Watsonians 17 - 34 Co-optimists: Co-optimists overpower Watsonians in thrilling game

THE Co-optimists defeated Watsonians at a chilly Myreside last night with both sides scoring some well-worked tries to keep the crowd entertained.

No doubt many in the stand would have turned out to see former Scotland prop Barry Stewart in action and he put in a good shift before being withdrawn with 30 minutes left. The Co-ops took the lead after eight minutes with a superbly worked try. Lasswade centre Bernie Hennessey started the move in his own half by slipping fellow centre Brian Archibald into space.

The ball was picked up by Australian teenager Joe Parvin, who made good yards before exchanging passes with full-back Jamie Blackwood. Parvin then used his pace to go in at the corner. The try was converted by stand-off Kenny Diffenthal. Four minutes later Watsonians levelled things up at 7-7 when scrum-half Brian Walls scored and converted a try.

In the 17th minute the select side used their forward power to regain the lead.

After Blackwood had been held up over the line, they managed to push their way over the line from a five-metre scrum with Niall Dennis, the No 8 from Murrayfield Wanderers, the scorer.

The evening’s fourth try owed much to quick hands by Watsonians and a superb break by young back-row Chris Scott. The home side took a quick lineout in their own territory and Scott ran 50 metres before the ball was swept right with winger Matt Henderson setting up full-back Jamie Niven for the score.

Back-row Gavin Brown ensured that the Co-ops led 17-12 at the interval with a pushover try coming from the Lasswade man in the 32nd minute.

Five minutes in to the second half the Co-ops scored their fourth try with Currie’s Grant Somerville going in on the left.

The Co-ops sealed the win with two tries, firstly a solo effort from replacement scrum-half Neil Clark with 14 minutes to go and then one from replacement prop Mike McDonald before a late consolation by the hosts.

Scorers: Watsonians: Tries: Walls, Niven, Ferguson. Con: Walls. Co-optimists: Tries: Parvin, Dennis, Brown, Somerville, Clark, McDonald. Cons: Diffenthal, Archibald.

Watsonians: J Niven; M Henderson, N Mather, D Brown, J Ferguson; B Di Rollo, B Walls; D Moussa, A Ross, N Barron, C Harvey, E Hunter, P Tuala, H Grant, C Scott. Subs: T Wright, C Smith, R Buchan.

Co-optimists: J Blackwood; G Somerville, B Archibald, B Hennessey, J Parvin; K Diffenthal, A Bennie; C Keen, A Moffat, B Stewart, M Blair, D Seed, G Brown, N Dennis, G Oommen. Subs: M McDonald, R Hastings, N Clark, A Richards, K Watters, G Wood, J Lyons, H Parker.

Referee: J-M Burel.