1st XV match summary
Earlier in the season when Musselburgh visited Fullarton a home win was secured by a narrow margin of five points in a high paced and scoring match with Marr Rugby winning the day 37-32. A big pack provided a perfect platform for their electric backs, including 7s specialists Andrew Cook and Rory Watt – a former Scotland age grade internationalist and 7s player who went on to pose serious questions of the home defence.

Against this backdrop the purple and gold army travelled to Stoneyfield with an added degree of nervous tension. As Marr continue to fight for the upper reaches of the league Musselburgh’s target was to remain outside the relegation dog-fight danger zone.

In heavy conditions that didn’t lend themselves to open and attractive running it was to both sides credit that they tried to have a go at playing an expansive game.

Musselburgh opened the scoring with a penalty conversion on three minutes. In response Marr upped their work rate and managed to get into a good tempo that they maintained for the rest of the match. In attack the forwards and backs combined well and the whole team approach in open play posed some serious questions of the home defence that at times creaked and cracked open. In defence Marr’s players were obdurate.

In the opening quarter Colin Sturgeon quickly got a measure of his opposite numbers and started to exploit any opportunity to break the gain line. On the quarter hour he made the first of several significant breaks and from the ensuing phases of play Marr secured a penalty close to Musselburgh’s line. As the home defence started to reset Mackenzie Pearce (sponsored by Tony Peters) took a quick tap and go and was unstoppable as he bulldozed his way through from close range.

Mussleburgh responded well and took an attack deep into Marr territory. However turnover ball was quickly spread to the backs and Scott Bickerstaff came in off his wing to slice a way through the defence and race 70m to score a converted try.

Ten minutes later he added a second as, at pace, he got on the end of a short pass from Colin Sturgeon who had made another impressive midfield break.

During the second half Marr maintained the high tempo and went on to score three further tries. In the face of the pressure that was being exerted Musselburgh began to lose shape and their cause wasn’t helped by three separate yellow cards. Marr exploited this advantage as they stretched their lead. Stuart Howie (sponsored by Fusion Sportswear) powered in on the wing after the forwards had taken play into the 22m area and repeated phases of play came close but eventually the ball was spread wide. Five minutes later this was followed by Scott Bickerstaff’s (sponsored by McKay’s Bar) third try. He caught a Musselburgh clearance kick and from 25metres shrugged off several tackles and broke into clear space to score in the corner.

In the final ten minutes eighteen year old Ry McInnes was introduced to the backs and making a decent charge to the line was unlucky to be bundled into touch in the corner.

In the final stages Marr laid siege near Musselburgh’s line. Their efforts were rewarded with a try for Ben Johnston to close the scoring.

Despite the poor conditions both sides performed well but Marr excelled in support play and determination to secure the win.

The result, as we enter the final stages of the league, saw Marr catch up with league leaders Watsonians on points tally but with the Edinburgh side holding a single match advantage.

In this second season in National League 1 Marr’s players are delivering better and more consistent and cohesive performances that are helping to maintain their position in the upper reaches of the league

Marr Rugby scorers
Tries - Mackenzie Pearce (1); Scott Bickerstaff (3); Stuart Howie (1) and Ben Johnston (1)
Conversions: Colin Sturgeon (5)
Penalties: Colin Sturgeon (1)

Marr man of the match: Colin Sturgeon (sponsored by Bricktrain Ltd)