Stewart's Melville 3 - 38 Boroughmuir: Boroughmuir made to work for points

Published on Sunday 7 March 2010 23:16

WHILE Boroughmuir ultimately eased to a comfortable win and a five-point haul, relegated Stewart's Melville made the visitors work hard for a success that should ensure the Meggetland men survive in the top flight for another season.

The hosts have rarely had their problems to seek this season and they were hit by a front-row crisis as well as an enforced reshuffle in the second row following the sending-off of lock Ben Leathes against Currie in midweek.

Their hopes of delivering a win for their supporters and their departing coach Graeme Moffat – he is taking up a post in Canada – from the final home match of the league campaign were dealt an early blow when Andrew Fraser was sent to the sin bin after just five minutes.

While he was cooling his heels, the visitors scored two tries, the first a penalty award and the second after a close-range surge by Jamie Doubleday. Both were converted by Graeme Blackhall but he was awry with his next two efforts after captain Euan Matheson and Rob Cairns responded to a penalty by Stuart Ker for the hosts with a touchdown apiece to seal the bonus point by the interval.

Boroughmuir looked set to run amok after Calum Cusiter and Ed Mills claimed a converted try apiece early in the second period but, to their credit, Stewart's Melville produced a spirited finale to prevent any further scoring.

A relieved Matheson said: "We needed the points to move away from the bottom of the table. We were happy enough to get the win but disappointed with the performance."

Scorers: Stewart's Melville: Pen: Ker. Boroughmuir: Tries: Penalty, Doubleday, Matheson, Cairns, Cusiter, Mills. Cons: Blackhall (4).

Stewart's Melville: R Borthwick, M Doneghan, H Lingard, C Marshall, C Williams, R Grant, S Ker, J Charles, S Blackwood, A Statham, J Robertson, A Lean, A Fraser, F Lamont, B Tweedie. Subs used: A Duncan, C Mackintosh, R Primrose, A Cox.

Boroughmuir: E Mills, R Cairns, M Clapperton, J Fish, T Bury, G Blackhall, C Cusiter, F Lait, S McMurchy, B Ross, N Patrick, G Scott, E Matheson, P Cronin, J Doubleday. Subs used: N Fraser, J Va'a, M Stalley, M Hare, S McGee.

Referee: A Taylorson (RFU).