Edinburgh U17 Development XV 14                                                                                                                                                            Border Reivers U17 Development XV 6

Two tries in the final ten minutes saw Edinburgh secure a 14-6 victory over Border Reivers in the first of two Under 17 Development matches, played at a wet and windy Bridgehaugh in Stirling. Despite the conditions both teams tried to move the ball and some good passages of play were only spoiled by the odd handling error which killed any momentum and prevented the creation of many clear cut try scoring opportunities. There was certainly no shortage of commitment and intensity however as both teams served up a tense encounter.

Edinburgh dominated the opening twenty minutes but could not capitalise on some good field position and a penalty conceded late in the half saw Craig Dods put the Border Reivers three nil ahead at the interval. The second half saw the Borderers force Edinburgh back into their own half for long periods however thanks to some solid defence all the Borders could muster was a second Dods penalty midway through the half. With ten minutes remaining Edinburgh capitalised on a dropped pass as The Borders moved the ball wide in midfield. The ball was kicked ahead into the Borders 22 and as the squirmed away from the cover Rory Scott was on hand to hack over the line and pounce for a try converted by Fraser Gillies.

A nervy final period ensued as Borders had a chance to re-take the lead but the penalty attempt drifted wide, and as full time approached Edinburgh took full advantage of a weak kick to take play deep into Borders 22 before Ben Johnstone forced his way over from close range. Gillies added the conversion to end the game and Edinburgh now look forward to meeting Glasgow, who defeated Caledonia, in the second round of matches, again at Stirling, next Wednesday night.

Edinburgh Team                                                                                                                                                     15. Ross Peacock (Boroughmuir) 14. Angus Normand (Edinburgh Academy) 13. Jack Ferguson (George Watson’s College) 12. Rory Scott (Boroughmuir) 11. Guy Skivington-Jones (Merchiston Castle School) 10. Fraser Gillies (Edinburgh Academy) 9. Joe Stachan (Currie) 1. Denis Pech (Currie) 2. Fergus Scott (Currie) 3. Chris Scott (George Watson’s College) 4. William Kay (Boroughmuir) 5. Michael Moyes (Boroughmuir) 6. Ben Johnstone (Stewart’s Melville College) 7. Matthew Walker (Boroughmuir) & 8. Malcolm Peacock (George Watson’s College)                                                                  Replacements                                                                                                                                                        16. George Turner (Stewart’s Melville College) 17. Andrew Philp (Currie) 18. Roddy Campbell (Edinburgh Academy) 19. Daryll Morrow (Merchiston Castle School) 20. Lawrie Seydak (Edinburgh Academy) 21. James Munro (Edinburgh Academy) & 22. Michael Crawley (Stewart’s Melville College)