Season 2015/16 opened for Marr Rugby’s 1st and 2nd XV’s with a short trip up the M77 to Braidholm for a double header against GHA. The 2nd XV’s promotion into the national reserve league means this season they encounter five of the clubs that compete in the 1st XV’s league and each of these fixtures will see Marr Rugby’s top two senior sides in action together.

As an opener Marr’s opponents couldn’t have been much tougher. GHA’s 1st XV were last season’s league runners up whilst their 2nd XV finished a close third, narrowly missing one of the two promotion spots.

With GHA also hosting the Giffnock Beer Festival a decent sized crowd, including a significantly healthy number of Marr Rugby supporters, settled down to see what both 1st and 2nd XV’s had to offer.

1st XV match report
In season 2014/15 the 1st XV’s meetings were close contests. At the Braidholm fixture GHA won by a single point in a sixty-nine point thriller. The winning score was a final play try that was touched down following a frenetic flurry of play during which Marr’s side was reduced in numbers by yellow cards to leave them with only 12 players. The return fixture at Fullarton saw another nail-biting ending as Marr’s Rory McGee scored and converted a final play try to secure a 24 all draw.

For the first ten or so minutes Marr spent most of the period defending deep in their half of the pitch as GHA poured forward with repeated attacks. Their cause was aided by Marr conceding a significant number of penalties. Whilst GHA enjoyed the overwhelming majority of possession and territory, Marr’s dogged defence managed to protect their try line and the home side had to settle for opening the score with a converted penalty.

On fifteen minutes Marr finally enjoyed some time in GHA’s half and were rewarded with a penalty opportunity that Colin Sturgeon (sponsored by Bricktrain Ltd) converted to level the score. Five minutes later Marr took the lead with a second converted penalty. The opportunity came after Johnny McClung (sponsored by Fiona and Tom Irvine) put in a thumping tackle on halfway to secure turnover ball that allowed Rory McGee to slice through GHA’s defence. GHA’s scramble cover was content to concede a penalty to stop a great try opportunity and Colin Sturgeon converted.

GHA hit back, enjoying a further period of possession and territory but again found Marr’s defence solid. Most first up tackles were being made and the odd occasion where GHA managed a half break Marr’s cover defence quickly closed them down. On the half hour GHA levelled the score with a second penalty conversion. The final ten minutes of the first half Marr capitalise on a third penalty kick conversion. This slender advantage was quickly lost as GHA finally managed to find a way through to the try line for an unconverted score. The half ended with the score 11 – 9 to the home side.

At the start of the second half GHA conceded advantage with careless mistake. Taking the kick-off their chasing players mistimed their run and infringed by being ahead of the kicker. From the resulting scrum Marr’s forwards won good possession and after several pick and goes fed the ball out to the backs. Johnny McClung made a line break and as he was tackled passed to Scott Bickertsaff who powered down his wing toward the try line. As the cover defence closed and with he drew them to create space for Johnny McClung who was in close support to receive a scoring pass and touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.

Marr continued to enjoy better possession and their forwards started to dominate at set piece and had the edge in loose play. Kris Kirk, Scott Nimmo and Ben Johnstone each made a number of good breaks and set the example that the rest of the forwards followed. GHA had to fall back on Marr’s first half defensive example to protect their try line. The third quarter ended with another converted penalty to stretch Marr’s lead.

The final quarter was evenly balanced with both sides having periods of advantage. GHA gained numerical superiority as Stephen Adair was yellow carded but they were unable to capitalise on this. During the ten minutes Marr continued to hold the edge and several promising attacks were only thwarted by determined defence. In one, from a scrum just inside GHA’s 22 metre area Marr’s pack surged forward and the defence was forced to concede another penalty to protect their try line. The conversion gave Marr a nine point advantage.

In the final ten minutes three further yellow cards were given as play became even more intense. GHA were reduced to 14 men but Marr held the advantage for less than two minutes before losing the first of two of their players both penalised for high tackles. On reflection William Farquhar’s seemed harsh as his not very tall opponent charged head down into the tackle area. The finals plays ran from end to end as both sides tried to gain the advantage. Both enjoyed line breaks that threatened but once again top class cover defence kept try lines intact. In the final minutes GHA opted to kick a penalty at goal and reduce Marr’s point advantage to six. A final flurry followed with Marr’s defence once again racking up the tackle count as they stemmed GHA’s attacks with no further points lost.

Marr’s win came from a tough, gutsy and gritty performance that set the standard on which the players and coaches will build upon for the campaign ahead.

Marr Rugby man of the match: Ben Johnston (sponsored by Allan Mackintosh)

Marr Rugby scorers
Try: Johnny McClung
Penalties: Colin Sturgeon (5)