Friday 5 August: Ayrshire Bulls v Heriot’s Blues

The 2022 FOSROC Super6 Championship was kick-started at Millbrae on Friday, where last season’s Championship winners came out on top, claiming five points through five tries with a full-time score of 33-17.

The hosts were lightning fast in their opening attack, getting on the score board within less than two minutes of the clock starting. Capitalising on a penalty awarded for a tackle in the air on Liam McNamara, Bulls fly-half William Hunt took his team deep into the Blue’s 22 with a kick into the corner where Referee Ruairidh Campbell assembled the first scrum of the Championship some meters from the Blues try line. A dominant scrum, Bulls retained their ball and well-connected work from scrum-half Jordan Lenac to winger Elias Caven. Hunt added the extras and the opening scores of the Championship were recorded.

Heriot’s of course had something to say, and made the most of their first attacking phase. With the Bulls penalised for not rolling away from Bulls, Heriot’s fly-half Bruce Houston sent the ball into the left corner for an advantageously positioned lineout. Winning their ball, the Blues pushed forward with the pack before partnership between Houston and his winger Sam Pecquer who dotted the ball down next to the posts. Houston’s close-range conversion sailed over and the score was drawn at 7-7 with just six minutes on the clock.

Some minutes later it looked as if the visitors were in for another score when Jack Mann went tearing through the middle of the pitch, but he was brought down some 10 meters from the Bull try line.

Ayr were back on the scoreboard at 23 minutes with a formidable performance from the backs, which saw the ball ping-pong between Caven and Thomas Glendinning before Robert Beattie dotted the ball across the whitewash. Hunt’s goal was good, and Ayr took the lead 14-7.

Once more, Heriot’s were quick to respond and Pecquer would score his second try of the night. Houston added the extras, levelling the score at 14-a-piece.

Before the first half closed, Heriot’s had two opportunities to kick for posts with the Bulls penalised Heriot’s penalty for high tackle and then for infringements. Houston’s boot secured one of those two penalties, and Heriot’s secured a narrow lead at the break.

HALF-TIME: Ayrshire Bulls 14 Heriot’s Blues 17

It was a rocky start for the Bulls, with inside centre Thomas Glendinning sent to the sin bin for tackle which saw Fraser Hastie go over the horizontal. Sustained pressure deep in the Bulls 22 with an extra man on the field, it looked like the Blue’s were on for another score, but Ayrshire’s defence was solid.

By the time Glendinning re-entered the field Ayr were on an upwards trajectory of penalties which they could capitalise on. Another nudge into the corner from Hunt, saw Heriot’s whitewash in proximity. The lineout was taken into a power Bulls maul, where second-half substitute James Malcolm grounded the ball and reclaimed the lead. A tricky kick for Hunt went unconverted.

Blues made an attempt to narrow the gap with a kick to the posts when the Bulls were penalised for scrum offences. Houston’s kick, which was just shy of the half-way line was ever so slightly wide.

Another score was on the horizon for the hosts, and with Heriot’s captain Ruairidh Leishman shown a team yellow, the Bulls were eager to make the most of the extra player.

Malcolm was back for his second of the night with just shy of ten minutes left on the clock, with another score from the back of a maul. Hunt once again converted and the Bulls’ lead was extended.

In the dying moments of the game, it would be the phases from the final scrum of the game which would secure one final Bulls try. Hunt sent the ball deep into Heriot’s 22, pinching them into the left corner. Beattie spun himself over the whitewash for his second try of the night, and Hunt’s final conversion was good, and the Bulls secured a maximum five league points.

FULL-TIME: Ayrshire Bulls 33 Heriot’s Blues 17

Referee: Ruairidh Campbell

FOSROC Super6 Player of the Match: Blair McPherson (Ayrshire Bulls)

TRY SCORERS
Ayrshire Bulls: Elias Caven, Robert Beattie (2) James Malcolm (2)
Heriot’s Blues: Sam Pecquer (2)

CONVERSIONS

Ayrshire Bulls: William Hunt (4)
Heriot’s Blues: Bruce Houston (2)

PENALTIES
Heriot’s Blues: Bruce Houston

Saturday 6 August: Stirling Wolves v Boroughmuir Bears

Boroughmuir Bears got their 2022 FOSROC Super6 campaign off to a winning start as they defeated Stirling Wolves 27-10 at Bridgehaugh.

Jack Bergin got the scoring underway, slotting a penalty through the posts from just outside the 22 to give the Bears an early lead.

The visitors then got the first try of the afternoon. After the forwards could not find a way through the Wolves’ defence, it was left to the backs and Scott Robeson crashed through two defenders to score.

The Wolves then hit back within three minutes, as Marcus Holden found a gap and Gregor Christie received the offload and stretched to dot down.

Bergin then slotted another penalty to extend the Meggetland side’s lead.

But on the brink of half time, Stirling’s driving maul on the left side brought them over the line, with Lewis Skinner grounding the ball to reduce his side’s deficit to three.

Half time: Stirling Wolves 10-13 Boroughmuir Bears

The Bears built further on their lead six minutes into the second half with their second try. This time it was the forwards who managed to reach the line, with captain Craig Keddie finishing off a flurry of carries from the Boroughmuir pack.

And the victory was secured as Callum Smith bulldozed his way over from close range after he was picked out well by Ruaridh Swan.

Full time: Stirling Wolves 10-27 Boroughmuir Bears

Referee: Ian Kenny

FOSROC Player of the Match: Jack Fisher (Boroughmuir Bears)

TRY SCORERS:

Stirling Wolves: Gregor Christie, Lewis Skinner
Boroughmuir Bears: Scott Robeson, Craig Keddie, Callum Smith

CONVERSIONS:

Boroughmuir Bears: Jack Bergin (3)

PENALTIES:

Boroughmuir Bears: Jack Bergin (2)

Saturday 6 August: Southern Knights v Watsonians

Watsonians continued where they had left off from the Sprint Series as they got off to a winning start in the FOSROC Super6, beating Southern Knights 36-12 at The Greenyards.

After a slow start, Jason Baggott started the scoring in the 28th minute as he slotted over a penalty from in front of the posts.

Just three minutes later, Southern Knights got the first try as Sam Derrick picked up a loose ball at the side of a ruck and raced over before Watsonians could react.

Watsonians took the lead with the last play of the half, as the ball was passed out to the left wing and Neil Irvine-Hess found a way to the line.

Half time: Southern Knights 5-10 Watsonians

Right at the start of the second half, Baggott got the visitors’ second try as he danced through a tight gap close to the line to finish.

In the 58th minute, Lewis Berg scored a carbon copy of Baggott’s try, picking the ball up in a similar position and stepping inside his man in the same manner.

The bonus point was secured by the Edinburgh side on the hour mark, with Angus Guthrie proving too strong for the Knights’ defence and barrelling over.

The Myreside outfit then scored a fifth try in the 75th minute, as the back three broke up the left side of the pitch and a phase later Karl Main crashed over from a short distance.

With the last play of the game, the Knights got themselves a consolation score as Struan Cessford fought his way over after a period of pressure from the hosts.

Full time: Southern Knights 12-36 Watsonians

Referee: Jonny Perriam

FOSROC Player of the Match: Connor Eastgate (Watsonians)

TRY SCORERS:

Southern Knights: Sam Derrick, Struan Cessford
Watsonians: Neil Irvine-Hess, Jason Baggott, Lewis Berg, Angus Guthrie, Karl Main

CONVERSIONS:

Southern Knights: David Colvine
Watsonians: Jason Baggott (3), Lee Millar

PENALTIES:

Watsonians: Jason Baggott