Friday 26 August: Ayrshire Bulls v Watsonians

An incredible 15-game winning streak from Watsonians was brought to an end at Millbrae as Ayrshire Bulls triumphed 24-17 in a battling encounter where both sides went at it full throttle for the full 80 minutes.

It was the visitors who scored first, as the Watsonians pack hammered at the try line in the 10th minute. Harrison Courtney carried, and Jamie Barrisford took the ball out of his prop’s hands and shot through a gap.

The Bulls then hit back in the 28th minute with an excellent counter attack try. Liam McNamara collected a high kick forward from Watsonians, and broke through the defensive line in his own half. He passed inside to his outside centre, Jamie Shedden, who sprinted from 40 metres to make the line.

And the Bulls grabbed the lead less than three minutes before half time, as Shedden grabbed his second. A loose ball was hacked through inside the Watsonians 22 by the young number 13, and he gathered it himself to finish.

HALF-TIME: Ayrshire Bulls 14-7 Watsonians

Jason Baggott kicked over a penalty in the 54th minute to bring the visitors’ deficit down to four.

The gap was then extended however when the Bulls scored a third try. A driving maul slowly made it’s way towards the line, and James Malcolm was the man who grounded the ball to the delight of the home support.

William Hunt knocked over a penalty of his own in the 73rd minute as the Bulls’ lead began to look unassailable.

It proved to be that way, but with the last play Paddy Harrison caught the Bulls’ defence on their heels to give Baggott a chance to pick up a losing bonus point for the Myreside outfit. He duly obliged, but it was the home side who left Millbrae with huge smiles on their faces after an important win.

FULL-TIME: Ayrshire Bulls 24-17 Watsonians

Referee: David Sutherland

FOSROC Super6 Player of the Match: Jamie Shedden (Ayrshire Bulls)

TRY SCORERS
Ayrshire Bulls: Jamie Shedden (2), James Malcolm
Watsonians: Jamie Barrisford, Paddy Harrison

CONVERSIONS
Ayrshire Bulls: Richie Simpson (3)
Watsonians: Jason Baggott (2)

PENALTIES
Ayrshire Bulls: William Hunt
Watsonians: Jason Baggott

Saturday 27 August: Boroughmuir Bears v Southern Knights

The first game of Round Four’s Saturday kicked-off at Meggetland for the first time this 2022 FOSROC Super6 Championship as Boroughmuir Bears hosted Southern Knights. Boroughmuir Bears responded to a tough result last week against the Bulls with a high scoring and fast paced game against Southern Knights (BOR 40-28 KNI).

The clash got off to an exciting start as Southern Knights put their foot on the gas, almost getting a try within the first three minutes. However, a forward pass from the Knights no.10 Cammy Scott unfortunately made the quick sprint to the line from Oliver Melville redundant.

Boroughmuir Bears responded quickly by using their strength to pile no. 4 Jack Fisher over the line, securing the first points on the board for the Bears. The extras were achieved by Jack Bergin, bringing the Bears to 7-0.

After a high shoulder tackle to the head of an opposite player, Boroughmuir Bears no. 1 Callum Smith was shown a yellow card.

Following a bad injury for Boroughmuir Bears’ no. 12 Tom Lanni that stopped play for about 10 minutes, the home team got the show back on the road as Callum Ramm slipped past the Southern Knights defence and performed a swan dive over the line. Jack Bergin put his untouchable kicking skills to good use and got the conversion.

Some strong pushing from the Bears forwards got the home team up towards their try line. A tactical pass out to Scott Robeson pushed the ball over the line in their left corner. Jack Bergin kicked 3/3.

Half time: Boroughmuir Bears 21-0 Southern Knights

After some excellent phases of attack from the Boroughmuir Bears, Joe Jenkins scored a bonus point try for the home team. The conversion was missed, bringing the score to a comfortable 26-0 lead for the Bears.

A line out close to the Bears try line got the ball to no. 2 Corey Tait who was driven by his teammates over the line. Jack Bergin regained his excellent kicking record and achieved the extras.

Confidence was somewhat lifted for the visitors as Alan Ferrie put the first points on the board for Southern Knights in the 57^th minute. Cammy Scott put his kicking skills to good use and achieved the extras.

This newfound confidence for the Knights allowed Douglas Crawford to pick up speed and get the Knights their second try shortly after. An excellent kick again by Cammy Scott got the conversion, getting double figures on the board for the visiting team.

Similarly to the previous try scored by Corey Tait, a line out close to their try line allowed the Bears to drive Jerry Blyth Lafferty towards another try. Jack Bergin got the extras.

Another try came in quick succession for the Knights, this time after a line out close to their try line. Fraser Renwick was driven over the line, picking up more points. Cammy Scott gets 3/3 of the extras.

To finish off a fast paced and high scoring game, Southern Knights no. 21 Finn Douglas put his foot on the gas and made an excellent sprint for the try line. Cammy Scott tied it up with the bow and got the final conversion.

Full time: Boroughmuir Bears 40-28 Southern Knights

Referee: Finlay Brown

FOSROC Player of the Match: Josh King (Boroughmuir Bears)

TRY SCORERS:

Boroughmuir Bears: Jack Fisher, Callum Ramm, Scott Robeson, Joe Jenkins, Corey Tait, Jerry Blyth Lafferty
Southern Knights: Alan Ferrie, Douglas Crawford, Fraser Renwick, Finn Douglas

CONVERSIONS:

Boroughmuir Bears: Jack Bergin (5)
Southern Knights: Cammy Scott (4)

Saturday 27 August: Heriot’s Rugby v Stirling Wolves

Hosts Heriot’s got the afternoons’ scoring off to quick start thanks to a try by winger Fraser Jones in the opening ten minutes which Bruce Houston converted.

They extended their lead only moments later when scrum-half Murdo McAndrew peeled off the back of a rolling maul to back himself to go over the try line, with Houston adding the extra’s on offer again.

Stirling Wolves got on the scoreboard on the 15th minute when they got their maul moving following a line out. Hooker Gregor Hiddleston was bound on at the back and secured the ball down over the line at just the right time.

The hosts expanded on their lead soon after when captain and second row Ruaridh Leishman powered over the try line from the back of another maul.

Half-time: Heriot’s Rugby 19-5 Stirling Wolves

Leishman dotted down for his second of the afternoon with just over an hour gone after replacement scrum-half Jed Gelderbloom burst down the blindside and passed inside to him, Houston added the conversion.

Moments later Wolves saw a little bit of light when stand-off Euan Cunningham fooled a Heriot’s defender with a dummy and ran in under the posts, he converted his own try.

On the 69th and 71st minutes Heriot’s winger Freddie Owsley showed his sheer out and out pace when he turned on the gas to score one and then plucked the ball out of thin air to score another with Houston converting both.

Gelderbloom got one of his own on the 76th minute when he used his lethal sidestep to nip in over the whitewash with Houston once again adding the extra two points on offer.

Full-time: Heriot’s Rugby 47-12 Stirling Wolves

Referee: Ruaridh Campbell

FOSROC Super6 Player of the Match: Ruairidh Leishman

TRY SCORERS
Heriot’s Rugby: Fraser Jones, Murdo McAndrew, Ruairidh Leishman (2), Jed Gelderbloom, Freddie Owsley (2)
Stirling Wolves: Gregor Hiddleston, Euan Cunningham

CONVERSIONS
Heriot’s Rugby: Bruce Houston (6)
Stirling Wolves: Euan Cunningham

Yellow Card: Benedict Grant (Stirling County)