Watsonians v Melrose Rugby14/12/24
Saturday’s Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match, played in cold and dull conditions under the Myreside floodlights, was, also, the inaugural match for the Breadalbane Cup to be played for between Watsonians and Melrose. With eight minutes played, and Melrose attacking, the ball was passed wide to the left. Unfortunately, the ball bounced off the head of the advancing Zen Szwagrzak and into the Watsonian 22 where it was picked up by Freddie Owsley. The full-back then proceeded to make a bee-line, evading all attempted Melrose tackles, towards the posts for a try converted by Jason Baggott. From a penalty lineout rolling maul in the left corner, at 26 minutes, Matt Pritchard dived over for an unconverted try.
Half time – Watsonians 12 Melrose 0.
Two minutes into the second half, following a prolonged period of Watsonian passing with a series of plays, Owsley, from short range, squeezed into the left corner for his second try, again converted by Baggott. Melrose, then, began to make better use of the ball, but, in the main, struggled to find the guile to confuse the stout Watsonian defence. Then, at 61 minutes, Allan Ferrie rampaged down the pitch off-loading to Corey Goldsbrough who dived into the left corner for an unconverted try. Nine minutes later Struan Hutchison put in a clever chip kick right behind the advancing Watsonian defence with Declan Mulcahy winning the footrace to touch down in the right corner for an unconverted try. With the no-side whistle imminent, and Watsonians having stripped the ball from Melrose in the Melrose 22, the Watsonian, unconverted bonus point try came in the right corner, courtesy of Zander Walls.
Watsonians 24 Melrose 10.
Breadalbane Cupo winners – Watsonians.
Watsonians – Freddie Owsley, Josh Mitchell, Lewis Berg, Ronan Kerr, Lomond Macpherson, Jason Baggott(cc), Murray Scott, Donald Voas, Cal Davies, Martin McGinley, Luis Ball, Kwagga van Niekerk, Seb Cecil, Matt Pritchard, Neil Irvine-Hess(cc). Replacements – James Millican, Craig Davidson, Tom Gracie, Andrew McInnes, Zander Walls, Dom Coetzer, Chris Bell.
Melrose – Keiran Clark, Evan Davies, Declan Mulcahy, Roly Brett, Corey Goldsbrough, Struan Hutchison, Bruce Colvine, Jack Dobie, Logan Kirk, Zen Szwagrzak, Angus Weir, Angus Runciman©, Will Ferrie, Allan Ferrie, Ruairidh Lindsay. Replacements – Robbie Robinson, Andrew Kirk, Jimmy Coull, Luke Townsend, Angus Common, Robin Sharp, Elliot Ruthven.
Referee – Sam O’Neil.
Saturday’s Gallery
