'Everything Counts in Large Amounts'

The dark memories of Currie and Biggar were well and truly consigned to history today as the P5's of Dunfermline swept aside all those before them, scoring 16 tries over 3 games in the process. The sight of Kenny Morgan's poultry-inspired hat surely galvanised the team and it is to be hoped that said hat will make frequent appearances during the coming season. I swear I saw something similar at a Depeche Mode concert once!

The photo's of high achieving alumni such as Sir Chris Hoy and Martin Geisler adorn the walls of the Watsonians clubhouse, but both of our aristocratic hosts' teams were put to the sword today by our own 10 sporting heroes on their own turf. Worries over the decision to play the a wide pitch after last weeks tendencies to bunch-up in the middle proved unfounded.

First up were the Watsonians Lions. An early warning-shot across the bows by Angus Colston went unheeded by the opposition, and Angus duly crossed the line from an interception seconds later to put us 1-0 up. He then quickly had to intervene with a timely try-saving block when he was the last man, neatly pushing the attacker into touch. Excellent stuff. A typical Cameron Hogg drive for the line with half of the opposition hanging from his legs set up Lewis Cumming for one of his many tries of the day. This was an exceptional day for Lewis, as not only did he score 6 tries, but I lost count of the amount of last-ditch tackles he made when a try concession seemed inevitable. Surely his finest game to date. Jamie Hance showed a clean pair of heels as he went over for his customary try, and Rory Campbell added to the Lions misery by scoring a try of his own. Half time 4-0. Another Jamie Hance try was followed by 2 from the opposition before the sublime Lewis Cumming made another try-saving tackle, then from the resultant turnover Matthew Verrecchia, Elliane Clarke and Ethan Morgan linked together superbly to set up Lewis for another try. Remarkable, as 40 seconds earlier he had just stopped us from conceding one. Outstanding teamwork. A late third try for the Lions could not save them, and a 6-3 win was secured.

An unexpected game versus the Watsonians Tigers followed. So unexpected in fact, that this reporter was in the queue at the pie stall and missed Angus Colston scoring twice, but witnessed both Matthew Verrecchia and Rory Campbell both being stopped agonisingly short of the try-line, thus the score line was 2-0 at the half. A second half bombardment saw Lewis, Owen Brown and Ethan Morgan score whilst the Tigers replied with one of their own. Then some wonderful (dare I say, expansive?) interpassing involving every player allowed Elliane Clark to score to seal a well deserved 6-1 victory.

The well organised, superbly hard tackling Gifford were next up in a fiercely contested encounter. Lewis scored first, and that was how it stayed for quite some time before Callum "Caz" Leeson powered over to make it 2-0. This capped another fine day at the office for Callum, who never shirked nor missed a single tackle all day. Lewis scored another try thanks to a truly sublime piece of instinctive play by the hard-working, inventive Rory Campbell. A high pass was brilliantly caught and swiftly swept to Lewis who finished off the move gleefully. Gifford did then manage to score two tries, but in-between these tries Lewis completed his hat-trick to secure a hard-fought, but deserved win.