1stXV beat Fettes

We have had a really good week in training following our narrow defeat away to Merchiston last week, and we have focused on playing a bit more heads up rugby, identifying where the space is and moving the ball quickly in to space, rather than being a bit predictable and playing everything through Rafa. It has been great to see the boys develop their game and work hard, and we headed in to our first home game of the season against our friends from Fettes in good heart, welcoming Tristan and Dexter back in to the side having been unavailable last week.

We dominated possession in the first half and were camped for long periods in the Fettes 22m and it was excellent to see the forwards working hard at the breakdown and Theo, having just been appointed, vice captain, showing real tenacity at the base of the ruck, taking good options, releasing his outside backs or else seeing the gap and going himself. James had an excellent game at stand off, moving the ball quickly in to space to Rafa and Jamie, but he also showed a real awareness of space and made good decisions, going himself and looking for the supporting players. We scored three tries, all well converted, the best being Tristan’s in the corner following some excellent play by forwards and backs to put him over in the corner for a very well worked try. In truth, we left five or six tries out there, and took the wrong option with the line at our mercy…….later in the season, this might be the difference between winning and losing, but it is all part of the learning experience, and we just need to think clearly under pressure, and move the ball wide when we are a yard from the line, rather than a forward trying to dive over. A few times, we did not commit enough forwards to the breakdown as one or two were standing off wanting to charge over, and we must communicate more to make sure we win the ball in those red zone situations. Small margins, but we are developing well as a team and Mr Stephen and I are delighted with the progress we are making and it is good that we have things to work on over the next few weeks!

So 21-0 up at half time and the second half saw us playing up the hill and with Fettes having one very large boy and handling the ball well in space, the game was still a little bit in the balance. However, the forwards once again dominated the breakdown area and it was only Mr de Luca showing some leniency towards the opposition to even things up that allowed Fettes to get back in to it, but the forwards carried well with Harry, Monty and Jamie to the fore, we rucked at speed and managed to exit well which was terrific to see, getting deep in to the Fettes half and we were much more clinical in the red zone. Rafa scored the three tries but they were well constructed team tries with quick ball and quick hands and Rafa running excellent lines off James and Jamie P. It was good to see us putting in to practice what we have been working on in training!

Defensively, we had to work a bit harder in the 2^nd half with Edward, Jamie P and James M all putting in try saving tackles with Fettes just yards from the line, and then we regrouped, worked hard at the breakdown and managed to exit again and again. It is encouraging to see these boys growing in confidence and making telling contributions in the game as the step up from U11s is a big one, so well done.

So 6 tries, all converted and a good win. Yes, it could have been, and perhaps should have been, more, but we are learning all the time, looking to improve and what pleased me most was to see the team playing positive and attractive rugby, we defended well as Fettes did look to move the ball in to the wide channels, and we saw some of that interaction between backs and forwards that we have been working on. Our forwards provide a wonderful platform to play really attacking rugby and we have plenty of pace, power and skill out wide to run in the tries, so the next few weeks are going to be very exciting and we are looking forward to continuing to develop, to improve and to keep enjoying our rugby!

Sterner challenges lie ahead and we are building nicely.