1st XV
Matches
Sat 10 Dec 2016  ·  League 1
Penicuik RFC
17
29
Berwick Rugby Club
1st XV
Penicuik 17   Berwick 29

Penicuik 17 Berwick 29

Colin Frame13 Dec 2016 - 08:31
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Berwick beat the porcupines to clinch maximum points

Berwick made the trip to Penicuik on Saturday looking to build on the win against Dunbar the previous week at Scremerston. The build up to the game was delayed due to the referee arriving late because of earlier rugby commitments holding him up. As the match kicked off Berwick faced its first set back as scrum half Adam Hardie sustained a hand injury in the first play of the game. The injury was enough for him to go off with Craig Dunse coming on with Jamie Pick moving to scrum half – not the ideal start.

Eventually Berwick found some rhythm and opened the scoring through a well taken try. Lee Douglas made the initial break but Gareth Hill still had work to do as he beat the defence to touch down. Jamie Pick added the conversion to make it 0-7. Penicuik had more of the possession playing the ball through the forwards and Berwick’s defence had to work hard to keep them out. The game was as prickly as a porcupine with some off the ball incidents adding some extra edge to the forward exchanges. Eventually Berwick gained a penalty chance through foul play which Pick calmly slotted over to make it 0-10. Penicuik continued to press the Berwick line but the defence held strong and landed a lightening counter attack to score the next try. Jack Webster snaffled the interception and after making some quick yards he released Hill to outpace the scrambling defence and score out wide. Pick missed the conversion but Berwick had extended their lead to 0-15. Penicuik were still very much in the game and they scored a well-deserved try through their forward pressure to make it 7-15. The “porcupine” nature of the game continued forcing the referee to issue a stark warning to both teams to cut out the silliness that was creeping into the game. Both sides continued to press but the half time whistle arrived with no further scoring giving Berwick a narrow lead at half time of 7-15.

Penicuik came out in the second half full of grit and determination and pummelled the Berwick try line looking for the score. To use a boxing analogy Berwick were on the ropes having to defend against the sustained attacks from Penicuik but it was Berwick who landed the sucker punch. Tony McDougal stole the ball around the twenty-two and set off up the park. With a great offload to Alex Frost continuing the move Frost outpaced the covering defence from half way to score under the posts. The extra points were added to make it 7-22 when it looked like Penicuik were going to score themselves only moments earlier. Berwick landed the knockout blow soon after when Lee Douglas capped a fine game with a superb try. Douglas collected the ball, made yards and then produced an outrageous dummy that Keith Harris would have been proud of to create the space to run through for the score. Dan Law added the conversion to make it 7-29 to Berwick.

Penicuik continued to pressure the Berwick defence but the Christmas stuffing had been knocked out of them. The match started to fizzle out before Penicuik claimed the try that their efforts fully deserved. They created the space out wide to leave winger Aidan Rosie with an impossible two on one to defend. The conversion was missed and the score was 12-29. The forwards continued to fight it out with the backs seeing little of the ball and in the dying moments Penicuik scored another consolation try to make it 17-29.

Berwick fully deserved this victory with the defence holding out against sustained forward attacks from a bigger pack. The speed with which Berwick counter attacked was pleasing and overall the Berwick coaching team were satisfied with the performance having collected the maximum 5 points with 4 tries and victory.

Berwick face another trip away this weekend as they visit the home of Scottish rugby to play Murrayfield Wanderers at Murrayfield. Supporters should note that the kick off time is 3pm and will be played under lights. The team would welcome any travelling supporters as they face the league leaders in what promises to be a hard game.

Berwick Team

15 Dan Law
14 Aidan Rosie
13 Lee Douglas
12 Jamie Pick
11 Gareth Hill
10 Jack Webster
9 Adam Hardie
1 David Eagleton
2 Gareth Black
3 Stuart Gilchrist
4 Gary Flint
5 Ryan Wilson
6 Andrew Forrest
8 Tony McDougal
7 Adam Pearson

SUBSTITUTES/REPLACEMENTS
16 Luke Bell
17 Alex Frost
18 Craig Dunse

Match details

Match date

Sat 10 Dec 2016

Kickoff

14:00

Competition

League 1

League position

4
Berwick
10
Penicuik RFC
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Tweedmouth Service Station
7's 2019 Main Sponsor - Kelso and Lothian Harvesters Ltd
Player Sponsor - 12 - Ancroft Tractors Ltd
Match Sponsor - MH Southern & Company Limited
Club Sponsor  - Vision Express