Borders U18's lose first Inter District Championship Game

Published 17 Feb 2010 14:55 0 Comments

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Caledonia U18 22

Border Reivers 8

THE Reivers U18's, having demonstrated their potential to play a high tempo game after defeating a strong Newcastle Academy side two weeks earlier, travelled to Caledonia, where overnight frost had necessitated a venue switch from Kirkcaldy to Stirling, for their first National U18 Selection Fixture.

The visitors took time to settle however and Caledonia were soon 7 points clear after some good forward drives created space for a converted try under the posts. Good Reivers possession was spoiled by turnovers in promising situations, which allowed Caledonia off the hook and the home side should have stretched their lead but poor handling saved the Reivers.

The Reivers pack were in charge at the set piece but the contact area was keenly contested, sometimes too keenly as Ryan Godsmark was sin-binned for handling in the ruck, and from the resulting penalty Caledonia added a further three points.

Reivers eventually replied with a Stuart Hogg penalty on half-time to reduce the deficit to 10-3.

After the break Caledonia took charge, pinning the Reivers in their own half and, despite some spirited defence, increased their lead with a try when possession was recycled and moved wide from a quickly taken line-out and a neat chip to the corner allowed Caledonia to go over.

The game lost shape and structure as both sets of players became frustrated; and lost players to the bin for indiscipline. Captain Robin Hislop led from the front during the 2nd half, both in set piece and through strong carries in open play, however further turnovers allowed Caledonian to gain field position, then possession, from which they added a further seven points for a 22-3 lead. The Reivers rallied and did have the last word as No.8 Andrew Nagle scored a consolation try from a scrum pick-up.

Although a disappointing result the Borders players demonstrated that they could manage to play at the raised tempo, pace and physicality of the National Under 18 Identification Fixtures, if only for spells. Next week they face Glasgow at Riverside Park, Jedburgh (2.00pm kick off) and all support would be welcome!

Reivers Team

15. Josh Welsh (Selkirk YC), 14. Nyle Godsmark (Selkirk YC), 13. Callum Wilde (Melrose Wasps), 12. Lewis MacLennan (Selkirk YC), 11. Nick Swanston (Hawick PSA), 10. Craig Dods (Gala Wanderers) & 9. Murray Hastie (Kelso Harlequins) 1. Robin Hislop (Hawick Wanderers) 2. Chris Telfer (Hawick PSA) 3. Gavin Robertson (Melrose Wasps) 4. Ian Robertson (Melrose Wasps) 5. Lewis Mallin (Hawick PSA), 6. Rory Sutherland (Hawick Wanderers), 7. Ryan Godsmark (Selkirk YC) & 8. Andrew Nagle (Jed Thistle), Replacements 16. Russell Anderson (Selkirk YC) 17. Shawn Muir (Hawick PSA) 18. Alexander MacKay (Jed Thistle), 19. Ewan MacDougall (Selkirk YC) 20. Harry Aynsley (Selkirk YC) 21. Stuart Hogg (Heriot's), & 22. Mark Stewart (Melrose Wasps)

Border Reivers U17 Development XV 5

Caledonia U17 Development XV 24

THE Borders Reivers U17 slipped to their second defeat, losing out to Caledonia by four tries to one at Murrayfield last night. Both sides struggled with continuity due to poor handling, although Caledonia always held the upper hand with the amount of possession, dominated territory and were worthy winners.

After a cagey opening, with both teams trying to find their feet, Caledonia eventually took the lead twenty minutes in when full back Buchan slipped past three tacklers inside the Reivers twenty two to go over fro a try converted by Brumwell. Reivers got back into the match when an attempted Caledonia chip ahead twenty five metres from their own line, landed in Harry Aynsley's hands, and the Selkirk YC centre ran in unopposed.

Five minutes before the interval Reivers second row Cammy Murray was sin-binned for a trip and Caledonia turned the screw, and after spurning one golden opportunity when the final "scoring" pass was put to ground, Caledonia eventually created space on the left for Lamb to cross in the corner.

Trailing 12-5 at the break Reivers were soon restored to full strength and competed well for much of the second half, however two late tries saw Caledonia stretch away. First a break from deep saw Kelly take the final pass to cross in the right corner with ten minutes remaining, then five minutes later, good interplay freed replacement hooker Kennedy who ran in from twenty five metres, with Buchan adding the conversion.

Overall this was a more competitive performance from the Reivers team, with the pack again asking questions of the Caledonia pack, however first up tackling, especially from kick chase, and the ability to retain possession and build pressure on the opposition will need to be improved before they face unbeaten Glasgow next Wednesday evening.

Reivers Team

15. Gary Peebles (Haddington Colts) 14. Andrew Baxter (Duns Colts) 13. Harry Aynsley (Selkirk YC) 12. Euan Munro (Jed Thistle) 11. Gregor Cursiter (Peebles Colts) 10. Jonny Morris (Peebles Colts) 9. David Wills (Peebles Colts) 1. Callum Maguire (Berwick Colts) 2. James Bett (Selkirk YC) 3. Shawn Muir (Hawick PSA) 4. Ruairi Wilson (Selkirk YC) 5. Cameron Murray (Peebles Colts) 6. Jack Sudlow (Jed Thistle) 7. Stuart Graham (Hawick PSA) & 8. Cameron Martin (Berwick Colts). Replacements: 16. Russell Anderson (Langholm Colts) 17. Michael Waldron (Selkirk YC) 18. Andrew Wolf (Kelso Harlequins) 19. Dalton Hall (Peebles Colts) & 20. Blair Roden (Melrose).

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