To err is human

After last week’s 0-32 loss away to Ellon ended a run of five straight wins for Edinburgh University’s First XV, it was unfortunately more of the same today in bleak, wet conditions at Peffermill in the National Division One. There was no return to form as they slumped to a heavy reverse to Garnock RFC.

After an early chance for the home side to register on the scoreboard from a penalty just outside the 22 but near the left touchline was screwed low and wide, all the scoring was done by Garnock. Early creative ambition was shown by a couple of cross-field kicks by the Garnock stand-off Rory Walker, the second of which evaded the Edinburgh defence and fell kindly for the full-back to touch down unchallenged.
Garnock dominated possession for the next twenty minutes, capitalising with a couple of penalties to take the score to 13-0 at half-time. The break was not favourable to Edinburgh as they had began to work their way back into the game in the last ten minutes of the half, never greatly threatening the Garnock line but at least playing inside the Garnock half.

The start of the second period began with even heavier rain, and with neither team able to keep possession for long, mostly through fouls in the breakdown. The Garnock forwards were the main reason for the success in this game as they had the measure of the Edinburgh pack. It was the backs, though, that showed their abilities in difficult conditions ten minutes into the second half, putting together a flowing passing move and working the ball out to the right where the outside centre Gareth McRorie found space to run in rather easily.

Garnock then managed a third try which, much like the first, came from a kick which Edinburgh failed to deal with, as it landed over their own goal line and was missed by the covering back, leaving the ball for the Garnock centre to capitalise on the error.

Edinburgh have little by way of positives to take from this match, with only a few line breaks from the stand-off, Ian McGee, offering any real encouragement that Edinburgh could threaten the opposition line. Other than that, they struggled to retain the ball long enough to make great use of it. Overall Garnock were simply the much better side, with greater strength in the forward line and a better use of the ball, especially given the conditions.