Dunbar Grammar S3 22 - 12 Preston Lodge High School S3
The future for rugby in East Lothian looks to be in good shape if the National Bell Lawrie Bowl U-15 final between Preston Lodge and Dunbar is anything to go by the Dunbar lads just edging a very competitive, fast-paced match by 22 – 12 at Nelson Park, Haddington on Monday evening.
Dunbar’s bigger pack were on the attack and applying pressure in the PL 22 right from the kick off but it was full back Gary Peebles who made the first real break down the left wing before passing inside to Mark Reid. The loose-head prop looked certain to score but strong defence and brave tackling from PL ensured that he was stopped just short of the try line. Pressure was maintained though for the first 10 minutes, as PL were finding it difficult to clear their lines and it took a good break by Paul Glynn to finally get the ball up nearer half way.
Scrappy play in midfield led to PL centre Jonathan Sked kicking the ball into the Dunbar half but it was Peebles who fly kicked it back on the full and he had enough pace to collect the kind bounce and sprint over the PL line to score the opening try himself. Ross Charlton added the conversion to give Dunbar a deserved 7 –0 lead.
The next phase of play was highlighted by striking runs by the two opposing number 12s. First PL’s Liam White carried the ball through the defence and into the Dunbar 22 and once possession was regained, Fraser Maddox broke back for 40m before popping the ball up to Luke Baker on the wing. The ruck that followed gave the Dunbar pack the opportunity to produce clean ball for Reid, who barged his way over to take the score to 12 – 0.
It was to be the PL boys who would finish the half in the ascendancy as the play opened out and the backs used their pace and handling skills to gain good ground. A scrum on the Dunbar 22 led to a back row move before the ball was shipped to Glynn who proved too quick for the defence and he stormed through to score.
Before the half was over, Ryan Deighan and Jim McLean won good ball before setting it back to Galloway and Gordon but the half backs were unable to get their back line moving quickly enough to break through the defence, leaving the score at the break 12–5 in favour of Dunbar.
PL’s Glynn had a great run into the Dunbar 22 early in the second half but when the ball was lost, it was Baker who collected it before sprinting 40m deep into PL territory.
The Dunbar pack were able to control the ball in the tight with tidy pick and go rugby and after five minutes, No. 8 and Captain Robbie Wilson, took advantage of this type of play to finish off the move with a fine try in the corner. The conversion was missed but it looked like a decisive lead at 17 – 5.
PL had other ideas though as once again they picked up the pace and kept the ball moving and away from the big Dunbar pack. Raymond Mackie was at the forefront as he took a quick tap penalty but was held up just short of the line and that was followed by a big push in the scrum that allowed Sam Stewart a strike against the head. The game was being played out near the Dunbar try line and Glynn and White each had attempts to break the defence but it was Mackie who got the breakthrough as he stormed over near the posts to score a try that he would convert himself.
At 17-12, the big PL support hoped that further pressure and open play might bring another try to at least tie the scores but it was to prove difficult to obtain any quality possession for the remainder of the match. The Dunbar boys brought composure to the tense situation and were able to control the ball while making inroads to the PL half. Full back Peebles, later named the Sponsors’ Man of the Match for his excellent play, got the ball into the 22 before Maddox was stopped short of the line. PL looked to have won the ball from the scrum 5 but then dropped it, allowing Maddox to pounce and complete the scoring at 22 – 12.
There was just time for one more play before the Referee blew the final whistle to bring an exciting match to an end, with Dunbar just deserving their hard fought victory.
Both teams can be proud of the way they played the match that was non-stop entertainment for the large and vociferous crowd.
Preston Lodge High School are proud of all the boys and coaches that were part of the team. Even with defeat in the final we have a team that has put the school back on the map and with success in all other Preston Lodge teams this year, it seems that the good times are coming back to Preston Lodge.
Dunbar S3 Team:
Gary Peebles, Will Atkin, Sandy Thomson, Fraser Maddox, Luke Baker, Ross Charlton, Blair Mills,
Mark Reid, Chris Bryce, Liam Brown, Ricky, Prentice, Ruaridh Mitchell, Niall Spowart, Ciaran Burgess, Robbie Wilson.
Replacements used:
Rob Millar, Lewis Richardson.
Preston Lodge S3 team:
Paul Glynn, Neil Kelly, Jonathan Sked, Liam White, Michael Simpson, Robbie Gordon, Ross Galloway,
Liam Mack, Sam Stewart, Raymond Mackie, Jim McLean, Callum Buchannan, Kieran Slater, Glen Muir, Ross Currie.
Replacement used:
Ryan Deighan.
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