The first U15 League match of the season saw the combined Penicuik & Dalkeith squad face the stern challenge of a determined Currie team in Dalkeith’s public park.
The early exchanges were slightly scrappy in the greasy conditions with the ball being knocked on in the tackle by both teams. The early pressure came from Currie whose scrum dominated from the outset. It was from a scrum that the first try came about...for P&D. Currie won the scrum easily and the ball passed along the back line until it was spilled, quickly pounced on by the P&D backs, recycled and passed through 3 pairs of hands for a fantastic score in the corner for Andrew Clark, who subsequently missed the kick from the touchline. Matthew Garden then put in a couple of good tactical kicks to put the Currie defence under pressure. P&D went two scores ahead when Ruaridh Smith picked up on a loose clearance and went on a mazy run to dot down behind the posts. Currie, however, came storming back before the interval with two late scores.
P&D were now playing into the elements as we moved into the second half where the Currie scrum was proving a very tough challenge for the P&D forwards. The pattern of play was to mirror that of the first half where possession was frequently turned over. Both teams managed two scores apiece before P&D managed to get some parity in the scrums and as a result managed further tries from Andrew Clark, Ruaridh Smith, James McQueen x 2, Stephen McMillan and a fine No8 pick up from 10 meters out for Andrew McGuff who barged through a wing forward and full back to score a well deserved try 10 metres from the touchline.
This turned out to be a very good match and P&D thoroughly deserved their victory but improvements will need to be made especially in the scrum as there will be harder tests to come this season.
Final Score – Penicuik/Dalkeith 36-24 Currie
Richard Garden
