Schools rugby: Capital teams will face off at Murrayfield in U18 cup final

Published on 19/11/2012 00:32

Victories in the semi-finals of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Under-18 Cup by George Watson’s College and Merchiston ensured an all-Edinburgh showdown for the trophy on the international pitch at Murrayfield a week on Thursday.

Merchiston had a comfortable 33-0 win over Dundee High School at Mayfield while Watson’s beat Stewart’s-Melville 28-22 at Inverleith.

Underdogs Stew-Mel held their own up front and defended fiercely and Watson’s 
director of rugby Ally Donaldson said: “Stewart’s-Melville took the game to us and showed 
character.”

Stew-Mel led 17-15 at the break with tries from winger Scott Murchie (2) and full-back Ryan Frost and a conversion from Scott Docherty to tries for the Myresiders by Mike Gillespie, Dougald Berisford and Adam Hastings. Watson’s added second-half tries by Berisford and wing Ben Robbins and a penalty from Hastings but Stewart’s-Melville grabbed a fourth try through Jamie Batho.

At Mayfield Merchiston had to work hard to move into a 9-0 interval lead from three penalties by full-back Gavin Parker. But, in the second-half, No 8 Magnus Bradbury scored a hat-trick of tries and Parker also touched down and kicked two conversions.