Match Preview

Edinburgh Northern travel to King’s Park to take on early league leaders Dalkeith in a top-of the table clash this Saturday.

A regular fixture in the past three seasons, encounters against Dalkeith are in general feisty, aggressive affairs, particularly those played out in front of the fervent home support at Midlothian, a venue where Northern have seen their historic form dramatically improve over the last few seasons.

Last year’s encounters between the sides were predominantly one-sided affairs, with Edinburgh Northern coming out resoundingly on top. At Inverleith Park in the first game of 2018, Northern ran out convincing 54-14 victors, scoring an impressive 9 tries in a rout to record their biggest win over the side from south of the bypass. In the reverse fixture, played on the last day of the season, Northern started slowly, conceding two early tries before a reshuffle in the backline through injury saw Aidan Gallagher score twice from full-back, with Northern eventually running out 19-43 victors, another record for an away win at Kings Park.

For league leader Dalkeith, their season thus far has been a story of redemption. Relegated from East 1 two years ago, the normal tough and notoriously hard to beat side floundered in East 2, resulting in them being “relegated” alongside Northern due to the return of East 3 at the start of this year. However, with their return to the lowest division, they have racked up some impressive results so far, boasting a perfect record, both in wins and bonus points. A difficult opening encounter away at Liberton saw them run out 38-39 winners, before home victories against Inverleith (48-19) and Lismore (73-17) saw them secure top spot.*

In particular the victory of Lismore saw them score 11 tries, including 4 for full-back Flockhart, who took his total this season to 6 in three games, pointing out one of the many danger men Northern will have to watch, alongside drop-goal kicking No.8 Tarkoski.

Northern go into this fixture on the back of a scrappy 31-12 win over the Royal Dick Veterinary college, a recovery of sorts from a disappointing defeat to Inverleith the week prior. At present Northern are second in the East Division 3 table, trailing leaders Dalkeith by 4 points, meaning Saturdays fixture could prove essential even this early in the season. Despite the defeat against Inverleith, Northern still boast the best record in the league defensively of 58 points, with the continuation of this track record possibly proving vital on Saturday.

Lining up for Northern in the front-row this Saturday are Tom Horton at tight-head and prodigious Kristian Anderson at loose-head. Joining them at hooker is Sam Shelley, making his first appearance for the 1st XV this season.

In the second-row, it’s the seemingly ever-enduring partnership of Paul Holland and Calum Harper, making their 4th and 5th appearances of the season respectively.

In the back-row, captain Dominic Harrison starts once more at openside flanker, whilst veteran Rory Pounds continues his grand tour of the back-row this season at No.8. On the blindside Jason Thompson make his first start of the 18-19 season, returning to the scene of his match-changing substitute performance some two seasons ago.

In the half-backs, Max Hoani continues at scrum-half whilst the versatile Andrew Spiller returns to the 1st XV at fly-half.

In the centres, Aaron Laurenson shuffles out from his regular berth to start at 12, whilst speed merchant Jake Letham starts at 13. The back-three is made up of the returning Andrew Crawford Leslie, Doug Young and the ever-present Wilson Craig at 15.

On the bench covering the forwards are Andrew Suttle, Kit Walker, Jamie Kindness, Dan Johnston, Alan Burns and covering the backs are John McIntyre, Sacha Ponniah and Aidan Quinn.

ENRFC vs Dalkeith: Craig, Younger, Letham, Laurenson, Leslie, Spiller, Hoani; Horton, Shelley, Anderson, Harper, Holland, Thompson, Pounds, Harrison ©. Subs: Suttle, Kindness, Walker, Johnston, Burns, McIntyre, Ponniah, Quinn.

*Dalkeith also had a 28-0 automatic win against RDVC who were unable to field a team.