Leith level to rob Forrester of win in Division Four for first time

The 15-15 draw at Quarryholes was the first time this season Forrester have not won in Division Four and leaves the Broomhouse men second behind Dumfries.

Leith sit seventh but, as anyone who has seen them play this season will testify, they will certainly give a few teams a tough game, as happened on Saturday.

Forrester's backs scored two good tries through Ashleigh Hall and Craig Patter, pictured below, the latter following an impressive lung-bursting 40-metre dash down the park, but could not hold on for the win as Leith's pack kept asking questions of their defence. Led by some experienced heads Leith managed to salvage two points with the try deep into injury time when their pack rumbled over.

Unfortunately for Leith the conversion was missed but a draw was about the right result according to Forrester president Stephen Kilpatrick.

He said: "It was a tight game and one in which I would say their forwards had the upper hand for large periods. Our pack was under the cosh a bit but they stuck to their task and our backs played very well.

"It was just unfortunate that having got ourselves into a good position Leith fought back and scored five or six minutes into injury time. I don't know where the referee got that much time to add on but we must accept it and move on."

Kilpatrick is happy with his side's start to the season but they have been hit hard by injury and he is looking forward to the return of one man in particular.

"Our full-back Colin Bradford is out at the moment with an injured shoulder and bad grazing on his leg which has become infected and to get him back will be a huge boost, he is usually good for a couple of tries every game."

Kilpatrick is also hopeful that South African Ashleigh Hall, who has Premier One experience with Watsonians, will be available for a number of matches this season.

He scored a try on Saturday before going off with a hamstring injury and Kilpatrick is keen to have Hall on board as often as work commitments allow.

He stated: "Ashleigh helped out with coaching last season and is great for our guys to learn from. He is a full-time fitness instructor as well as having other business interests so is not always available.

"He gives us a boost when he is available, both on the playing and coaching sides."

Elsewhere in the National Leagues this weekend Preston Lodge won for the second week running by two points to move to third in Division One.

This week's victims were Hillfoots, who lost out 17-15.

Ross High remain rooted to the bottom of Division Two after they lost their fifth game in a row on Saturday. The Tranent side were well beaten at home by Morgan Academy who won 50-3.

In Division Three Trinity could not follow up last week's win over Whitecraigs and were also on the end of a thumping. League leaders Falkirk posted a 76-8 win at Bangholm.

There was better news for Lismore though and their 48-10 win over Glenrothes pushes them up to fourth in Division Three. The Inch Park men also held their club dinner at Easter Road stadium on Saturday evening and a great night was had by all.

The speakers included refereeing legend Jim Fleming and former Scotland star Andy Irvine and the raffle raised 915. Plans are now well underway for the next social event, a pig racing night (no, I am not telling porkies), on November 19.

Down in Division Four Broughton were pig sick on Saturday after losing lost their second game on the spin. Mike MacLennan's men were defeated 20-19 by Waysiders Drumpellier.

Prior to the match there was a jumble sale at Wardie on but the club confirms that none of the players were sold despite some receiving bids of up to 1.

In Division Five derby honours went to Inverleith and Penicuik. In the Capital derby at Cavalry Park Inverleith squeezed past Portobello 19-17, while in the Midlothian derby Penicuik defeated Dalkeith, 29-22 at Kings Park to move up to fifth.

Meanwhile, Division Four whipping boys St Boswells have been docked four points for their failure to play Leith on Saturday September 10. The Borderers were again walloped 143-0 at home to Dumfries on Saturday, the fourth time in four games they have let in a century, and rumour has it the club may pull out of the league.

Also in the bad books, despite their current good form, are Inverleith. They have also been penalised four points for failing to fulfil their Division Five fixture against Hawick Harlequins on Saturday September 17.