Rugby: Five-try Currie back in Premiership title race

Published on 08/10/2012 12:00

Currie remain in the RBS Premiership title race after shrugging off the disappointment of the previous week’s defeat with a bonus-point success away to Stirling County in the RBS Premiership.

The Malleny Park men led throughout and rattled up five tries as they emerged 45-26 winners to remain in fourth spot. Jamie Forbes bagged a double and booted 20 points, while James Johnstone, Mike Entwhistle, and Simeon James also touched down.

Boroughmuir returned empty handed from their trip to face Melrose at the Greenyards after going down 28-19 in a match the Meggetland side looked set to win. The Borderers appeared home and dry as they eased into a 21-0 lead after 55 minutes. However, Sep Visser sparked a fightback when he raced in for a try and he was joined on the score sheet by Jamie Swanson and Alex Henderson, with Harry Leonard slotting two conversions. The Capital side were pressing for victory when Melrose broke out of defence and Leonard’s Edinburgh professional colleague Alun Walker claimed the bonus-point try for the hosts, with Andrew Skeen’s conversion robbing ’Muir of a bonus point.

Stewart’s Melville continued their revival from a slow start to the campaign when they blasted the RBS National League title race wide open with a 14-11 win over previously unbeaten pacesetters Glasgow Hawks at Inverleith.

Tries by Angus Lean and Craig Marshall were converted by Mike Hanning to give StewMel a 14-3 interval lead, and a gutsy defensive effort ensured they held on for the win.

Hawks remain in pole position but their advantage over nearest pursuers Watsonians has been trimmed to a single point after ’Sonians chalked up a 22-13 win at home to Biggar, with Rory Steele and Marcus Heather touching down for the hosts’ tries.

In Championship Division B, Musselburgh bounced back from their surprise loss the previous week with a thumping 56-15 win over Lasswade at Stoneyhill. Steven Ketchin crossed for three of ’Burgh’s seven tries and James Murray boosted his tally for the season by a further two.

’Burgh’s advantage at the top of the table is now two points after Howe of Fife were pushed all the way by Murrayfield Wanderers before emerging as 20-15 winners.

Meanwhile, Tom Phillip tasted victory for the first time as Haddington coach when the Scarlets broke their duck in style with a 41-8 win at home to basement side Morgan Academy.