Boroughmuir 29 - 18 Stewart's Melville: Callam makes the difference for 'Muir

Published on Sunday 8 November 2009 21:32

DISCONSOLATE Stewart's Melville coach Graeme Moffat was left reflecting on a last quarter collapse that handed the home side all five points and signals a grim survival battle in the second half of the campaign.

"It's a complete sickener," he said. "We performed pretty well in the first half and I thought the defence was outstanding. But, after 60 minutes, we panicked and we stopped playing rugby. As soon as we stopped playing, we started to have problems."

His bleak assessment was in sharp contrast to the view of delighted Boroughmuir assistant Phil Smith. "I thought that we deserved to win with our second-half performance," he said, before pinpointing the contribution of Scotland back row player Dave Callam. "Dave came in and definitely made a difference," he added. "It just gave the boys a bit of a lift to have a man of his size and stature coming on."

The 26-year-old No8, who has been out of action for more than a year with a hip injury, entered the fray with half an hour to play and his side trailing 15-8, and contributed to a spectacular finish that secured 'Muir's fifth win of the season.

A fine solo score by Rob Cairns and a penalty from Graeme Blackhall accounted for 'Muir's first half points while the industrious Phil Hendry and Harry Boisseau had a try apiece and Stuart Ker slotted a conversion to give the visitors a 12-8 interval lead.

After a Ker penalty took StewMel 15-8 ahead entering the final quarter, Callam's arrival sparked a spell of Boroughmuir pressure and he crashed over for a try, converted by Blackhall, that squared matters at 15-15.

Ker edged the visitors ahead with another penalty, but Ed Mills grabbed two late converted tries to secure the win.

Scorers: Boroughmuir: Tries: Cairns, Callam, Mills (2). Cons: Blackhall (3). Pens: Blackhall. Stewart's Melville: Tries: Hendry, Boisseau; Con: Ker; Pens – Ker (2).

Boroughmuir: T Bury; R Cairns, M Clapperton, J Fish, E Mills; G Cottrell, C Cusiter; N Fraser, S McMurchy, F Lait, G Scott, F Pringle, M Stalley, C Orr, S Onesi. Subs Used: B Ross, N Patrick, L Brinck, D Callam, G Blackhall.

Stewart's Melville: L Steele; R Borthwick, A Cox, C Marshall, H Boisseau; J Allan, S Ker; R Merrilees, C MacIntosh, C Phillips, B Leathes, S Brewster, P Hendry, B Tweedie, S Clark. Subs Used: A Statham, S Blackwood, P Voy, E Clark, J Gordon.

Referee: G Knox