Aitchison-Macfadyen's 'Sonians deliver tidy win

Published on Monday 1 September 2008 09:58

THE new Watsonians coaching team of Bruce Aitchison and Donnie Macfadyen got their tenure off to a flying start when the Myreside men took all five league points from their trip to face Stirling County.

The duo have made their presence felt with a host of personnel changes over the summer and the new look 'Sonians reached the break locked at 13-13 but pulled away in the second period and bagged a total of five tries on their way to clocking up a tidy 42-28 win.

Jamie Blackwood, Jonny Pelter, Jeff Nicolson, Ben Di Rollo and Andy Fisher had a try apiece, and Mike Ker contributed the remainder of the points with his trusty boot.

Elsewhere, Currie, the champions of two seasons ago, failed to heed the warning of coach Ally Donaldson who had urged them not to underestimate top flight newcomers Selkirk.

The Malleny Park side were well in control at the break when they led 21-8, but a second-half fightback by the Borderers saw them snatch a 28-24 win and leave Currie with only a single bonus point to ease the pain.

Johnny Smith and Mike Norton each had a try in the first half, with Smith kicking the remainder of the points, while a drop goal by Marc Fouche was all Donaldson's men had to show for their disappointing second half efforts.

Meanwhile, in Division Two, Haddington grabbed the bragging rights when they saw off Musselburgh 29-11 in the East Lothian derby at Stoneyhill.

Musselburgh, featuring several players who have graduated from the successful colts side, had a try from Greig Leitch and two penalties by Bryan Walls against a Scarlets side that claimed the bonus point with tries from Jamie Peters, Sam Hughes, Graham Crawford and Neil Watt.

At Inverleith, Stewart's Melville made a cracking start to their campaign when they swept aside Division Two newcomers Peebles 40-18.

Christian Pera marked his debut for Stewart's Melville with two of his side's five tries, while another newcomer, Rob Patterson, also touched down and there was one each for Jed Gordon and Simon Rowan, with Sam Hendry kicking the other 15 points.

After narrowly beating the drop from Division Three last season, Livingston look likely to find it tough again in the new campaign.

The Almond Park men were on the wrong end of a 74-5 scoreline in their home fixture with Morgan Academy FP.