Boroughmuir 25 v 31 Dundee HSFP

Reporter: Simon Furnivall

Boroughmuir's season got off to a losing start this afternoon as individual mistakes cost points and ultimately any chance of victory. In lovely conditions at Meggetland, conducive to the sort of running game that both sides like to play, there were six tries and plenty of entertainment on offer, though the home fans would have been better comforted had they earned more than a solitary bonus point.

That bonus point came thanks to a last minute try from hooker Sean Crombie - adding to earlier efforts from captain Malcolm Clapperton and débutante Sep Visser - and put 'Muir eighth in the table after the opening round of fixtures. It could, and perhaps should, have been better, however, after the hosts had fought back from a terrible start to draw level at 15-15 early in the second half. 

To be honest, Boroughmuir could count themselves somewhat lucky that there was still a way into the game after the start they had. The first move of the match saw Dundee awarded a very kickable penalty, but hooker Simon Forrest took a quick tap and possession was eventually lost. Another kicking opportunity was spurned in the fifth minute when the visitors looked to press home their scrum advantage instead. It very nearly paid off as they drove the 'Muir pack back towards its own line, and only quick reactions from scrum half Sam Johnson prevented the try as he was first to pounce when the ball crept out of the back of the scrum.

'Delaying the inevitable' may have been a choice phrase to use at the time, however, and in the thirteenth minute the visitors had their score. A clearing kick from Ally Warnock bounced off the legs of Dundee winger James Fleming, but as the 'Muir players seemingly anticipated the award of a knock on, Fleming turned on the afterburners and tore past them. Johnson eventually got back with a covering tackle, but a simple pass inside saw Andy Redmayne crash over for the try. Full back Cameron Wyper failed to add the conversion. Wyper didn't have to wait long for his first points. Just four minutes after Redmayne had crossed the line, Boroughmuir full back Visser was penalised for a high tackle, allowing his opposite number a shot at goal. Wyper struck his effort confidently through the posts to collect the three points. 

Things did not seem to be improving for the hosts either, and though they had a few forays forward of their own, they were being cut apart too often by the Dundee attack. A second try looked certain when winger Andrew McLean scythed through, but after the ball came to Wyper, a superb tackle from Neil Rodger forced the visiting full back to knock on with the line begging. The second try did come, just before the half hour, and again 'Muir seemed their own worst enemy. As they looked to build an attack inside the Dundee half, back row forward Iain Moody knocked the ball on and Dundee pounced. Having claimed the ball it was quickly recycled, and scrum half Andy Dymock spotted a mismatch, easing through a gap between Nick Fraser and Ally Davidson. Visser was back to cover, but Dymock turned him inside out and raced away to touch down under the posts. Wyper added the extra two points.

Boroughmuir needed to wake up, and thankfully in the final ten minutes of the half they did just that. Some nice interplay between Warnock and Harry Leonard put the youngster through a gap, but he was unable to hang onto the pass and knocked on. A sigh of relief was breathed, however, when referee Cammy Rudkin signalled that advantage was being played and awarded 'Muir a penalty. Warnock stepped up and landed their first three points of the season.

It got better as half time approached. Visser came close to grabbing a debut try for the club when he chipped ahead and only the awkward bounce of a rugby ball prevented him from collecting and racing over for a score. But once again it was only a matter of time. After Jordan Webster had punched a hole in the Dundee defence on the right, the ball was recycled and Visser battered his way through tackles and over the line. Warnock's conversion closed the gap to just five points at the break.

Half time may have come at the wrong time for the home side, but it seemed not as they started the second half in blistering form. Crombie made a fantastic effort to reclaim the restart ball, clinging on with his fingertips as he hit the ground, and 'Muir raced onto the front foot. A superbly timed pass from Fraser put Clapperton into space and he cut through a gap and over for the try. Warnock's conversion attempt struck the post and the scores remained level. That should have been the springboard for the hosts to grab hold of the game by the scruff of the neck and wring the life out of Dundee. Instead they very nearly conceded right from the kick off, only a foot creeping over the touchline denying Richie McIvor a score in the corner.

'Muir had suffered a blow with Clapperton injured in the act of scoring his try, his years of experience replaced by the relative freshness of Mark Hare, and with momentum now back in Dundee's favour, they looked to struggle once more. A brief moment of respite was allowed when substitute Jack Steel, who had taken over the kicking duties from Wyper, pushed his first effort wide of the posts, but he was soon on target. Steel bagged two penalties to put Dundee firmly in control, and when 'Muir passed up a golden opportunity to score, the game really was theirs to lose. A superb team move had released lock forward Greig Scott down the right wing. It looked for all the world like he would crash over in the corner, but a tackle just short of the line was enough to dislodge the ball from his grasp and an audible sigh rang round the ground as it bounced away forward and out of play.

A third penalty from Steel tightened his side's grip on the game, and the coup de grace came as the clock ticked onto the eighty minutes. Boroughmuir were camped deep in the Dundee twenty-two, looking for a score that would wrest them back into the game after Warnock had reduced the deficit with a penalty of his own.  Webster powered towards the corner, but an almighty tackle saw the ball pop free from his hands and into those of Fleming. The winger again showed his pace, streaking away from the covering defence, running a full ninety metres and touching down between the posts. Steel added the simple conversion.

Boroughmuir did come back with the try through Crombie, a close range dart round the side of the ruck after Scott's own attempts to cross the line had been thwarted by the goal post. Warnock added his second conversion of the day to ensure that 'Muir didn't walk away empty-handed.

It was not the start to the season that Boroughmuir had wanted. With only eleven games before the league splits, a good run over the first few games can alleviate a considerable amount of worry. 'Muir never really looked to have the platform up front on which to build a victory, however, and it says much for their character that they even had a sniff of a chance as the game wore on. With players still to return from injury and a full-blooded game in their legs to improve fitness, they can certainly hope to right the wrongs and get the season underway at Mansfield Park next week.

Boroughmuir : Sep Visser: Rob Cairns, Malcolm Clapperton (c), Harry Leonard, Jordan Webster: Ally Warnock, Sam Johnson: Robbie Wilson, Sean Crombie, Nick Fraser: Greig Scott, Alstair Davidson: Andy Rose, Iain Moody, Neil Rodger. Subs Used: Paul Richards, Matt Harvey, Mark Hare, Stephen Ruddick

Met dank aan Ron Ruiter.