Watsonians 20 - 30 Edinburgh Accies: Accies victorious after dominant first half

Scorers: Watsonians: Tries: Steele, Palacios. Pens: Walls 2. Cons: Walls 2. Edinburgh Accies: Tries: Morrison, N Godsmark, Coupar, Findlater. Pens: R Bonner 2. Con: R Bonner 2.

Both sides were just eager to get a game under their belts after recent postponements and, as such, this encounter started at a good pace.

The visitors took the lead after five minutes through a penalty by centre Ruairidh Bonner, but that was quickly cancelled out by a penalty for Watsonians by scrum-half Brian Walls.

Seven minutes later Watsonians stand-off Mike Ker was yellow carded for a silly trip on the opposition 22 after Accies had hacked the ball forward and the visitors certainly made the extra man count. Indeed for the next ten minutes a home side that had been competing well with a team from the division above them hardly touched the ball with Accies bagging three tries two conversions.

The first of the tries came from prop Duncan Morrison after good work by the forwards and then two minutes latter winger Nyle Godsmark crossed.

Another two minutes went by before winger Matt Coupar ran in another and after 24 minutes the game had a totally different complexion.

Watsonians’ heads did not go down though, and before the break they scored a well worked converted try through full-back Rory Steele before Bonner’s penalty attempt struck the post for Accies.

The visitors ended the half with a try from back-row Andrew Findlater and a penalty by Bonner to see them comfortably ahead 30-10 and with the hosts having a second man, centre Jack Ferguson, now in the sin-bin.

With the rain lashing down in the second period the first points of the half came in the 56th minute with a Walls penalty.

Replacement back-row Tommy Palacios then scored a converted try for Watsonians with five minutes to go before Walls missed a penalty, but Accies’ dominant first-half showing saw them home.

Watsonians: R Steele; E Miller, J Ferguson, T Hart, J Niven; M Ker, B Walls; M Heather, D Rutherford, C Gamboa, C Harvey, J Duthie, C Smith, H Grant, T Wright. Subs used: A Chalmers, R Buchan, D Fraser, C Berkery, T Palacios.

Edinburgh Accies: R Young; M Coupar, I Berthinussen, R Bonner, N Godsmark; E Bonner, J Adams; D Morrison, F Rawlinson, C Murray, A Findlater, T Drennan, D Teague, C Reid, R Godsmark. Subs used: M Liness, K Blyth, A Blair.

Referee: G Wells.