Marr open Conference league with a win

Marr U18s travelled to Jordanhill for the first round of fixtures in the Schools Mitsubishi Barbarian Conference. On a beautiful morning for running rugby Marr started brightly and put the home team under pressure. Eventually a wayward clearance kick was fielded by Ryan Brown and the winger needed no second invitation to run forward bursting thorugh a number of tackles to score Marr's first try. Beckwith was unable to add the conversion from wideout.

Marr's second try came shortly after, this time from left wing Evan Light who went over after a number of good phases from Marr. Again the conversion was wide. 10-0 to Marr. The Marr forwards had the ascendency with a dominant scrum and good support work in the loose. Captain Kyle McCulloch went under the posts for Marr's third try after a good tip from Jamie Drummond. Beckwith was successful with the conversion.

A missed penalty kick to touch proved Jordanhill's downfall again when Ryan Brown fielded the ball and charged through a number of half hearted tackles to score his second try. Beckwith added the conversion to make the score 24 – 0 in Marr's favour.

After a strike against the head the Marr forwards surged forward and Jamie Drummond again provided the scoring pass to McCulloch to touch down under the posts. Beckwith added the two points, 31-0.

Jordanhill then won scrappy ball from a lineout which the Marr forwards devoured and from the resultant turnover, despite a loose pass, Beckwith was able to pick up and scurry over for another try whch he converted to increase the lead to 38-0.

Towards the end of the half, due to an injury to one of the Jordanhill front row, the scrums became uncontested which negated Marr's dominance in that area.

Marr had a full bench with them and were able to use the second half to provide valuable game time for the entire squad. Allan Blyth and Liam Morrison had some useful charges about the field. Josh Affleck won a turnover in midfield and the ball was moved wide for Brown to go over in the corner for his hat trick.

Shortly after from a scrum pick up Beckwith kicked crossfield, David Craig managed to win the ball and Scott McDonald was able to crash over for an unconverted try. 48-0. The best try of the day came soon after with forwards and backs playing their part in a number of controlled phases before a tip pass from Liam Morrison allowed Mackenzie Smith the space to power over for a try which was converted by Beckwith. 55-0.

Marr's final score came again from a number of phases with Brown this time providing the scoring pass to Man of the Match Ethan Reilly to score an unconverted try.

Jordanhill continued to press and were rewarded with a converted score near the end though Marr will be disappointed not to have prevented the touchdown. Final score 60 – 7 to Marr.

As last week, things to work on but a lot of positives as well and a good start away from home in the league. Next week Marr entertain St Columbas at the College playing fields. Get along if you can to support the boys. The future's bright.