Currie Chieftains v Marr RFC, 2 April 2022

Premiership Play-Off Final

The attraction of a sporting contest is its excitement and unpredictability, be this in tiddly-winks, fishing or team game. And in future years at pub quiz nights, the sporting question could well be: ‘Which Premiership team lost only their opening and closing matches in an otherwise glittering season of eighteen consecutive victories?’

Well, anyone living in the upper reaches of the Water-of Leith valley will know the answer; on the 2nd April 2022  Currie Chieftains were pipped at the last hurdle by Marr RFC, the team that as better on the day.

The large vociferous crowd would also agree that the overall winner of this sun-drenched afternoon’s sporting entertainment, was Scottish Club Rugby which has been badly neglected and mismanaged by the custodians of our sport in recent years.

Rugby supporters from far and wide stood four deep around the Malleny ground enjoying good company, a refreshment or two, and some sparkling rugby which got the scoreboard moving within a minute of the start of the game. Marr were caught off-side and Sam Letto kicked Currie’s first points. In the next all-action ten-minute period, the big well-drilled Marr pack had muscled their way to the Currie goal line, and despite a courageous effort to break the physical onslaught, the home team’s line was crossed twice with tries for hooker, Blair Jardine and prop, Brandon Sweet. Colin Sturgeon kicked both conversions.

The Chieftains kept in touch with another Sam Letto penalty, but their big problem was getting hold of the ball as the visitors dominated and kept things tight. Once the ball headed in Currie’s direction the home team used it well, and from a lineout deep in the visitors’ 22 the pressure mounted. From a maul o the line Cairn Ramsey scored, and Sam Letto converted. But in the remaining period before halftime, Marr extended their one-point lead with a well taken Colin Sturgeon penalty goal.

Halftime score; Currie Chieftains 13 pts, Marr 17 pts.

The second half had much the same flavour as the first, with Currie trying to open things up but Marr giving them little opportunity to do so. Following some early defensive work when Marr pressure looked ominous, the Chieftains gradually progressed to the other end of the field with some fine handling which almost resulted in a corner flag try for Cammy Meager. When possession was lost, Marr’s fullback Douglas Steele set off on a diagonal run which carved Currie apart. He did not make the line, but from the resulting scrum, Marr’s close quarter power play produced a converted try for Alex Grant.

As Marr pulled ahead, the situation was starting to look bleak for the Malleny team who were not allowed to get their usual flowing game into gear. DJ Innis, Wallace Nelson and Rhys Davies all had strong carries which were stopped agonisingly close to the line by a well organised defence. When front row, AP McWilliam, Graeme Carson and Gregor Scougall turned over a Marr scrum, Currie went for a penalty lineout. From this the ball whizzed back and forth in the 22, but a corner flag touchdown was over-ruled. The Chieftains best spell of the match now followed with some scintillating passing which did produce a thrilling converted try for Joe Reynolds, putting the home team back in contention with fifteen minutes remaining.

Almost immediately Marr started to bite into Currie territory, and they hemmed in the opposition who tried to run out of trouble. Under pressure the ball was fumbled, and Colin Sturgeon was gifted the simplest of scores.

From the restart a stunning Chieftains attack caught the visitors cold; James McCaig was inches from scoring, but when the recycled ball reached Ryan Daley on the opposite side of the pitch, he sprinted over the line. From wide out, Joe Reynold’s conversion hit the post and bounced the wrong way

Unfortunately, this was the last hurrah for the home supporters, and Marr went through the phases to seal a well-won victory with an unconverted try for their physically dominant pack. It was a disappointing result for the Chieftains, but they will reflect on a tremendous, memorable, and record-breaking season.

Fulltime Score: Currie Chieftains 25 pts (t 3, c 2, p g 2) v Marr RFC 36 pts (t 5, c 4, p g 1)

I.J.S. – 3.4.22.

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