Heriot’s 27 - 27 Currie: Honours even as Heriot’s match title contenders

HONOURS even after a good old-fashioned street fight on the pitch, shot through with some tremendous rugby, skilful attacking, spirited defence, powerful forward play, four yellow cards and a final kick to win the match that shaved the wrong side of the upright.

SCORERS:

Heriot’s – Tries: Hill, Nimmo. Cons: Wilson. Pens: Wilson (5).

Currie – Tries: Hinds, Whittingham, Gray. Cons: Forbes (3). Pens: Forbes (2).

In a game that had just about everything, including its fair share of errors, daft decisions and refereeing controversy, the strength of Heriot’s performance was rooted in a team that is really beginning to believe in itself.

There is still some way to go, though, before Heriot’s can become genuine title contenders – as Currie are.

So it was the home side who settled for a draw by kicking the ball dead rather than attempt to travel the length of the pitch and snatch victory – mindful that when Melrose tried to run the ball in injury time earlier in the season when the score was tied it was Heriot’s who nicked it and got the score.

Two points were judged sufficient reward, especially when Heriot’s, for all their good work, let Currie cross their line for a try when they had been temporarily reduced to 13 men and should have been on the back foot.

“This is a team that was getting beaten by large amounts every single week last year,” said Heriot’s coach Phil Smith. “Now it is not so easy for others and our challenge is to maintain the standard. Two points could be crucial for us. It is a good result and it is a team that is building in confidence and momentum.”

Currie coach Ally Donaldson said: “Heriot’s are a good team and we knew the forwards would be well drilled. It didn’t come as a surprise to us. We were a wee bit loose and tried to go wide too early at times and didn’t build a platform to give out backs the space they need. But we scored three good tries and you can say that although we are disappointed, it’s not a defeat. This is a tough league. Week in week out you have to raise your standards because if you have a couple of defeats you will be down the wrong end. It is that tight.”

It was tight right from the kick off. After seven minutes Graham Wilson landed the first of his penalties but Currie thenfashioned a try out of a free-flowing running move that occupied the width of the pitch, centre James Johnstone passing to right winger Adam Hinds for the touchdown.

Currie full back Jamie Forbes kicked long-range and then very short penalties to pull further ahead, only to be pegged back by two more from Wilson. Heriot’s survived a 10-minute period with winger Marc Teague in the bin, and he was no sooner back than Currie lock Simon Marcell was yellow carded for going in over the ball as a rolling maul collapsed just short of the visitors’ line.

Half-time came with the score 9-13 and the Heriot’s pack well on top. Wilson claimed his fourth penalty to make it a single point game, but both sides were being penalised at the breakdown and it was only a matter of time before another player got their marching orders at another breakdown. That player was Currie prop Alastair Hamilton, although it could as easily have been Heriot’s flanker Fraser Brown who trotted away quickly. Two minutes later Heriot’s centre Max Learmonth burst through the middle and, when he was tackled just short of the line, Currie No 8 Ross Weston killed the ball and was sent to the touchline. Heriot’s exploited his absence when opposite number Jason Hill crashed over for the try and Wilson added the conversion.

Currie still had only 13 men when stand off Simeon James zig-zagged through a retreating defence and set up winger Alan Whittingham for a try. Forbes’ conversion put Currie ahead again but then a fifth penalty by Wilson restored the lead to Heriot’s.

It looked like Currie, back to full strength, had done enough to win when Scotland elite squad player Johnny Gray rumbled over inside the final ten minutes and Forbes converted to push the margin to five points. But Heriot’s came storming back and created the best try of the day, shifting the ball smoothly through several sets of hands until try scorer Hill turned provider and passed out to lock Russell Nimmo, who thundered in at the right hand corner.

Then came the all-important conversion as the late afternoon shadows lengthened. The ball was teed up a few metres from the touchline. It rose out of shadow into sunshine. The crowd opposite the stand shaded their eyes from the glare and could only look to the touch judges for confirmation. The flags stayed firmly down.

Heriot’s: C Goudie; A Scott, M Learmonth, R Carmichael, M Teague; G Wilson, S Hidalgo Cline; C Owenson, K Bryce, S Cessford, R Nimmo, B Morrisey, F Brown, C Mulligan, J Hill. Subs: G Cameron, CJ Osazuwa, J Nayacavou, OJ Brown, N Ashton.

Currie: J Forbes; A Hinds, J Johnstone, J Houston, A Whittingham; S James A Binikos; A Hamilton, F Scott, F Watt, S Marcell, J Gray, M Cairns, M Entwhistle, R Weston. Subs: R Merrilees, J Cox, G Temple, M Peacock, F Strachan.

Referee: K White.