Marr College U18s v Jordanhill School U18s

After a short delay for the referee to arrive the first match for Marr College Under 18 in the Barbarian School Conference got underway.

Marr appeared hesitant and after a period of pressure Jordanhill opened the scroring with a converted try. This spurred Marr in to action and after a number of attacks number 8 Rollo Press picked up from a five metre scrum to score an unconverted try to reduce Jordanhill's lead to 7 -5.

The game was finely balanced with both teams making a number of errors. Jordanhill were pressing the Marr line but were forced into a mistake. Marr won turnover ball and with captain Rollo Press to the fore broke from near their own line and went the length of the pitch with great support play to score a try, Robbie Bell scoring the touchdown. Grant Paterson converted the try to make the score 12 – 7 to Marr.

The final few minutes of the half saw Jordanhill again close to the Marr try line. Marr were penalised and from a quick tap penalty from the five metre line Jordanhill ended the half scoring a try under the posts. This was converted to make the half time score 14 - 12 to Jordanhill.

Marr started the second half with greater intensity. The forwards upped their game and had a number of charges up the field offloading and supporting the ball carrier. One of these resulted in a try for Jack Bray with the successful conversion again from Paterson, putting Marr in the lead 19-14.

Marr were making use of the wind advantage and also were pressing more as a defensive unit. Mistakes came from Jordanhill and Ethan Reilly was the grateful recipient of a score following a chargedown, increasing Marr's lead to 24 -14.

Jordanhill were not finished and from a scrum in the middle of the park, moved the ball quickly to the right and their winger went round the defence before scoring under the posts. The conversion was again successful which narrowed the score to 24-21.

Marr were soon on the front foot and following some strong surges by the forwards moved the ball to O'Leary who scored in the left corner to extend Marr's lead to 29 – 21. The final score belonged to Marr with some great support play bringing a second try for Bray. Paterson converted the try with final kick of the game to make the final score 36 -21 to Marr.

A good start in the League campaign. The team's focus is now a cup match away to Grange Academy on Wednesday before travelling to Kilmacolm next Saturday where they will play St Columbas.