It was a cold, rainy day as the supporters wander up to Murrayfield to back Wandies as they take on Melrose for the 2nd time this season. Day after another brilliant club Halloween party (match reporters feeling a bit fragile) Wandies have a good warm-up and are geared up after their moral boosting win against RHC the week before.

Match reporter misses the first 5 minutes of the game in search of her car which has been humorously used as a warm-up drill and is no longer in its original location. All for the greater good, upon returning to the pitch Wandies are down 0-5 after a very quick try from Melrose, not converted. Pulling themselves together, Wandies have some good forward play up the pitch and we see the first line-out of the game on the opposite 22. Comfortably win the line-out and we have our first try lined up, so just to keep things exciting, wandies pop-pass to a Melrose player (because we’re nice) and lose possession. Shortly after Suzy ‘Heckler’ Hex reassures the match officials that rugby is a contact sport by accidently tackling the ref (dirty pint for Suzy Hex). There’s a bit of scrambling about, and after a couple of minutes of forwards vs forwards, while the backs take in the view, we see the first of what is sure to be a very successful come-back game for Lana ‘Im thinking about Tobago’ Blyth, who makes a strong tackle on Melrose Lana. Shortly after this display of That’s How You’re Supposed to Tackle, wandies gain possession, celebrated by an accidental yet still terrific forward roll by Beth the Dick. Scrum down near the Melrose try line, and after a good 8 pick by Blyth, and some fast hands by Sexton, we see some promising footwork by our backs finished off by some brilliant hands from ‘One of the twins’ Heather, and Wee Law finds herself over the try line, to much hurrah. Try converted.

Bit of a slow re-start, with some silly mistakes made, however there is some promising play by Spanish Yan after an impressive diving scoop for the ball from Kelly ‘I am Titanium’ Shields. Beth the Dick also shows her loving side with a koala bear hug for one of the Melrose players, which is successfully passed off as a tackle. The ball moves between teams for a bit, and it’s not until the arrival of Katy ‘Where are you boots? asks Jules’ Green on the side-lines, who brings the spectators some much needed Hangover Smarties, that we see the same play from the Wandies of a week previous. We win the ball off a defending scrum, and with some fancy footwork from Dave, Spanish Cris finds herself firing up the pitch, supported by Spanish Yan. As no one else on the pitch speaks Spanish so therefore can’t understand the tactics that they are shouting at each other, The Dream Duo make some very impressive ground and we find ourselves tasting another try. With Blyth successfully taking on a 6 man ruck single-handedly, and Suzy Hex providing some good support, we see Kirsty ‘I don’t actually know much about fish’ Fisher making a good run, edging us closer to opposing try line. Blyth then decides to show off what can only have been a very successful career as a gymnast, and appears to forward roll over 2 Melrose players, pirouettes in the air and lands backwards, hands behind her head, with the ball placed beautifully over the try-line. A perfect 10 for Lana, who seems mildly disappointed that Beth Tweddle wasn’t watching, Wandies celebrate with a conversion, and the score at half-time is 10-5.

Melrose receives from kick-off and there is some good play by both teams. Beth the Dick shows that forwards can have good hands and footwork too. Wandies win the next scrum and Puddles has a strong run with some good support play from ‘The Other One from One of the Twins’ Rachel. The two teams then play a bit of touch rugby, and not a huge amount happens for a while, barr an Oscar Winning performance by Blyth, who takes a big hit and is then thouroughly checked over by the ref before being suggested to claim an award by Coach Jules, with unanimous agreement on the sidelines. We see some good backs play, with the Spanish Duo making another successful appearance, and then a very tense line-out near the Melrose try line as a ‘France’ ball is called. Our secret line-out weapon works beautifully, and would have almost definitely resulted in a try, had it not been so beautiful that the ref wants to see it again and calls that the ball was thrown squint. Nonetheless, a try is scored shortly after, however we’re not entirely sure by due to some distracting (and somewhat innapropriate) chat on the sidelines from ‘Used to be randy’ Ruth.

There is a slight lapse in concentration coming into the last 20 minutes, and shortly after celebrating our 3rd try of the game, the Melrose winger is seen firing over our try-line, seeing the score to 19-10.
Fired up and determined not to lose, the last third of the game see’s captain for this match Sarah ‘you are wearing backs boots’ Quick performing some impressive play. Slight head knock for Shields, who we think gets concussion and shows us the meaning of ‘take a knee’, but none the less cracks on, and Wandies are in for the fight. Some good footwork from Dave, and what can only be described as an accidental judo-chop on another player from Rachel, the pitch then see’s the magnificent return of Rhona ‘Its all in the hair’ Shephard, who adds some much needed drive in the defense. With the arrival of our new player, and Hex breaking the language barrier on the sidelines by inventing ‘El Bosh’, Wandies find themselves closing in on another try. A lot of forward play see’s Shields fall just short of the tryline, get back to her feet and then place the ball over the whitewash. The ref calls it as a double-movement, however those on the sidelines are assured it wasn’t. None the less, Wandies accept the call and Melrose then start to make their way up the pitch. With some good tackling, we manage to keep the Melrose attack at bay, however cant keep up with their footwork and we find the score now at 15-19, with full-time called straight after.
Some impressive play from Melrose, who certainly didn’t give up, and kept Wandies at bay for a good chunk of the game. Wandies leave the match with another win under their belts, some defensive work to do over the next rugby free week, and pumped and ready to face rivals Hillhead at the next match.
A very hungover from us, WWD.