Trinity Academy School Rugby Report

October 2006

With no tour this summer there seemed a decent break from the end of last season to the start of this and our coaching staff approached the new challenges with vigor.

There has only been one change to last season’s coaching staff but the loss of Christian Boyd, who took our S1’s along with John Spencer, will be deeply felt. Not only had he struck up a good rapport with his boys but he also was a regular in the Accies side and finished his time playing in the black and gold with a flourish of 3 tries. We wish him luck in Canada.

Allan Spencer decided to jump ship following the 1st XV’s best ever season and has moved back to taking the S1’s. His place with the seniors was taken by Andy Bruce who teams up with Colin Spencer. Stuart MacDonald, Chris Nisbet and Kevin Watters have stayed with their S3 side and John Spencer, our BATs SVQ student moved up with the S2’s.

S1

The six S1 players who arrived at the first practice were, as usual; full of enthusiasm but the quantity was a worry. However the numbers soon swelled to the current 24 regular trainers.

Only a handful of boys had played rugby before but the core of Rory Scott, Max Love (son of Broughton ex President Jerry), Murray Devine, Callum Stewart (son of Dickie - Accies player of the Japes era) and Sam Pecquer (brother of flying winger Josh) gave us something to work with. They were joined by a load of keen peers and the appearance of Kiwi Ben Lill strengthened them further. A narrow defeat in the first game was followed by three consecutive wins and despite losing to a very good Howe of Fife side they bounced back to beat Preston Lodge.

Sam Pecquer is top try scorer and in Lewis Gillespie we have a very consistent kicker.

The D2’s have played two matches drawing one and losing one but there are signs of several of these boys pressurising the D1’s for places.

D1 Results

Boroughmuir L 11-12

Stew Mel D3 W 4-3

Heriots D2/3 W 15-9

Watson’s D3 W 8-0

Howe of Fife L 0-38

Preston Lodge W 11-0

D2 Results

Watson’s D4 D 15-15

Howe of Fife L 3-27

S2

Trinity S2’s looked to start the new season on a high even though they had just lost their inspirational English coach Christian Boyd.

The new era under coach John "Speno" Spencer looked to start with a bang when they looked to open there season with a big win against Boroughmuir, only to be cruelly denied at the death.

Things went from bad to worse as the confident Trinity side was blown away by Portobello, which included Gregor Johnstone being on the Portobello lunch menu. This game saw the introduction of New Zealand stand off George Lill.

Match 3 saw them up against an inexperienced but feisty Broughton side. The Trinity side fielded S1’s such as Sam Pecquer, Murray Devine and Rory Scott. All played to a high standard and easily showed the S2 boys how to play the game.

The following weekend saw a local derby with Goldenacre boys Heriots. This was a game of agonizing pain, not only for the coach by getting edged out by a point, but also for the seven players that were sidelined through injury.

Game 5 brought about the 1st bus trip for the boys, which was more fun for some than others. Adam Hall took quite a beating, while George had an accident, which Alex was made to clear up.

The game wasn’t much better losing 13-7 to a strong Howe of Fife side.

So far Trinity hasn’t had the results that they deserve losing four and winning one. Well done to Lewis Timmons, Alex Taylor, George Lill, Colin Miller, Gareth Hopkins and Adam Begbie who have been put forward for Edinburgh Pathway.

Senior XV’s

After last year's highly successful season, the senior rugby squad has started the season with plenty of enthusiasm. The squad includes a good mix of 4th, 5th and 6th years and has been training in sufficient numbers to allow us to field a 1st and 2nd XV. Under Tom Drennan's captaincy, a new look 1st XV has played some exciting rugby without quite achieving the results their performances deserved.

The season started in disappointing manner with a rusty performance resulting in a narrow defeat to rivals Boroughmuir, a result that the team is determined to put right in the return fixture later in the year. A much improved showing against Heriots on the main pitch at Goldenacre resulted in a narrow defeat. Despite having controlled the game for large periods and having raced in to an early lead, the team faded towards the end of the match and became susceptible to Heriots short driving game. Despite a couple of lightning breaks from Duncan McLelland in the final stages of the game, the team was unable to overhaul the home side.

Following these 2 narrow defeats, the side bounced back in impressive style with crushing victories over a touring team from South America and West Edinburgh with incisive running from the backs and strong forward play very much to the fore.

Tom Drennan has led the team impressively from the front and has formed a dynamic back row partnership with the pacey Calum Macleod and 4th year Chris Murray who is showing plenty of promise for the future. Elsewhere in the pack Murray Clouston, James Roxburgh and Jonny Latta have formed a very solid and reliable front row.

The backs have shown some moments of brilliance but have also been guilty of a lack of ruthlessness. Marshaled by 4th year fly half Euan Bonner, the back line blends a good mix of powerful running from centre Scott Donnelly and wing Robbie Veale and searing pace from Duncan McLelland. Craig Donnelly has been in good form at full back despite only recently returning to the game.

We are looking forward to the return of scrum half and vice Captain Euan Watson for the second half of the season which will see the start of our cup campaign against the High School of Glasgow.

The 2nd XV have had a difficult start to the season. Despite a good opening win against Portobello, the team suffered heavy defeats to Heriots and Watsons. To their credit, the team has always shown a determination to train hard and fight to the final whistle and will look forward to getting some good performances under their belt in the second half of the season.