2NDS GO TOP AFTER A HARD FOUGHT GAME.

The visitors set off at a ferocious pace and had us pinned in our 22 for the first twenty minutes. They were playing hard aggressive rugby and we had to defend for our lives for the first time this season. Murrayfield took the lead during this spell of pressure when they scored an unconverted try to lead 5 – 0. Gradually our forwards began to work their way into the game and eventually we made our way into the opposition half. After 10 minutes of home pressure it looked as if we would score out wide but the ball was knocked on with the line open. We were forced into an early substitution when Collin Cantley had to be replaced after suffering a serious facial injury. Minutes later we scored the equalizing try when replacement Mark Douglas glided through a gap in the visitors defence to score an unconverted try bringing the score to 5 – 5. As half time approached we had taken a firm grip on the game but could not score again leaving the score level at half time 5 – 5.

The forwards had worked incredibly hard to get back into the game and the backs had shown they could defend well and show a bit of skill in attack. We were beginning to dominate up front and were winning great line out ball. Rucks and mauls were now the order of the day and after intense pressure from the forwards we scored our second try. Following 5
successive rucks the ball was quickly shipped right and Cameron Mcleary scored after a neat inside pass from Krisjen Gamble. Mcleary converted his own try from the touchline. Livi now lead 12 – 5. The third try came along soon after when Mcleary scored his second near the posts again after terrific work by the pack. Conversion also by Mcleary and now a bit of daylight appeared between us and Murrayfield as the score now read 19 – 5 to the home team. The bonus try was scored by Brian Middlemass when he appeared on the end of a slick handling move to score out wide on the right. The conversion struck the upright but stayed out taking the final score to Livingston 24 – 5 Murrayfield.

This was a terrific game of rugby played at a fast pace throughout and proved that we are a pretty fit squad. No-one panicked when we had to defend for long spells early on and I was hugely impressed with the work rate of all the forwards for the way they dragged us back into the game.

We are now top of our league with a few games left still to play, credit to all of you as I think we have proved we are a bloody good team.