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U9 v Compass Finally the first game of the term came for the U9’s. The boys were very excited about the match and although the training was very limited due to the weather being so terrible everyone was confident. The Compass were a very well drilled side and had a lot of strike runners. Before the team could even settle Compass had scored a few tries. Towards the end of the first half we picked up our play and had a good period where we attacked the Compass line. Unfortunately poor passes and wrong options stopped us from scoring. However, the half time talk was about starting the same way. Unfortunately we continued to miss crucial tackles and Compass scored a few more tries. Fortunately Charles who had threatened all match scored our only try. It was a good experience for all where the Compass team exposed our defensively frailties, but a lot of good things were learnt by all.
F2 v Clifton Hall After a poor start when we were still on the bus mentally the F2s found themselves two tries down fairly swiftly. A makeshift team meant some had to play out of position. However, the side eventually woke up and Alastair N scored a fine solo try to reduce the deficit. Andrew Ch scored his first of the season with a quick burst down the right wing to pull us level and the lead then changed hands regularly until half time when Merchiston led by one try, 5-4. Merchiston hung on for a pleasing 6 tries to 5 victory. Solid tackling from Greg S and Alastair N kept us in the game in the second half and the attacking flair of Ruaridh C netted him three tries in the first half. Man of the match for his outstanding defence was Greg S.
D2 v Madras (6/2/10) On a damp muddy pitch, after a weather-hit first few weeks of training, the D2s produced one of their finest performances of the season. A bit of bad luck saw them go a try down inside two minutes but it was so pleasing to see the way they responded. Quality rucking and speed to the breakdown gave us phase after phase of possession and Alfie’s power, combined with great handling in the backs, put us three tries up at half-time. The forwards were running the show, winning scrums against the head and dominating in the tight. Charlie’s service was first-class and the backs were in top form with their passing and angles of running. Both Aaron and Duncan had a great day and set up a number of tries after making the initial break. Angus was rock solid in defence and penetrating in attack and was my man of the match. What produced this win, though, was the team effort and the fact that everybody did their jobs well. The D2s are looking like a quality rugby team.
D2 v Watson's (5/12/09) This was an awfully disappointing way to end a good first term for the D2s. On a wet day against a better side they needed to get off to a good start but a refereeing error and an interception put us two tries down after two minutes. It was a long way back from there and the boys lost their shape and started to make silly errors. Tackles were being missed which gave Watson's two free scores and our handling could certainly have been better. There were good moments and some nice passages of play but we were under constant pressure from a quality side and could not turn the territory into points. I was pretty pleased with the heart shown by the team who did not give up and tried hard but we have certainly learned some lessons about the level of rugby required to compete at the top level. The boys should look back on the successes this term, though, and be excited about the fixtures after the holidays.
F1 v Watson's (5/12/09) In what can simply be likened as a call to arms, the MCS F1 team on Saturday had a titanic battle with George Watson’s. Both these teams have had great results this season and this truly was a test between the two strongest under 11 teams in Edinburgh. The match started at a furious pace and despite the heavy, wet conditions both teams showed glimpses of quality running rugby. Watson’s had the upper hand in the first half and some good rucking from their side showed that quick ball at this age group is crucial. Watson’s scored first and went into the half with that lead. MCS were guilty of not being physical enough, but again, we had attacking moments where we showed some real skill.
U9B V Fettes (2/12/09)
Edinburgh XV v Scottish Prep Schools (22/11/09) W 19-7 On Sunday 22 November the Edinburgh Select XV made up of boys from George Watson’s College, Edinburgh Academy, Merchiston and Loretto took on the Scottish Prep schools. This has become quite a big fixture in the rugby calendar and this year Belhaven Hill School were hosting it. After an incredible week with the weather turning for the worst the match was in doubt – Belhaven performed miracle work, preparing a great surface in tough circumstances. Both teams were led out by the Belhaven pipe band and there was a nervous energy amongst players and supporters. The first ten minutes were dominated by the Edinburgh Select XV and when Adam Hastings (Watsons) broke blind he managed to pop the ball in the tackle to Tom Bisset (Merchiston) who beat two defenders to score the opening try. The Edinburgh XV continued to pile on the pressure and with quick hands flyer Ben Robins (Watsons) easily outstripped the defence to score the second try. The Prep Schools must be credited for their tenacity and towards the end of the half they had a good opportunity to score their first try. Solid defence, however, kept them out. At half time the talk was to look after the ball at the break down, as we had the upper hand in the backs. In the second half the Prep schools continued to pile on the pressure and were winning the breakdown area comfortably. It was obvious they wanted to play in the right areas and they kept kicking for the corners. Full back Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Academy) was super in returning the ball, and his positional play was flawless. The Edinburgh XV’s third try came from winger Robins who beat a few defenders to score a good solo try. Again the Prep schools did not panic. They hit straight back and for the remainder of the match dominated. They changed tactics and kept it tight as Calum Young (Watsons) and Saul Melvine-Farr (Edinburgh Academy) had the better of their mid-field. Thankfully they did not change tactics sooner as our forwards could not cope with the pick and go. The Edinburgh boys defended stoutly, but in the end the pressure told and the Prep schools scored. Thankfully there was not much time left and the Edinburgh XV certainly showed their delight in winning a tough game. Both coaches agreed that inspirational Edinburgh skipper Adam Hastings was Man of the match. Two Scottish Internationalists (John Jeffrey and Gavin Hastings) presented the winning captain with the Merchiston Quaich. Well done and thank you to all at Belhaven who made this day so memorable. You certainly took it to another level.
D1 v Stewart's Melville (21/11/09) The boys were buoyed by their mid-week win over Cargilfield and certainly carried their confidence into this match. Merchiston pretty much dominated for the entire 40 minutes moving the ball into space and making defensive work for Stewart’s very difficult. Some fantastic tries were scored by the backs with Jordan grabbing two and Louie getting on the score sheet too. Had it not been for Stewart’s Melville’s impressive counter rucking the scoreline could have been a lot more as they turned over a lot of ball in crucial areas of the pitch. This was a very impressive performance but a quality side will expose our in ability to retain the ball for long periods. We need to work hard on our body positions in the ruck – it’s a vital aspect of rugby.
D2 v Stewart's Melville (21/11/09) This was a cracking game of rugby and a draw was a very fair result. Both sides gave it their all on a soft, muddy pitch and it was great to watch a game with that intensity and physicality. Stewart’s started strongly and had a lot of the ball but Merchiston’s tackling was superb, with Alan and Tom making numerous hits. Finally, we got some of the ball and Tim got the backline moving well. MCS were not quite quick enough to the breakdown, though, and couldn’t string the phases together. A hard-fought half ended scoreless and Stewart’s scored an early try in the second after some good play. It was great to see the D2s’ response: they lifted their game, went forward and good distribution after a break by Tim put Alan into the corner for the equalising score. Ruadhan and Ruaridh were putting in a huge effort in the tight and Aaron looked threatening on the wing but we didn’t move the ball quickly enough and eventually ran out of time. I was proud of the boys’ attitude and look forward to training this week.
D4 v Stewart's Melville (21/11/09) While definitely a disappointment, this match brought out the best in our boys. They communicated well on the pitch and tackled as well as I’ve seen them do. The problems came with panicky passing when we seemed to want to get rid of the ball as quickly as possible rather than passing with any sense of purpose. We came within a hair’s breadth of scoring in the second half but in the end were outclassed by a better side.
D1 v Cargilfield (20/11/09) The tough three weeks after half term where the boys had to battle though injury certainly put us in good stead for Cargilfield. The 10 day break might have back fired as the Tuesday training session was the worst the entire season. But this team is made up of boys with a lot of character, and they put that behind them. The match started at a frantic rate and both teams were sizing each other up. It was very evident that Cargilfield had a good set of forwards. What was disappointing was that our boys did not identify this and every time we kept it tight we were turned over. Ben McN worked hard at the breakdown, and managed to win his fair share of ball. We looked dangerous, however, whenever we moved the ball, and it came as a complete shock to everyone when a loose pass from a counter attack was intercepted and Cargilfield scored under the posts. Dan was excellent in getting the boys together to regroup and get back on the horse. Merchiston hit straight back and applied good pressure on the Cargilfield team. A scrum 5m out saw one of our best tries scored. Benn M took the ball flat and played Tom B who cut in from a wide angle to almost score untouched. The second half was a very intense 25 minutes. Both sides threw everything they had to win the match. Cargilfield had a good kicking game and Ali M struggled to cope with it in the first half. The first time Cargilfield kicked in the second half Ali was in a perfect position and made good ground. What was most pleasing was the work that the other players did to get into position, ready to counter. Ali popped the ball back inside and with three quick passes Louie found himself open. For the first time this season he backed himself and he outstripped the defence to score. This really lifted the team, and it had to because Cargilfield came back stronger than ever. For 10 minutes Merchiston defended their try line, and dealt with everything Cargilfield threw at them. Jack H, and Tom B were excellent in this area as well as clearing the line. Eventually with about 5 minutes remaining Merchiston found themselves back in the Cargilfield 22m. This was largely thanks to Tom B’s tackle, which forced a turnover. Merchiston went through a few phases until Gregor R picked up a ball from the base of the ruck to drive over for the teams third try. This was a very brave performance by all. Up front Hamish was up to the match physically, and Ru was not intimidated by the size of their pack. In the backs Dan’s leadership was excellent and Tom B and Jack H in the mid-field were water tight in defence.
D2 v Cargilfield (18/11/09) It was great to see the D2s back to winning ways. They were by far the better team but Cargilfield defended with determination and made it hard to score points. MCS saw most of the ball in the first half and crossed the line a number of times before being awarded the first try. There was a big improvement in the rucking which was pleasing given the hard work in training and the recycling of the ball allowed the backs to move it wide and run in another quick score (and an impressive conversion from Harry!). The scrum was excellent and Ruadhan and Alan were making every tackle. Tim used the ball intelligently, releasing Aaron and Alan into space. The second half saw a fightback from Cargilfield but the D2 defence held firm and it was nice to see a clean sheet. From our own 22, Tim ran blindside and made 30 yards. The forwards were there in support and the ball was spun wide for Aaron to score in the corner: a beautiful try. The boys should be well pleased and eager for the game on Saturday.
D4 v Cargilfield (18/11/09) A cracking match! Our boys had played and beaten this team at Merchiston in September but this was the first time we had met them on their turf. Our boys, ably led by Captain Gavin, rose to the challenge well and had the edge from the opening, with two excellent opening tries from Euan, converted by Laurence. Some excellent Cargilfield manoeuvring got the better of our team once or twice, but on the whole it was a good display of team work and communication from a Merchiston side that played as well as they have done all season. A hard fought but well deserved win.
F1 v Cargilfield (18/11/09) The F1s recorded a good win over some tricky Cargilfield opponents. MCS started the match well with structure and good distribution of the ball, but were at times not protecting the ball well enough in the rucks and mauls. Some good straight and hard running from Murph and Angus gave us our first few tries and in the second half we managed to keep applying the pressure. Cargilfield must be congratulated on their effort and their defence at times was stellar. A great penalty move gave Murph his second try and Rufus showed his pace out wide. Jack won us plenty of opposition scrum ball and we managed to attack from this each time. Overall, a good team performance with a handful of boys really showing their worth and working hard for a starting place in the team.
F2 v Cargilfield (18/11/09) A tidy performance from the F2s with excellent ball recycling and really good defence against some hefty opposition to run out 35-10 winners. Alisdair with four tries and Ross with three were outstanding in attack and can divide the man of the match award but, often, their scores were made through strong support play, excellent rucking and a very efficient scrummage in which the front row were outstanding. Charlie made some powerful runs and Andrew was unlucky not to score when freed on the wing. To improve, we need to work on making our overlaps count and putting away the two on one with more efficiency. Let us hope we will do this against Stewart's Melville on Saturday.
U11B v St Mary's (11/11/09) W 40-10 MCS started the match reluctantly waiting for St Mary’s to do all the work. We were trying to figure out their defences and Rufus made some good breaks but unfortunately had little support with him to offload in the tackle. Rucking and mauling wasn’t good in the first half, with St Mary’s using their bigger boys to counter ruck. The first half was a closely fought encounter and with the scores being 10-10 we knew we’d have to work hard for a win. The pace and intensity with which we started the second half was phenomenal and a few quick tries gave us the upper hand. St Mary’s were unlucky to lose their captain and star player in the second half and MCS took advantage of their loss. The tackling, rucking and distributing by MCS in the second half was great and the boys quickly learnt how to make their own tries. Well done to the entire team, a very good performance and some very smart rugby!
U12A v Loretto (11/11/09) W 7-1 The U12s enjoyed a very rare occasion to play together. Unfortunately we were without Jordan, but Lochy was very eager to play a full game and prove he should have been starting in the first place. Ru won the toss and chose to tap first, and I could not believe my eyes when he beat a few defenders and passed to Benn who sped away for the first try – it took all but thirty seconds. Loretto were a little shell shocked and we scored our second quite soon after that when Duncan outstripped the defence. This try kicked Loretto into gear and they began to play – it was very obvious that both sets of backs had some pace. The Merchiston team were still trying to click as a unit and this was very evident in the first half. Too often we were relying on individual skills rather than looking to play as a team. This was to be expected without having trained together and when half time came the boys were a little disappointed to only be up 3 – 1. The second half was very entertaining as the backs scored some incredible tries. Benn M was mixing up his game a lot and making good ground whenever he chose to run. Duncan was also enjoying the freedom to run. The backs have the forwards to thank for all their hard work. Ru was turning ball over at crucial times, and proving a real menace in the loose. Oli was not overawed by playing an age group up and put in some bone crunching hits. Four more tries were scored in the second half by Benn, Duncan (2) and Angus. Well played everyone.
U12B v Clifton Hall (11/11/09) D7-7 The result was a fair reflection of two teams that were very evenly matched. On the whole, however, Clifton Hall tended to have the edge on us due to their better communication and much better tackling. Merchiston’s tackling and positioning was definitely much better in the second half, but our tries tended to be due to some one-man heroics rather than a concerted team effort to get the ball across the line. Man of the match is Captain Alan (a former Clifton Hall boy!) for excellent tackling and passing and good leadership on the field. Honourable mentions also to Peter and Daniel for some very accomplished tries.
D1 v Riley House (7/11/09) In near perfect playing conditions the D1s enjoyed a good win over Riley House. The fourth centre pairing in as many weeks could have been disruptive but it proved very effective. Tom B was very solid in defence and Louie attacked the line constantly. The first half was great to watch as the Merchiston team was back to their old self moving the ball quickly with Riley defence being vulnerable to this. The first try was scored pretty quickly when Ru barrelled over from close range. A few unforced errors kept Riley in the match and at the end of the first half most were very surprised that Merchiston had only scored three. Riley were very plucky and started the second half with a lot more vigour and made sure the boys worked for their tries. Both wingers grew in confidence after their first few touches and were starting to prove a handful. The unforced errors though were still affecting the performance and kept Riley in the match. Hamish was a handful all match but kept dying with the ball in the first half. In the second half he was mixing up his attack – his presence was creating space out wide. Three more tries were scored in the second half, with Riley getting one of their own right at the death. The end result could have been bigger but with high risk rugby there are bound to be errors, and is something we will work on during training. A very encouraging result, with Tom being a good find in the midfield, and both II form wingers enjoyed their space provided by the hard work of the players on their inside. It has been a tough two weeks for all – but with a ten day break ahead this will provide the perfect opportunity for all boys sharpen up, and give those with little niggles time to recover to play against Cargilfield.
D1 v Belhaven (5/11/09) The disappointment of Saturday was behind the team, and they were ready to make amends against Belhaven, still not at full strength though. Belhaven are always a plucky side and this was very evident in the Loretto 7s. The game started well for Merchiston and within the first five minutes the first try was scored from a well worked drive off a lineout. The second came soon after when Ali went over in the corner – this was particularly pleasing as the ball went through a number of phases. The remainder of the half was not the most enjoyable to watch as it became rather scrappy – and both sides were trying too hard to pick up the momentum. Belhaven were unlucky not to score and when Merchiston scored just before the half the match looked all but over. The second half was not much better than the first, and in typical Belhaven fashion they scored a great set piece move, and their tails were up. Thankfully our boys did not panic, but our fluidity just wasn’t with us. The backs were too flat and the forwards were not aggressive enough up front. Louie managed a late opportunistic try to put the match out of Belhaven’s reach. Both coaches agreed after the match that it was a rather dour performance from both teams. A good win nonetheless!
F1 v Belhaven (5/11/09) The F1s had another difficult fixture this week playing a Belhaven side which had shared similar good results against some of the prep schools and traditional rugby schools in Edinburgh. MCS started the match well putting phases into action and crossing the advantage line on plenty of occasions, but our inability to hold onto the ball in contact and our “stand back” attitude at rucks lost us valuable ball. Moving the ball wide we exposed holes in the Belhaven defence and managed to score two tries out wide through Tom and Rufus. Angus ran aggressively at the opposition line in the second half and scored a good try under the posts. Belhaven had two dangerous players who needed to be contained more, but they managed to break our defences on either side of the half. This win has highlighted some key areas to work on and the boys should come out firing for their next fixtures.
F2 v Belhaven (5/11/09) A very encouraging performance from the F2 side against a Belhaven side that had some dangerous runners and who never gave up. Three tries from Captain for the day Ross, a brace from Charlie and one each from Alastair B, Sam, Greg and “try of the match” from Alistair N whose elusive run capped a fine flowing move from the backs. Harry Fisher did splendidly at scrum half and wings Angus and Andrew were unlucky not to score. There were things to work on, including the need to move the ball wide quicker and to improve tackling to not allow an opponent to gather pace, but, all in all, this was a very workmanlike performance.
D1 v Edinburgh Academy (31/10/09) After an excellent performance against Fettes the team was well prepared for probably their biggest challenge yet. Still not at full strength, the boys coming in were eager to build on their performance against Fettes. The match started at a frantic pace, and right from the outset the Academy backline was their strength. It was no surprise to all when their quick centre pick up a loose ball and sprinted half the length of the pitch to score their first try. The remainder of the half was literally all Merchiston with Gregor proving a handful with ball in hand. Academy must be commended for their defence. They were looking dangerous particularly in the midfield, but thankfully had very little opportunity to run. Half time soon came and the talk was to keep the ball close for a few phases and then unleash the backs. Unfortunately our start to the second half was the worst possible – a turnover saw the Academy run in a try. Credit to the boys, their heads never dropped and it wasn’t long before we attacked the Academy line – 10 minutes in the half Harry bashed over for the first try which was duly converted by Dan. Gregor continued to be a threat, and Hamish was threatening too – the Academy defence was tiring and with a few minutes to play Tom danced his way over the line for the teams second. Unfortunately Dan missed the conversion which meant we needed to score again to win. With their tails up the boys ran hard at the Academy who were not defending as they had in the first half. An Academy infringement gave Merchiston a lineout 5m out, and the opportunity to score – we didn’t take it and Hamish was bundled into touch. Good pressure on the Academy stand off forced him to knock the ball on and with the final play being a Merchiston scrum the win looked inevitable. Unfortunately Dan thought the draw was the easiest option and attempted a drop kick which went under the cross bar. The boys were inconsolable after the match as they had deserved to win, but in the same breath Academy didn’t deserve to lose as they had defended superbly. It was an excellent game of rugby, and if both sides play like they did they will be very tough to beat.
D2 v Edinburgh Academy (31/10/09) Overall, this was a disappointing performance from the D2s. The team were good in patches but the defence was so weak that it was always going to be an uphill struggle. After a poor start where we gifted EA a try, the boys lifted themselves and produced some decent running rugby in the backs. Aaron and Alan defended well and Tim H made ground all day with strong running. The forwards were not working hard enough, though, and we hardly had any ball to work with. In the second half the pack lifted their game and started to win more rucks as well as working harder to support the ball carrier. Jordan was starting to find space and MCS did well with the ball in hand. Weak defence let us down, though, with the Academy walking through the middle three times to score tries. The boys should not be downhearted but there are things to work on in the week ahead before the matches next Saturday.
F1 v Edinburgh Academy (31/10/09) MCS started the match slowly and we were wary of the Academy team, but once we realised that we were stronger than they were on front foot ball we ran in a good try through Xander. Moving the ball wide we capitalised on an overlap and Rufus had the pace to score out wide. We were lacking a bit at the breakdown and Academy was forceful with their smaller players, a credit to them and showing us that small boys can make a big difference. Leading 10-5 at halftime we were in no position to get complacent and the boys knew the challenge that still lay before them. An excellent start to the second half saw us run in two quick tries with Murph and Oli excellent off the restarts. Our accuracy of passing and knowing when to offload created the opportunities to score today, and this is something we must keep doing! Overall, this was a massive team performance and has again highlighted the improvements that this team is making during the season. A great result and this sets the platform for the next few weeks.
F2 v Edinburgh Academy (31/10/09) The F2s recorded a hard fought and deserved win over their EA counterparts on Saturday. Jack lead superbly by example and continually won the ball against the head at scrum time providing Merchiston with a steady stream of possession. After the initial exchanges Merchiston showed some real tenacity with Ross and Charlie to the fore. The success was built around some fantastic tackling and resilient defence. Sam, Tom and Greg putting in some fantastic tackles ensuring the Academy’s danger men were kept quiet. Tries from Greig, Charlie and Ross were the difference between the sides in the end and a product of some good passing play stretching the Academy’s defence too far.
D1 v Fettes (28/10/09) With all the disruptions that have taken place at school, and very little rugby in three weeks, the match against Fettes was always going to be tough. After a good session on Tuesday the boys were very excited about the challenge – and then disaster. The entire front row pulled out on the morning of the match, and Jamie turned his ankle in P.E leaving us two regular forwards in the starting pack. This kind of setback can really disrupt a team, but this disruption brought them closer. Merchiston chose to kick off and a deep kick from Dan pegged Fettes back in their 22m. Had it not been for their stout defence Merchiston would have scored a lot quicker. After relentless attacks Hamish picked a super hole and beat a couple of defenders to score the first try. What was particularly pleasing was that Hamish really upped his work rate with four regular forwards out. It wasn’t long before we found ourselves back in the Fettes 22m and a try from Tom B extended the lead. The remainder of the half brought concern to the coaches – Fettes pack that had already had the upper hand went up another gear and we could not match that. Fettes attacked the Merchiston line again and again – resolute defending from Benjamin and Dan kept them out, but the pressure told and Fettes scored just before half time and headed into the break very confident. The second half was all Merchiston, although we couldn’t string many phases together we made good yardage whenever we had the ball. The backs were looking dangerous and when Benn M attacked the line he put Hamish into space for the team’s third try and his second of the afternoon. The two try cushion certainly boosted the morale and Louie scored the fourth towards the end of the match. A great win considering the very late changes.
D3 v Fettes (28/10/09) The D3s continued a successful start to the season with an excellent victory over a strong D2 Fettes side. Merchiston got off to a perfect start, with Aaron breaking through their back line with no opposition quick enough to catch him. Ruairidh kicked the conversion. However, some sloppy tackling from the restart handed Fettes a quick reply, as they scored an unconverted try. The match settled down, but a strong break from Kyle saw Merchiston score again. Ruairidh duely converted. Then, just before half time, after some good rucking from the forwards and some quick hands from the backs, Aaron scored his second. This time converted by Hari. The second half was a much tighter affair, with Fettes dominating the territory, but scoring only one try as the Merchiston defence proved impressively strong. A breakaway, with some quick feet, saw Jordan score an excellent individual try to leave Merchiston winning 15-6.
D4 v Fettes (28/10/09) A super result, the result of some very hard work. Merchiston dominated the first half with some excellent passing and tackling and a great early try from Euan. Captain Laurence showed some great kicking throughout, helped by some well-placed tries from his team-mates. The second half was a little more ropy, with two tries given away needlessly. However Merchiston came back to make in a nail-biting final 5 minutes to clinch a last-minute try from Sharav. Well done, boys!
D1 v Sedbergh (3/10/09) Merchiston welcomed Sedbergh to Colinton, and the team was certainly ready for the challenge. A cancelled mid-week fixture against Fettes meant we had a three week break since our last fixture against Stewart’s Melville. Thankfully this didn’t count against us and the team came out firing, never really giving Sedbergh an opportunity to settle. Within in the first five minutes three tries had been scored, and the match was pretty much over. The first half was a pleasure to watch as the forwards dominated in every facet of play, and the backs enjoyed a good platform to move the ball at every opportunity - the handling was excellent. At half time the team talk was simple – continue with the same intensity. A few personnel changes to give all the squad members a run didn’t slow the tries being scored, and it wasn’t very long before we were on the score board again. The winning score of 62 - 0 looks worse than the game reflected but the long break between the fixtures meant the Merchiston boys came out firing. Sedbergh never gave up and were just unlucky to meet a team desperate for a match.
F1 v Sedbergh (3/10/09) This was always going to be a tough match and the boys were ready for it. Working on set pieces during the week showed as we were more controlled and quicker at the breakdowns than Sedbergh. MCS struggled at times in the first half with the intensity which Sedbergh played with, but by the end of the first half we had settled down into our rhythm and had broken Sedbergh’s defence a few times. The second half would be a true test of character as MCS only led by four tries to three at the break. Lochy scored off the start and MCS took control of the match. Our fitness and defence carried us through what has been our most physically demanding fixture this year. This team is playing better each week and we need to keep improving on individual skills and how they apply to the team. Next week we have another tough fixture with George Heriot’s. A very good result winning by three tries.
F2 v Cargilfield (23/9/09) There was some excellent rugby from the F2 side against a determined Cargilfield opposition who rucked intelligently and had some useful players. Cian M was man of the match scoring six of our seven tries. Ross C added another and Sean Y was unlucky not to score on several occasions. Sam W had a try justly ruled out for a foot in touch. Tackle of the day came from captain Jack D who made a thunderous low hit on a big opponent to turn over possession allowing Cian M to collect and score. Good support play came from Charlie F, Michael G and Robbie A in the forwards, while Alisdair N and Andrew C made some fine defensive cover tackles in the backs to keep the opposition out.
F1 v St Mary's (23/9/09) MCS started the match very well playing with intensity and structure. This structure led to our first try and the tries came thick and fast after that. Defence has certainly improved since the first week and St. Mary’s struggled to get any go-forward with big tackles from Oli, Murph and Charlie. In the backs, Xander and Lochy ran good lines and the communication was vastly improved since our last outing against Loretto. The second half was a bit stagnant with a few injuries but the boys showed that even playing into the wind we could score some good tries out wide. Harry and Rufus had strong second half performances with Harry making some good breaks and Rufus solid under the high ball on a few occasions. A bit of a mismatch with MCS running in 12 tries to none, however the boys can take some confidence into their next fixtures after the weekend leave.
U9 v St Mary's (23/9/09)
F1 v Loretto (18/9/09) MCS started the match very well using the ball we had and taking it to Loretto’s defence. Some gaps opened up and soon Lochy E and Angus H were crossing the line for easy tries. We lost possession for a large part of the game after that, but defended better than we had against the Academy. In the second half we knocked the ball on a few too many times, Loretto had two good players who moved the ball well and we were made to work harder in that half. A good win for the team, but a lot of work still to be done, especially on handling and defence.
U10B v Loretto (18/9/09) With a hard long warm up, Merchiston were in the right mind frame to take on Loretto. This showed with the amount of intensity that Merchiston applied right from the start, putting Loretto under pressure and muddling up their game plan. Ross C ran well with the ball with some excellent support play from Tom E. Sean Y stood out with the ball, with his ability to turn nothing into something was magical, Sean scored two well deserved tries. Every member of the team had a solid defence game with Jack D and Charlie F making some crucial tackles. An easy victory for Merchiston, 5-0.
D4 v Cargilfield (16/9/09) A really great result and a perfect antidote to the heavy defeat of last Saturday. There were some real star turns from the three boys mentioned below, helped by some ambitious kicking by Greenshields. This caused some problems in the first half as often some boys were reluctant to pass or gave away possession easily, but in the second half the squad was functioning as a team far more effectively and Laurence Cranstoun pioneered some great work to break through the opposition lines. Well done to everyone.
U10A v Loretto (14/9/09) The boys were all set for a tough game of rugby after a tough warm up and a few words from captain Rufus M. Merchiston started strongly pinning Loretto deep in their own half. Smart play from Harry F, who sent the ball wide to Rufus where he darted around the field and crashing through the red defence for the first try. Charlie F had a storming run were he managed to link with Sean Y where he scored in the corner. Merchiston lacked concentration and failed to keep composure towards the end of the first half. This resulted in Loretto scoring two late tries in the half. The second half saw Merchiston begin with more aggressive on defence, with Jack D putting in some nail crunching hits. Sean Y helped him out by making a couple of vital tackles out wide. The intensity was raised with any loose ball being snatched up by the forward pack. The back line showed off their skills being able to get it out wide quickly. Final score 7-3 to Merchiston. The team played well but to improve they need to stop depending on key players and work as a whole with everyone being effective together.
U10B v Loretto (14/9/09) A good performance by the U10 boys on Monday. With most boys experiencing contact rugby for the first time the signs were good. The first half was a decent performance although Loretto had a few good runners that needed to be stopped. At half time Loretto were up 3 – 2 after Merchiston scored two late tries in the half to get back in the match. Loretto began the second half really well and ran in two more tries before the team kicked into action and started being a little more direct. Martin G and Andrew C scored tries to get Merchiston back into the match. Unfortunately Loretto scored another try to pull ahead slightly, and the game looked over. With two minutes to play one of their runners got injured and with him off the field Merchiston managed two quick tries and almost scored another in the last seconds of the game.
D1 v Stewart's Melville (12/09/09) The D1 team continued their good form with a hard fought win over Stewart’s Melville in perfect rugby playing conditions. Playing on a wide pitch the emphasis was again to move the ball to the wings. Sustained pressure in the Stewart’s Melville 22m saw Merchiston score early in the half. Stewart’s Melville hit back straight away and attacked the Merchiston goal line, but stout defence, kept them out. We made hard work for ourselves though by trying to run the ball out of trouble instead of clearing the lines. A second try came from Tom B just before half time – a solo effort. The talk at half time was to score quickly, to force them to play high risk rugby. The team responded in the best way keeping the ball through a few phases until Ali M put Tom B away for his second in the match. The remainder of the match was very scrappy, and became rather loose. A good performance first up.
D2 v Stewart's Melville (12/9/09) The first match of the season and what a start for the D2s. The boys had trained well all week and started the match strongly, putting Stewart’s under pressure. This was rewarded with a try after a great run by Gregor. Stewart’s fought back, though, and the team had to pull together. The rucking was excellent, with Tom always the first man there and Harry hitting the ruck hard. Merchiston were 4 points ahead at half-time but conceded a score straight after the kick-off. The team showed great spirit to fight back from this with Ross running hard and straight and Tim controlling the back line superbly. Great footwork from Tim put him through for the decisive score and the D2s had to defend their lead for the last few minutes. Determined tackling, notably by Angus, helped secure the first win against this opposition for a number of years. Every boy should be proud of the part he played and should look forward to the season ahead.
D3 v Stewart's Melville (12/9/09) The first game of the season, against a big Stewart's Melville side, was a daunting proposition. This was certainly evident at the start of the game, where too many missed tackles and a lack of power in the scrum saw the home side score 4 tries before half time. There was one moment of inspiration for the D3s, however, which saw a missed pass from Max, a side step from Aaron and rapid pace on the wing from Peter to finish an excellent move. The second half continued in this more promising vein, with Merchiston dominating territory and possession as both sides scored two tries. Kyle finished another well worked move for the first, while Max, whose distribution and tackling was outstanding throughout, scored a well deserved try at the close.
D4 v Stewart's Melville (12/9/09) While definitely a disappointing score there were plenty of things about this match to take encouragement from. The new members of the team bonded well and there were some impressive debuts from many boys, notably Alexander M, Andrew G and captain Gavin M. Possession was given away to easily in the first half, with some panicky passes and heroic moves that had little support. This improved hugely in the second half, though, with much better rucking and tackling, and good communication between team members. Last time we played Stewart's Melville we went down 48-0 so this is definite progress!
F1 v Stewart's Melville (12/9/09) The team started well playing with structure and to the game plan. Lochy E was destructive out wide when we got the ball there and Charlie Y was unlucky to get penalised a few times. The team however showed their determination to win a tough game against a very formidable opposition. Well done to the boys who won against a team we only managed to draw with last year.
F1 v Edinburgh Academy (12/9/09) MCS had to go straight into the next game without any rest and this was evident in the way we lacked to get to many of our own rucks and mauls in the 1st half. The opposition showed that a smaller team is able to play to its own strengths and moved the ball quickly across the pitch. EA should also be credited for their defence, which never let MCS through. After trailing 10-0 at halftime MCS would need to dig deep and came back to score a well worked try. EA scored again and the pressure was on MCS in the last 5 minutes. Working as a team we managed to salvage a try before the ref blew full-time. A disappointing result, but all the boys can take some valuable lessons from the match. A tough game to watch, but character was shown by certain players in particular.
F2 v Stewart's Melville & Edinburgh Academy (12/9/09) The F2 side came nicely out of the blocks against Stewart's Melville. Tries from Greig Sharpe, Charlie Fullarton and Mackenzie Cox led to a 3-1 victory over some determined opponents who tackled well. Man of the match was Charlie Fullarton who made some fine runs. Mackenzie Cox's try was made by some intelligent work from the base of the scrum by Andrew McCaul. In the second game we were unlucky to lose by two tries to one. Edinburgh Academy fielded a very fast centre who scored both their tries with breakaway runs. Despite determined pressure we were only able to manage one try from Ross Collier whose tackle on the Academy centre earned him 50p for tackle of the day. A good start but we will improve.
D1 v Ardvreck (09/09/09) The D1s have made a good start to their season training hard and working on areas of weakness. After a slight set back losing no8 Hamish E to a knee injury the Tuesday before the festival, Ben Mc was moved from fullback to fill his spot. The first match was against Loretto, who looked like they had a few big forwards in their team so the plan was to move the ball quickly and play away from their strength. Unfortunately our passing and execution was not the best, and towards the end of the first half when we finally managed to get the good clean ball to the wing Tom B finished off a well worked move. The second half saw a much more convincing display with the play being played wide at every opportunity. Three more tries were scored to finish off a solid performance The second match against Ardvreck was a lot more convincing. Good width on the ball, saw Louie T run in a couple of tries. Five tries were scored in total. The accuracy in this match was a lot better. A solid start to the season, but a much stiffer test awaits the team on Saturday.
F1 v Clifton Hall and Ardvreck (09/09/09) MCS started the match against Clifton Hall at a furious pace and the rucking was exceptional, especially with Michael G giving good clean ball to the scrumhalf. At halftime the writing was on the wall for Clifton Hall with MCS having the chance to use some substitutes and give other boys a run. Tom E made the most of his time and was super-solid on defence. Against Ardvreck, MCS were expecting a tougher game and we were held for the first half by a better organised team. Our structure and game plan was to be the difference as we ran in a large number of tries. A good start to the season with the team picking up where we left off last year in the under 10s.
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