Currie Chieftains 50 pts (t 7, c 6, p g 1) v Edinburgh Accies 18 pts (t 3, p g 1)

After several days of heavy rain, the sun finally appeared for a brief time on Saturday morning, which helped to dry the pitch quite nicely for this important match. Accies had been going well until a recent unscripted defeat, and they would be keen to prove their credentials against a Currie team who had been shadowing them in the league. For the first 20 minutes, the Chieftains spent a lot of time in their own half as the enterprising visitors kept possession, but any advances were well marshalled by the busy hosts.

A lineout infringement ended the deadlock with a penalty goal for Accies, and a few minutes later a reckless high tackle spoiled what was developing into an interesting contest. The resulting red card severely hampered the visitors’ ambitions for the rest of the game; and unfortunately, Currie lost their influential centre, DJ Innes who needed hospital treatment for a facial injury. Adam Hall kicked the penalty goal and Currie started to play with more conviction, immediately putting Accies under pressure. The visitors repelled several attacks and gained field position with long clearance kicks. A rather casual approach from the Chieftains defence was punished by the marauding Accies pack, who pursued a loose ball to score an unconverted try after Currie were penalised for holding on.

This certainly purged any complacency in the Currie camp, and by the break they had taken control with 2 excellent tries. It was nearly 30 minutes before the home team got well into the Accies 22, which followed Kody McGovern’s race down the wing. Currie patiently went through the phases with a series of thundering carries from Cairn Ramsey, Michael Vernel and Ewan Stewart which culminated in a try for the rampaging Rhys Davies. A few minutes later Currie’s back row careered 60 metres with Michael Vernel being tackled just short of the line. Accies managed to temporarily clear the danger, before the solid figure of Iain Sim gathered another desperate clearance and skilfully picked his way through a gaggle of defenders to put Charlie Brett in for the second try. Adam Hall converted both scores which gave Currie a small lead over the plucky 14-man Accies team who still packed a punch.

Halftime score – Currie Chieftains 17 pts, Edinburgh Accies 8 pts.

The Chieftains made a positive start to the second period and looked to have scored, but the ball was dropped on the line. The impressive Iain Sim gathered a long clearance kick, and his deceptive speed carved open a flimsy-looking defence before his well-timed pass sent Kody McGovern over. Although the Currie lead was beginning to look comfortable, Accies’ adventurous play still had an element of danger about it, and when their speedy fullback accelerated from halfway, the result was a dramatic score. The try was not converted, but it did confirm the visitors’ determination to glean something from the match. Currie increased their work-rate and built pressure in the Accies red zone. Against tall opposition the Currie jumpers fared well; Ali McCallum collected a throw-in 10 metres out, and from the forward drive, Paddy Boyer shimmied before popping a prompt pass to Iain Sim who steamed in for the bonus point try.

For the remaining 20 minutes it was nearly all one-way traffic with the opposition doing their best to stop the Currie flow. Some exciting moves clearly fatigued the gallant visitors, whose depleted resources found it difficult to plug all the gaps. A strong Currie scrum on halfway set up another attack, and the ball whizzed through the backs with Gregor Nelson continuing the drive forward. Eventually, Adam Hall flipped a long accurate pass to Ryan Daley who scored in the corner. The barrage continued, and when Chris Anderson careered 20 metres on a solo run, Ryan Stewart was in support for the scoring pass. Accies were still hungry for points, and a spirited attack in the closing stages ended with an unconverted try. They were now playing some risky rugby, and trying to improve the score line, but a long speculative pass was intercepted by Ryan Daley who cruised in for a converted try, and a 50-point Currie total.

I.J.S. - 22.11.22.

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