Stewart’s Melville RFC 42 Dundee Rugby 26 FT.

Game stated well for Dundee Rugby Club early score by Ollie Stoops, a break on the right hand side, spilt the defence and created space to run in, conversion by Duncan Campbell.

Stewart’s Melville using their big forwards always gaining ground and putting pressure in between the 15m lines, scoring through a solid driving maul. The home team scoring an easy try from a quick ruck, in from 20m.

Ross Jackson power run from a short pass, hits a gap, big leg drive and breaks free from a double tackle, no conversion. So at 20mins it’s 10-12, with both sides showing the pace they want to play at. Set piece solid from both sets of forwards and looks like we are in for a game!

However, Stewart Melville then pressed through solid running lines, some missed tackles and to be honest, poor play from the lads.A penalty for our hosts made it 13-12, then two quick tries before half time, both converted, making it 27-12 at HT.

Changes made by both teams and a more dynamic playbook becomes apparent, with ball traveling the width of the park, with phase play and big hits a plenty. The opposition were first to score, making it 34-12 and looking to push in for more scores, but that wasn’t the case. A few hard won turnovers gave some quick ball for us to use and pace from Paul Ritch brought it back to 34-19, conversion by Duncan.

Stewart’s Melville again pressed in the midfield and found space to allow another score so with 6 mins left, 39-19.

Sidelines willing the lads to finish well with at least a 4 try bonus point, which was scored by POTM Ollie Stoops. Line break far side, one man to beat and afterburners got him into the corner. 39-24 and an excellent conversion by Duncan makes it 39-26.

4 mins left, could we get a losing bonus point? Well the lads gave it everything and as such gave away a penalty that was around our 10m line, and off center, great strike and that was that with the game finishing 42-26.

To a man, the team and coaches know the work on’s, they know the strengths. It’s now about aligning what we do in training to what the team produces on match day.

Heads high, we look forward, not back.

- Willie Stoops, 1XV Team Manager