Marshall ‘disappointed’ as Heriot’s blow bonus

Heriot’s claimed their second win of the RBS Premier B campaign on Saturday, but once again they were left frustrated at not collecting a bonus point.

When the Edinburgh side went 21-0 up on the half-hour mark against Jed-Forest, such was their domination of proceedings that if it had been a boxing match the referee would have stopped it.

However, from that moment onwards the visitors belatedly got a foothold in the match and battled hard to make sure they were not blown away.

Indeed, the fact that the only points scored after that moment came from the Borderers tells its own story and, like the Watsonians match two weeks previous, Heriot’s failed to score the fourth try.

They were never in danger of losing this one, but it left coaches Graham Marshall and Mark Appleson frustrated.

Marshall said: “Overall I am disappointed as that was a real opportunity for us to get a bonus point victory. We started off really well and Jed couldn’t cope with us at times, but then our level dropped a bit and we tried to force too much.

“However, it is another win and to start this section of the league with two victories gives us something to build on as the Edinburgh Accies match [on 11 February] is a big one for us.”

Heriot’s took the lead as early as the 11th minute, impressive No 8 Jason Hill going over after a powerful forward drive.

Jed then lost prop Andy Ions to the sin-bin and while he was off the field Heriot’s doubled their advantage to 14-0 when Hill slipped a neat pass to captain Graham Wilson who went in under the posts.

No sooner was Ions back on than winger David Gobby was yellow carded and once again Heriot’s scored with Jed down a man, this time a penalty try being awarded by referee Jean-Marie Burel.

Five minutes before the break Jed’s disastrous first-half was completed when captain Darren Gillespie became their third player to be shown a yellow card.

In the second-half Jed were far more competitive, stand-off Ewan Scott kicking a penalty and then ten minutes from time showing great vision to set-up full-back Iain Chisholm for a try with a cross field kick.

Heriot’s created a couple of chances in the second period, but they lacked composure at key times and they will be keen to find the killer instinct in the coming weeks.

Scorers: Heriot’s: Tries: Hill, G Wilson, penalty try. Cons: G Wilson 3. Jed-Forest: Try: Chisholm. Pen: Scott.

Heriot’s: J Bulumakau; M Learmonth, C Ferguson, R Carmichael, C Goudie; OJ Brown, G Wilson; A Dymock. K Bryce, S Cessford, M Reid, R Martin, R Cessford, J Hill, F Brown. Subs used: S Mustard, G Cameron, R Wilson, A Scott.

Jed-Forest: I Chisholm; G Young, R Hogg, K Aitchison, D Gobby; E Scott, R Goodfellow; A Ions, David Grieve, A Croituro, J Szkudro, A Nagle, M Weekley, D Gillespie, Donald Grieve. Subs used: G Slorance, S Raeburn, G Taylor, J Hogg.

Referee: J-M Burel.