Edinburgh 25,
North and Midlands 22
POUND for pound no flanker in Scotland punches his weight, in the
nicest sense, to greater effect than Brian Ireland, who in adverse
circumstances at Goldenacre, epitomised the unquenchable spirit that was
behind the magnificent revival by North and Midlands just when Edinburgh
were threatening to put them to the sword.
Ireland is a bantam-weight by contemporary loose forward dimensions
but he galloped untiringly about the paddock, not the least of his
accomplishments being the facility with which he kept movements alive by
controlled distribution even when going to ground.
Edinburgh's stronger scrummage enabled Finlay Calder frequently to
stand off although N and M once locked out so well that they thwarted a
pushover.
The best lineout ball was delivered by Jonathan Price and Jeremy
Richardson and the Edinburgh men were more adept at turning the ball
carrier in the tackle to boost their possession.
Edinburgh's breakaway forward ploys also posed considerable threat,
Kevin Rafferty outstanding in linkage, and John Dun's speed of serve a
bonus.
Douglas Wyllie, however, used the boot a lot in promising situations,
the most effective gambit of feeding Scott Hastings at speed and going
straight was used frugally and both wings and the intruding Steve
Douglas were well contained by tenacious
N and M covering in which Colin Macartney, Derek McLaughlin, Ireland,
and David Leckie, took leading roles.
What the forwards lacked in initial ball provision they compensated
for in field coverage, Martin Scott putting his physique to good use and
his Dunfermline clubmate Ian Michie, sticking well with the pace for
someone making a debut appearance.
Chris Evans, the Oxford blue, seemed inhibited by the occasion but
Mike Allingham had some rare moments of penetration and tackle and
whereas Edinburgh's backs at times shipped the ball around cleverly,
their rivals opted for a more direct, punchy approach by which Paul
Rouse and Brian Edwards provided the most telling incisions, one
producing a try of such brilliance it brought the house down.
N and M were struggling at
21-6 down from two penalty goals by Macartney to three by Peter Steven
and tries from Wyllie, following his dummy to Calder, by David Sole,
rolling off a lineout maul, and by Steven, after intuitive regeneration
by Rafferty. But, within a five-minute spell, N and M had closed to
16-21.
Allingham erupted from his own line after Douglas had come within a
whisper of a try. Brian Edwards, twice in the move, and Rouse widened
the breakout and, as Edwards was torpedoed by Steven, his pass inside
was swallowed up by the scorer McLaughlin. Macartney stroked over the
first of his conversions.
Later, when Douglas fumbled, Leckie's scrummage feed launched
Allingham to his try and Goldenacre was buzzing. Scott Hastings shut the
door by switching to the narrow side for a full-stretch try born in
combination from a scrummage by Stuart Reid, Rafferty, and Richardson.
The script, however, was well written for, as prelude to a searing
scissors burst over 60 metres by Rouse, Iain Paxton, Ireland, Allingham,
and Rouse had played support roles to the try that brought N and M so
near. The scorer was Ireland. A thoroughly deserving case.
Edinburgh -- S B Douglas (Boroughmuir); P D Steven (Heriot's FP), S
Hastings (Watsonians), S R P Lineen, M R DeBusk (both Boroughmuir); D S
Wyllie (Stewart's Melville FP), J E Dun; D M B Sole (both Edinburgh
Academicals), K S Milne (Heriot's FP), G D Wilson, J D Price (both
Boroughmuir), J F Richardson (Edinburgh Academicals), K P Rafferty
(Heriot's FP), S J Reid (Boroughmuir), F Calder (Stewart's Melville FP),
captain.
North and Midlands -- H A Murray (Heriot's FP); D E McLaughlin
(Boroughmuir), P F Rouse (Dundee HS FP), B Edwards, C J Macartney (both
Boroughmuir); C D Evans (Aberdeen GS FP), M J de G Allingham (Heriot's
FP); I Michie, M W Scott (both Dunfermline), J L Scobbie (Stirling
County), B M Bell (Highland), captain, I A M Paxton (Selkirk), H J
Edwards (Boroughmuir), D E W Leckie (Edinburgh Academicals), B Ireland
(Stirling County).
Referee -- W W Calder (Dalziel and Selkirk).
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