Whether Bill McLaren ever uttered this epithet about Roy Laidlaw is perhaps a moot point but there is no denying that the memory of Roy Laidlaw darting from the base of the scrum to score against Ireland twice in Scotland’s Grand Slam year of 1984  remains a vivid memory for those of a more advanced age. So it was a honour and a pleasure to meet Roy before the game with Gordon Leitch the President of Jedforest . Roy , a Jed man through and through was capped 47 times for Scotland and also four times for the British Lions and is one of the “three 9s” all from Jed, Gary Armstrong and Roy’s nephew Greig Laidlaw being the others. They are rightly revered.

Special mention must go to the caterers at Jed. The lunch was outstanding and our thanks must go to the chef for putting on such a magnificent spread although I suspect it was more to attract the local ladies in for the afternoon resplendent in all their finery than to feed Phil Thomas and I.

I am sure the sun shines in Jed but every time I visit it always seems dark and sombre with its Devonian sandstone cliff and banks of trees overlooking the ground. It was not helped on Saturday by grey skies and the prospect of rain which thankfully never arrived until after the game had finished.

The mood of the Currie support was equally sombre especially when the coaches announced that Gregor Nelson was ill and that James Brown and Kyle Steele would be starting. A big ask for two young guys to make their debut in such circumstances and also for Kyle’s brother Aaron from off the bench.

Furthermore the announcement of club legend Ross Weston as a replacement did not improve the general mood despite Ross potentially adding to his 269 caps, a record by some margin. It is at least five years since Rossco hung up his boots and despite remaining fit and coaching the A’s, there was some scepticism that Ross would be able to compete for very long if called upon!

Needless to say that this pessimism proved unfounded, both James and Kyle competed with the best of them and participated in a superb victory against a very competitive Jed team keen on claiming another precious scalp to follow their win over Marr.

It was a tight tense game but Currie fully deserved their bonus point win with Kyle Steele amongst the scorers. Chris Anderson had a stormer, fittingly bagged a try and fully justified his decision to play rather than head for the hospitality tent at Murrayfield. Thank you Chris.

Two more tries for James McCaig and what  a turnover to deny Jed’s flyer Mason Cullen right  at the end courtesy of a fantastic covering tackle by Kody McGovern, the quickest wing in the league with a side step to match as evidenced by his excellent try. As Bill McLaren would have said  “ he’s as slippery as a trout up a burn”.

Two week break now and then Musselburgh at home. Hopefully, some players back from injury but after Saturday, not sure it is as much of a concern.

Oh and Rossco got his 270th cap!

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