regained the ball from the kick-off, moved slowly upfield and Scott Rodger went over for a score (nobody else was getting a look-in on that try) which Harry converted again, 0-17. More Marr pressure saw Scott Stirton force 2 consecutive mistakes from the opposition which then allowed him to hack on and Cameron Paterson touched down for his 2nd score which he also converted, 0-21. The final score of the 2nd period saw Scott Toner make a break and when caught was able to offload to Blair Nicholl who ran in from 40 yards out for the score. Another conversion by Harry and it was 0-25.

The final 15 minute period saw Marr come off the gas and we finally conceded a try before getting one of our own from Scott Toner which was converted by Scott Stirton, 3-29. The last say went to Linlithgow (despite hands on the ground and a drop over the line !) and the game finished 7-29. The ref was very good and the last score can be attributed to giving both sides something to cheer at the end.

Overall a good performance from the whole squad. The offloads and running in support were much better this week as was the general teamwork and talking to one another. We still need to be conscious of the rules around rucking, to retreat 10 quickly at penalties, to make sure the tackles are low and to keep our heads both when winning and losing. Boys now also know about touching down in your own in-goal as we tried to run/kick it out when we could have had a 22 drop-out!