Stewart's Melville 20 - 13 Watsonians

Published on Saturday 31 October 2009 20:12

AFTER coming close in their two previous matches, Stewart's Melville finally broke their top-flight duck at Inverleith yesterday.

Two penalties by Stuart Ker to one by his name-sake Mike saw the hosts turn round with a 6-3 advantage after an error-strewn first half notable only for its dearth of scoring opportunities.

However, the match sparked into life with a scintillating solo effort by home full-back Hayden Lingard, who gathered on half way and speared through the Watsonians defence for a try which Ker converted. And the hosts doubled their try tally two minutes later when skipper Richard Borthwick powered through two tackles and sprinted round behind the posts to leave Ker a simple conversion.

Watsonians had offered little by way of a threat, but they clawed their way back into the contest when Nick Montgomery burst down the flank and threw inside a pass which Gregor Wood controlled with his foot before gathering and plunging over.

The hosts squandered a chance to seal the win and it was their city rivals who finished the stronger of the sides, snatching a bonus point in injury time when Dougie Brown squeezed in at the corner.