THE world's oldest continuous rugby fixture turned the clock back to celebrate its 150th anniversary yesterday with a game that almost ended as it had begun all those years ago, in a draw.

Merchiston Castle School won 11-8 against their old rivals Edinburgh Academy at Raeburn Place, where two of Scotland's most prestigious private schools had drawn their first goal-less match at football played under rugby rules, following a two-and-a-half hour game without a half-time break on December 11, 1858.

Following an anniversary star- studded dinner hosted by the former Scotland player John Beattie at Murrayfield on Friday - which raised £32,000 for Hearts and Balls, a charity which helps people paralysed while playing rugby - there were more than a few hangovers among the record 2500 crowd for the fixture.

The fixture which has been graced in the past by Scotland captain and former Academy player Mike Blair, and national coach Frank Hadden, who trained Merchiston for 15 years, attracts average crowds of 500.

"The players were undoubtedly affected by the emotion of the anniversary," said Merchiston coach Mark Appleson, who is also the 180-year-old boarding school's rugby director.

"The number of fans who turned out made it a very special occasion, but it also made it difficult for the players who are not used to such crowds. It was magnificent that so many people turned up because it was the anniversary game and a draw would have been a fair result.

"Their forwards were strong and our backs were too. It was a very good, open and exciting game and Edinburgh had a chance to draw late on, which would have been fitting."

According to the original match report, the 1858 fixture kicked-off at 11.30am on a rainy day which soon left the players on the muddy pitch the "colour of mother earth".

Yesterday's Academy captain Tom Macdonald had more reasons than most to be proud of playing after his great-great-great grandfather helped found the original Accies football club in 1858.

He said: "I am sure that he would be really proud to see the match against Merchiston still going strong. It was certainly a great honour for me to take part."

Fortunately, the game didn't take as long as it did 150 years ago to see a score. The Academy took an hour to cross the line back in 1858 after their captain, Lyall - no first name was given - controversially made a rush and ran into touch behind the Merchiston goal, leading to complaints that it broke the rules.

Both sets of players debated the point of law because the game didn't have a referee, delaying the game further. Merchiston were "obliged to yield" on the point and "Accies took it upon themselves to try for a goal, which they missed because the ball was so slippery".

Neither side had another goal attempt until 1pm, when Merchiston kicked a goal which didn't count because the ball was "off side."

Then, at 2pm, when "Accies missed again, full-time was called by the frustrated teams".

Nobody could have forseen the much loved fixture would go onto survive two world wars.

Merchiston coach Appleson reflected last night: "Thankfully, yesterday we had a half-time break."