Merchiston Castle 18 - 0 Edinburgh Academy: Merchiston win with a display of sublime skill

Merchiston maintained their impressive record this season with victory over Edinburgh Academy at Colinton to take the honours in this historic fixture, now in its 152nd outing.

With home advantage and with the experience of playing against top UK schools in the St Joseph's tournament last month at Ipswich, Merchiston were always favourites to win this match and confirmed this with a near-monopoly on possession in the first half.

Merchiston, with a big advantage in the front row, where loosehead Nick Wright impressed, and greater physicality overall in the front five that told at the breakdown, enjoyed a stream of possession.

"The big difference was their ten (Sam Hidalgo-Clyne]. He was a different quality player to any other on the pitch," observed Mark Appleson, the Academy coach.

Academy showed huge courage in defence that resulted in the home team scoring only one try in the first half, the first of two by debutant winger Rory Schneider-Gogan made by full back Alex Webb. The pacy winger completed his brace after a clever back move midway through the second half, the remainder of the points coming from the boot of Hidalgo-Clyne.

Scorers: Merchiston - Tries: R Schneider-Gogan (2). Con: Hidalgo-Clyne. Pens: Hidalgo-Clyne (2)

Merchiston: A Webb; R Schneider-Gogan, J Nutton, M Watson, M Walker; S Hidalgo-Clyne, S Steele; N Wright, A Lindsay, T Pasquali, J Fisher, A Morris, J Jone, A White, P Baker (captain) Subs used: A Kerr, T Bonfield, A Paterson, F Schneider-Gogan.

Edinburgh Academy: S Heaney; J Farndale, C Dean, M Zegelman, F Smith; A Muir, A Glashan; J Haining, T Normand, J Pardoe, D Forbes, A Inwood, C Thomson, J McLean, C Simpson Subs used: D Faulkner, R Seydak.

Referee: D Shaw (Edinburgh University)