Rugby: Winning no longer enough for top-of-the-table Currie

Published on Monday 14 December 2009 08:56

Currie 48 Watsonians 23

CURRIE hooker Alun Walker has reflected the high standards the Malleny Park players now demand by voicing his disappointment at their efforts during the 48-23 Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership win at home to Watsonians.

The 19-year-old eloquently justified his inclusion in the Scotland Under-20 squad for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament with a solid effort at the set piece and an outstanding contribution in open play as Currie rallied after falling behind to a 'Sonians side desperate for league points. They ran in seven tries to maintain their grip at the top the table but Walker admitted that the overall performance featured only flashes of the stylish rugby that has become Currie's hallmark.

Walker, who is in his first full season at the club having moved from Musselburgh midway through the last campaign, said: "We played really well in bits but, unfortunately, we didn't play well throughout the game. Obviously we are now looking forward to next week to rectify the wrongs."

Walker displayed impressive mobility around the field but played down his contribution to two of his side's seven scores by stating modestly: "I'm not used to finding myself in a position where I'm making breaks so it's good to know I can do that and it's also good to know the boys are there in support every time."

With Watsonians languishing second from bottom in the table, their need for points was clear and their desperation to take something from the game was evident as they raced from the blocks and opened the scoring inside a minute with a penalty by teenage stand-off Jamie Forbes.

Currie responded with a quick-fire double, scrum-half Richard Snedden celebrating his selection for the Scotland club international squad with two contributions that underlined his attributes.

For the first, his inside pass wrong-footed the opposition defenders and allowed Ross Weston to crash over and he followed that with an equally skilful feed to Chris Kinloch for the second score, both converted by Johnny Smith.

Willie Moala chipped in with try number three, suggesting that the game was over as a contest. However, Ali Rowe marked his return to action with 'Sonians after a spell in Australia when he raced down the left flank for a try converted by Forbes, who then stroked over a penalty for a 19-13 interval scoreline.

Currie built on that position with Walker's first contribution – a break from inside his half and a feed to second rower Ryan Wilson whose nimble footwork saw him outpace two defenders over 50 metres on his way to bagging the bonus-point score.

Forbes clawed back three points with a drop goal before Walker turned creator for a second time with a powerful run and deft offload to Smith, who completed the move. Then Weston capped a typically rumbustious performance with his second try. Moala added a final sparkle when he gathered deep inside his own half and raced clear, dodging inside and out before diving over at the corner.

'Sonians grabbed the day's final try through Craig Sorbie and Forbes converted before Smith responded with a penalty for a personal tally of 18 points.

The defeat has intensified the desperation of 'Sonians' survival battle but coach Bruce Aitchison said: "Winning is a habit that is hard to get and losing is an easy habit to fall into and a harder one to break. The win is going to come, it's just a matter of when it's going to come.

"We've now got a big game against Boroughmuir and we will take a bit of heart from the last two performances. They maybe look like heavy defeats but people who have seen us against Heriot's and Currie will know there is a bit more to us than our league position suggests."

Scorers:

Currie: Tries: Weston (2), Kinloch, Moala (2), Wilson, Smith; Conversions: Smith (5); Penalty: Smith. Watsonians: Tries: Rowe, Sorbie; Conversions: Forbes (2); Penalties: Forbes (2); Drop goal: Forbes.

Currie: J Smith, W Moala, G White, A MacMahon, C Kinloch, M Scott, J Cox, A Walker, A Hamilton, R Wilson, A Adam, M Cairns, J Thomson, R Weston. Subs: N Scobie, A Reekie, M Blair, I Downie, S Walker.

Watsonians: J Blackwood, G Somerville, D Brown, C Sorbie, M Learmonth, J Forbes, P Lafayeedney, D O'Connell, G Wood, G Holmes, M Rennie, T Weizman, J Pelter, M Fedo, N Dennis. Subs: G Scott, N Tunnah, C Masson, N Montgomery, A Rowe.