1st XV
Matches
Sat 11 Aug 2018
Edinburgh Northern RFC
1st XV
45
0
Bishopston RFC
Northern start 2018/19 with a win

Northern start 2018/19 with a win

Dominic Harrison12 Aug 2018 - 10:38
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Strong performance from the #cockerelnation rewards hard work in training

Edinburgh Northern RFC 45 - 0 Bishopton RFC

On the first outing of the 2018/19 pre-season calendar Northern welcomed the “Pride of the Clyde” Bishopton RFC. Northern were fielding a strong expanded squad of players old and new.

Bishopton, playing in all green, brought a smaller squad of players that had made the 50 mile journey. They lined up with young looking back line, a strong front row and mobile pack.

The early exchanges were tense with neither the home or away side getting a distinct upper hand in the first few phases. After some loose kicking from Northern the opposition pinned the navy and old gold back in their own 22. Against the run of play Jamie Mccann intercepted a Bishopton pass and galloped the 80 yards in to the corner swatting away the fastest opposition chaser.

Early scrum pressure from the opposition was eventually countered by Northern pack who started to gain a foothold.

After this Northern gradually began to assert themselves on the game with some strong carrying and off-loading in attack and reasonable line speed in defence. A second try came from a typical bustling destructive carry from Robbie Brown setting up Dom Harrison for the easy run in. Conversion from under the sticks coming from new recruit at fly half Aaron Laurenson.

Jeremy Dobrowsky was on his usual deceptive but powerful presence on the ball and he came close to passing the ball to a Northern back 5 yards from the opposition try line. That never before see act did not transpire and Jeremy dotted down for the third score of the game.

Further attacking from Northern with good footwork and offloading led to Jake Letham beating three defenders in a phone box and bustling over the line for his first score of the afternoon.

In the first half Bishopton put Northern under pressure out wide but errors at critical times and well chosen rush defence from players such as Crawford Leslie meant they were unable to convert the opportunities they were being offered by a rusty looking defence.

Wholesale changes at half time for the hosts meant a completely changed pack but the pattern of the horn side making hard yards and ball handling well continued. Kristian Anderson, back from a summer pre-season conditioning camp over the pond, was on trademark bullocking form and took a couple of the lighter Bishopton defenders over their own line to allow him to score the first try of the second half.

The fresh legs certainly seemed to give Northern a boost and strong performances from Tomasz Bruch, debutant Will French and old timer Rory Pounds kept Northern’s thirst for destructive defending quenched. Centres Robbie Brown and Jamie Thompson looked solid through the game and put pressure on the opposition backline. Northern battled hard and kept out the last concerted period of pressure from the visitors with some strong tackles and good communication.

Vice captain Robbie turned scorer half way through the second half with a well known set piece move opening his 2018/19 account.

Further notable performances off the bench came from Aidan Gallacher and the returning John Leatham who proceeded to put in some deft touches before completing the first preseason game of the year without injury.

A few chances were squandered by Northern and in tighter games missing these opportunities could prove costly.

Jake Letham rounded off the day by finding the try line again capping a strong performance by individually and as a team.

So the first game of new coach Chris McKenzie’s reign gets off to a winning start. Training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1830 will help us develop from here with cutting down on errors and improving defence being key areas for attention.

Next week we have the Queensferry 10s competition with an early kick off at midday for the first game. Please can all players update their Pitchero availabilities!

Match details

Match date

Sat 11 Aug 2018

Kickoff

13:00

Meet time

11:30
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Shirt Sponsor - The Antiquary Bar
Club Sponsor - Blyth+Blyth