Watsonians crush Marr’s hopes in postponed match

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Despite fielding a side which bore virtually no relationship to that in the programme – or their website – Watsonians put in a towering performance against Marr at the weekend, running in seven tries to Marr’s two to take an emphatic win in the BT National League’s first division, the match – starting in daylight and finishing under floods – having been postponed from before Christmas due to a frozen pitch.

Hopes from the ‘Sonians side of things were decidedly downbeat when the team, with more than a few first team regulars missing in action, was announced and the first 15 minutes of play tended to support the gloom.

Marr were well in control and had two early penalty awards – one of which was missed – to take a 3-0 lead. Just before the 15 minute mark, however, Watsonians gained possession in their own half and together with some neat handling and offloading, built an overlap which allowed winger, Ben Robbins to outflank the defence and score under the posts. With the kick seen over from No. 10, Chad Northcott, the home side were 7-3 ahead.

Unfortunately, as is the way, Marr struck back almost immediately with another penalty from Rory McGee to bring them to within a point at 7-6.

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But within a couple of minutes, Watsonians had extended their lead again with a fine try. Gaining possession of the ball deep in his own half, centre, Andrew Chalmers sprinted, dummied and side-stepped his way through the Marr defence to touch down on the left of the posts. Northcott missed the kick so the score was now 12-6.

Marr then got back on the horse and took the game to Watsonians. They pushed the Myreside men back and pinned them inside their 22. They did cross the line, but the referee deemed the ball held up, so awarded a scrum. The next couple of minutes saw the Marr scrum on top, with the home side losing a man to the bin. Eventually the ref tired of the collapsing scrums and warded the visitors a penalty try under the posts. McGee knocked the kick over and Marr were back in the lead 13-12.

And then it all fell to pieces for the men from Troon. A few minutes from half time, Marr were turned over from a ruck and Watsonians quickly moved into the offensive. Again the ball was shifted along line, with Northcott taking the ball well into the Marr half. Then that man Chalmers – Man-of-the-Match – popped up on the outside for the final pass down the right to score his second. Northcott was successful with the boot this time and the teams went into the break at 19-13.EdinReport-WatsvMarr-2

The second half saw the floodgates open as scores rained in on Marr from all angles. The first was after less than a minute of play when full back, Montgomery fought off a couple of tackles to score his contribution. Next score was a penalty from Chalmers (27-13), then a try from No. 20 Barry (plus Chalmer’s kick, 34-13), another Chalmers penalty (37-13), No. 2, Jake Kerr – very nice dummy and side-step from a front row – (42-13) and yet another Chalmers kick – how did he get man of the match…..? – (45-13). Then there was a slight blip in proceedings as Marr got their act together for a few minutes and scored a nice try on the right through No. 14, Scott Bickerstaff (45-18).

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Watsonians final try was down the right from Mr. Barry – The Watsonians website was no more help with the team – with his second for that impressive 50-18 final score.

Marr, in the second half were not the team they were in the first and were turned over on many occasions and lost the ball on others, but this shouldn’t take anything away from, what was suggested to be, a second string Watsonians’ side who performed very well.

Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.

 

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