Aberdeen Grammar vs Stewart's Melville

24 November 2007

Aberdeen Grammar  10 Stewart’s Melville 23

Grammar probably gave up any lingering hopes of immediate promotion back to Premiership Division 1 after their 23-10 loss to an enterprising and very mobile Stewart's-Melville side at Rubislaw on Saturday.

"Their defence was enveloping and gave us little opportunity to develop attacks, although at times we were devoid of ideas," said Grammar head coach Mike O'Donovan.

The home side kicked off without talismanic number 10 Billy Russell, who sustained a leg injury during last week's game at Haddington, Rob Lawson taking over at outside half in an otherwise unchanged side.

Despite an energetic first 15 minutes which led to an Aberdeen try in the corner by winger Colin Philips, Grammar allowed the visitors to settle and start playing their quick game and by half-time the home side trailed 18-5 thanks to two penalties from full back Jimmy Moran, a try by number 10 Craig Marshall converted by Moran and a further try by number eight Phil Hendry.

Grammar started the second half with more determination and although playing uphill and into a stiffening breeze managed several spirited breaks without really threatening the Stewart's-Melville line.

Wind and slope advantage allowed the Edinburgh side to pin back Grammar in their own 22 for much of the second half until they managed to break the stalemate in the 79th minute when Marshall crossed for his second try.

But Grammar did not give up and Fraser Rankine, on for Lawson, crossed for a consolation try to finish the scoring.

"If we had played the whole game with the intensity we showed in the second half the result might have been different," said Grammar director of rugby Brian Clark.

The result means the Rubislaw side is seventh in Premiership 2 and trail 13 points behind a promotion place.

 

 

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