Jed-Forest overcome Watsonians

Jed-Forest staged a terrific second-half comeback to overcome league leaders Watsonians 18-12 at Myreside in the BT National League Division 1. The Borders club maintained their fourth-placed spot to draw level on points with third-placed Dundee HSFP, with Marr in second and eight points in front.It was the home side who dominated proceedings with Watsonians’ out-half David Blair kicking four penalties before Jed-Forest began their comeback in the 60th minute.Wing Rory Marshall claimed two tries and with Lewis Young adding a penalty and a score of his own, the visitors dominated until the final whistle.Jed’s double try-scorer, Rory Marshall, said: “Coming up here to Watsonians’ home park and turning them over is a great achievement for the club.If we continue to play well and continue putting the points past teams, we could be in contention for a play-off place.”Watsonians opened the scoring in the third minute with a successfull penalty from Blair, after both teams exchanged phases in the early stages.An infringement at the scrum gave Blair the opportunity to strike another penalty in the 18th minute as the home side extended their lead.Jed-Forest began to build momentum through several attacks from their back-line but a yellow card for Graham Robson sent the visitors down to 14 men.Blair missed a penalty minutes before half-time to settle the scores at 6-0 come the interval.Two early penalties from Blair looked to set the tone for a Watsonians victory but it was Jed-Forest who found themselves pressurising the opposition defence.An impressive interchange between the centre pairing of Fraser Harkness and Gregor Young put Jed-Forest in an attacking position, from which Marshall ran in to score in the right corner.Lewis Young stepped up to convert a penalty in the 68th minute as Jed-Forest edged closer to the home side before Watsonians’ Reiss Cullen was sent to the sin-bin in the 74th minute.The visitors capitalised on the number advantage with No 8 Michael Weekly feeding Danny Ritchie off the back of the scrum to send Marshall over for his second.Jed-Forest continued to pressurise before Harkness and Gregor Young combined to set-up Lewis Young for the team’s third try in the right corner come the 78th minute.Watsonians gave one final valiant effort in the closing stages, breaching the Jed defence, but a penalty enabled the visitors to kick into touch to signal the end of play. Elsewhere in the BT National League Division 1, Marr won 24-18 on the road to Howe of Fife, Peebles defeated GHA 38-19 at home, Edinburgh Academicals overcame Dundee HSFP 13-9 at Raeburn Place and Stewart’s Melville FP defeated Musselburgh 45-12 at Inverleith.In the BT Premiership, Boroughmuir edged out Stirling County 16-15 at Bridgehaugh, Glasgow Hawks defeated Hawick 31-5 at Old Anniesland and Ayr toppled Selkirk 78-0 at Millbrae.Gala’s home fixture with Heriot’s and Currie’s visit to Melrose were both postponed due to weather conditions.Watsonians: Andrew Chalmers; Mark Bertram, Scott McLeod, DJ Innes, Scott McKean; David Blair, Euan McKirdy; Martin Christie, Darren Miller, Ali Marsh, Callum Harvey, Torrie Callander, Matt Coles, Jonny Neary and Rory Drummond. Replacements: Tom Johnson, Nathan Borel, Dylan Rowe, Reiss Cullen, Rory Steele.Jed-Forest: Lewis Young; Rory Marshall, Gregor Young, Fraser Harkness, Robbie Shirra-Gibb; Gregor Mein, Danny Ritchie; Connor Hogg, Scott Raeburn, Paulo Alves Fererria, Clark Skeldon, Gregor Law, Grant Stewart, Craig Cowan and Michael Weekly. Replacements: Grant Paxton, Hano Synman, Gregor Taylor, Graham Robson.