FOSROC Super6 – Round 9

FOSROC Super6 – Round 9

Match reports from the ninth round of the FOSROC Super6 as Watsonians hosted Heriot's Rugby and Southern Knights hosted Stirling County. The match between Boroughmuir Bears and Ayrshire Bulls was played on Sunday 23 February due to the weather.

Sunday 23 February 


The re-arranged FOSROC Super6 fixture between Boroughmuir Bears and Ayrshire Bulls went ahead on the 3G surface at Queensferry RFC this afternoon as Meggetland was still deemed unplayable due to the recent deluge of wet weather.

Visitors Ayrshire Bulls who produced a dominant second half performance, scoring a total of six tries and earning themselves an important bonus point win.

Although it was the Bulls who were victorious, hosts Boroughmuir Bears opened the scoring within the first five minutes. With the Bulls penalised just inside the half-way line, Bears stand-off Chris Laidlaw slotted the ball between the uprights. (3-0)

Ten minutes later the Bulls were able to score their first try of the match when skipper Pete McCallum broke through a Bears tackle on the wing and ran in a try, full-back Ross Thomson adding the conversion. (3-7)

Bears responded almost immediately when centre Archie Russell gathered a loose ball and broke clear of the Bulls defence to score under the posts, Laidlaw adding the further two points. (10-7)

Sam Kitchen cemented himself at the top of the FOSROC Super6 top try scorer board as he scored his eighth try of the tournament halfway through the second half. Scrum-half Harry Warr made a break, the ball was recycled, Kitchen then powered over from the ruck securing the ball down over the whitewash. (10-19)

The visitors extended their lead further, just before half-time, when George Bordill crashed over the try line in between the posts making an easy conversion for Thomson. (10-19)

HALF-TIME: Boroughmuir Bears 10-19 Ayrshire Bulls


Bulls secured their bonus league point five minutes into the second half when Nico Griffiths collected a loose Bears pass from within the 22 and crashed over under a pile of bodies, Thomson once again good with the conversion. (10-26)

The Bears were able to score again when inside centre Archie Russel broke clear of the Bulls defence on the halfway line. He found Glen Faulds in support who took it up the park, although he looked for another Bear to pass to, he had no option but to back himself and he ran the try into the corner with Laidlaw converting. (17-26)

Although it looked as though Bears were mounting their come back Bulls stretched ahead with ten minutes to go.

Through good, simple quick hands winger Tyler Beary was able to touch down in the corner, Thomson adding the conversion from the touchline. (17-33)

Moments later they moved further ahead when FOSROC Player of the Match Harry Warr threw the ball between his legs to replacement James Pinkerton who put in a sneaky grubber kick. Experienced winger Craig Gossman collected it and dived over the try line, Thomson adding the conversion to make it forty points. (17-40)

With three minutes left on the clock Bears were reduced to 14 men when Matt Walker was shown a yellow card, and in the last-minute Jordan Edmunds was shown a yellow for a deliberate knock down. Although they were forced to finish the game with 13 men credit to the Bears who put in a solid defensive effort in the closing minutes of the game to deny the visitors another score.

FULL-TIME: Boroughmuir Bears 17-40 Ayrshire Bulls


FOSROC Player of the Match: Harry Warr (Ayrshire Bulls)

Boroughmuir Bears: 15. Glen Faulds; 14. Cammy Gray, 13. Ronan Kerr, 12. Archie Russell, 11. Jordan Edmunds; 10. Chris Laidlaw (C), 9. Murray Johnstone; 1. AP McWilliam, 2. Toby Francombe, 3. Nathan Borel, 4. Ewan Stewart, 5. Callum Atkinson, 6. David Medjebeur, 7. Scott McGinley, 8. Craig Keddie.

Replacements: 16. Ryan Montgomery, 17. Chris Anderson, 18. Colin Arthur, 19. Tom Drennan, 20. Matt Walker, 21. Jack Hamilton, 22. Ewan Fox, 23. Greg Cannie

Ayrshire Bulls: 15. Ross Thomson; 14. Tyler Beary, 13. Danny McCluskey, 12. Isaac McNulty, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Tom Jordan, 9. Harr Warr; 1. Gordon Reid. 2. Sam Kitchen, 3. Nicolas Griffiths, 4. Fraser Hastie, 5. Lars Morrice, 6. George Bordill, 7. Peter McCallum CAPTAIN, 8. Blair Macpherson.

Replacements: 16. Alex McGuire, 17. Michael Scott, 18. Ruairidh Sayce, 19. Gavin Wilson, 20. Lewis Anderson, 21. Graham Geldenhuys, 22. Alyan Schabort, 23. James Pinkerton

Weekend of Friday 14 February – Sunday 16 February 

Watsonians v Heriot’s Rugby 

Watsonians retained their position at the top of the FOSROC Super6 table on Friday evening when they produced an improved second half performance to overcome city rivals Heriot’s Rugby. In doing so they secured themselves a place home play-off on the weekend of Friday 20 – Sunday 22 March.

Scoring opened on just the second minute when Edinburgh Rugby’s Chris Dean broke the hosts defence just before the twenty-two-meter line. He evaded Watsonians fullback Jamie Forbes and ran in under the posts, Ross Jones adding the extra two points on offer.

Moments later it looked like Watsonians would be able to get their first score of the night when lock Brian Leitch broke free of a tackle, he offloaded to scrum half Murray Scott who took it close to the five-meter line but he was brought down by Heriot’s Cameron Hutchison.

The hosts were able to get some points on the board just after Leitch’s break when Heriot’s were penalised for offside. Current FOSROC Super6 top points scorer Lee Millar stepped up and slotted it between the uprights.

Heriot’s hit back when full back Ross Jones found winger James Couper outside him, Couper turned on the gas to outpace his opposite man on the outside and run in for a try with Jones adding the conversion.

On the half hour mark the visitors extended their lead when referee Mike Adamson awarded them with a penalty try, Watsonians Morgan Inness was shown a yellow card for collapsing the maul.

With the hosts facing an 18-point deficit at half time, they threw everything at their attack. They stretched their play wide, Lewis Berg collected the ball and muscled his way towards the try line, he stretched out to dot it down and secured Watsonians first try of the game. Millar with the successful conversion from the touch line.

HALF-TIME: Watsonians 10-21 Heriot’s Rugby


It looked as though Watsonians would be the first team to score in the second half when Joe Reynolds broke up the stand side wing from the halfway line, he passed it out to replacement scrumhalf Ali Harris who made his way up the park but was brought down on the five-meter line but the Heriot’s defence.

Mike Adamson awarded his second penalty try of the night, this time to Watsonians, when Heriot’s Jack McClean was shown a yellow card for collapsing the lineout maul.

With the visitors a man down the hosts had the opportunity to capitalise, they made a break -up the middle of the park and remained camped on the Heriot’s try line. They remained composed and when Ali Harris to give the back line a chance to score it was full back Jamie Forbes who straightened up and went over the whitewash, Millar converted the score to put the hosts in front for the first time in the game.

With the final whistle drawing closer Heriot’s gained possession, they kept it secure and moved up towards the halfway line.

With every glimpse of attack all they found in front of them was a wall of Watsonians defenders, Chris Dean chipped ahead in the hope something could come of it but it was collected by Watsonians and kicked out of play to secure their top spot position and a home place play-off.

FULL-TIME: Watsonians 24-21 Heriot’s Rugby 


FOSROC Player of the Match: James Miller (Watsonians)

Referee: Mike Adamson

Watsonians: 15. Jamie Forbes; 14. Lomond Macpherson, 13. Lewis Berg, 12. Joe Reynolds, 11. Angus Guthrie; 10 Lee Millar CAPTAIN, 9. Murray Scott; 1. Harrison Courtney, 2. Cal Davies, 3. Jack Stanley, 4. Brian Leitch, 5. Jamie Hodgson, 6. James Miller, 7. Michael Badenhorst, 8. Morgan Inness.

Replacements: 16. Ross Graham, 17. Sam Grahamslaw. 18. Jonny Gibson, 20. Harry Fisher, 19. Mesu Kunavula, 21. Ali Harris, 22. Andrew Chalmers, 23. Ruaraidh Smith.

Heriot’s Rugby: 15. Ross Jones; 14. James Couper, 13. Chris Dean, 12. Cameron Hutchinson, 11. James Spencer; 10. Stewart Edwards, 9. Andrew Simmers; 1. Andrew Nimmo, 2. Ali Johnstone, 3. Josh Scott, 4. Adam Sinclair, 5. Charlie Jupp, 6. Iain Wilson CAPTAIN, 7. Jack McClean 8. Jason Hill.

Replacements: 16. Finlay Scott, 17. Martin Bouab, 18. Struan Cessford, 19. Ronan Seydak, 20. Callum Marshall, 21. Dan Nutton, 22. Scott Riddell, 23. Alex Ball.

Southern Knights v Stirling County

In the aftermath of storm Dennis, the match between Southern Knights and Stirling County went ahead on the new 3G pitch at The Greenyards. The hosts scored five tries, earning a bonus point win and securing themselves a place in the play-offs, against the men from Bridgehaugh.

The visitors had two opportunities to open the scoring within the first 20 minutes. The first came when Southern Knights were penalised for a no arms tackle, County’s Josh Henderson attempted the penalty goal kick from in front of the posts but it was taken to the right of the uprights by the wind.

When Southern Knights were penalised once again for a no arms tackle Henderson opted to kick once more. Although his kick looked to be good the wind took his attempt to the right of the posts for a second time.

County had an opportunity to score at the end of the first quarter when winger Ewan MacGarvie broke up field from a backline set piece move which was straight off the training park. It looked as though he could be over but was brought down inches from the try line by Knights Joe Jenkins and Fraser Thomson.

The first try of the game did come two minutes later, however. Stirling County had a line out on the five-meter line, as the pack mauled it forward centre Landon Hayes joined the back of the maul and secured the ball down over the try line.

The Knights responded on the half hour mark with an almost identical try. Hooker Fraser Renwick threw the ball into the line out on their five-meter line, Angus Runciman won the ball in the air and his pack marched forward to allow Renwick to score the Knights first try of the game.

HALF-TIME Southern Knights 5-5 Stirling County 

Image by Bryan Robertson 

Five minutes into the second half the Southern Knights stretched ahead of Stirling County. Knights stand-off Jason Baggott took quick tap penalty on the five-meter line and went himself. He managed to muscle his way over the try line to put his team in the lead for the first time in the game.

County were able to respond when back row George Arnott made a break down the touch line, he offloaded to winger MacGarvie who passed inside to scrum half Caleb Korteweg who ran in to make it 10 points all.

When Knight’s fullback Thomson made yards down the blind side of a breakdown it left the County defence scrambling. Knight’s scrum half Struan Hutchinson recycled the ball quickly and found back row Ruaridh Knott who broke through a defensive tackle to score the hosts third try of the game. Baggott adding the further two points on offer

From a line out on the five-meter line the hosts threw everything at their maul, with eleven players on the drive they were able to overcome County’s defence. It allowed to replacement hooker Russell Anderson to score over the whitewash, with Baggott successful with the conversion.

In the last play of the game the hosts had a scrum on the five-meter line, as County put in the hits on the try line the ball was recycled and found its way to Knights back row Neil Irvine-Hess who crashed over to secure victory for the hosts.

The result this afternoon means the Southern Knights go into third position in the FOSROC Super6, it also means that unfortunately Stirling County are now out of reach of a place in the play-offs and will contest the battle at the bottom of the league with Boroughmuir Bears.

​FULL-TIME: Southern Knights 31-10 Stirling County

Image by Bryan Robertson 

FOSROC Player of the Match: Neil Irvine-Hess (Southern Knights)

Referee: Finlay Brown

Southern Knights: 15. Fraser Thomson CAPTAIN; 14. Ciaran Whyte, 13. Joe Jenkins, 12. Gavin Wood, 11. Patrick Anderson; 10. Jason Baggott, 9. Struan Hutchinson; 1. Grant Shiells, 2. Fraser Renwick, 3. Ewan Mcquillan, 4. James Head, 5. Angus Runciman, 6. Ruaridh Knott, 7. Dylan Taylor, 8. Neil Irvine-Hess.

Replacements: 16. Russell Anderson, 17. Conor Young, 18. Sean Gunn, 19. Dalton Redpath, 20. Iain Moody, 21. Bruce Colvine, 22. Iain Sim, 23. Michael Mvelase-Julyan

Stirling County: 15. Ollie Horne; 14. Ewan MacGarvie, 13. Robbie Kent, 12. Landon Hayes, 11. Logan Trotter; 10. Josh Henderson, 9. Caleb Korteweg; 1. Charlie Brown, 2. Reyner Kennedy CAPTAIN, 3. Murphy Walker, 4. Ollie Bartlett, 5. James Pow, 6. George Arnott, 7. Connor Gordon, 8. Dean Taylor-Menzies.

Replacements: 16. Angus Fraser, 17. Adam Wood, 18. Fergus Bradbury, 19. Jale Vakaloloma, 20. Josh King, 21. Andrew Goudie, 22. Craig Jardine, 23. Bruce Sorbie

Spread the word

Newsletter Sign-up

Sign-up for our newsletter today to receive the latest updates, content and releases from Scottish Rugby.

Sign-up

Principal Partners