Weekend Sport – Sat / Sun 30/31st March. Rugby and FP Golf

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Rugby:   Decisive Win for Rugby Club

Stewart’s Melville RFC    57     Falkirk    10

The 1st XV achieved another big win on Saturday scoring nine tries with six conversions, six of the tries coming in the second half after leading 19-3 at half-time.   The win leaves them on 77  points equal with Highland who however have played two fewer games in NL2.   We are due to play Highland in the match postponed from the Calcutta Cup weekend on Saturday 27th April before which Highland have games against Peebles (away) on Saturday and Howe of Fife (home) the following week.

Golf:    FP Golf Club’s Spring Outing

The FP Golf Club enjoyed fine weather for their first outing of the year at the links course of Monifieth on Sunday.    Despite the sunshine and only a slight breeze the course did not play easily and Euan Parker  took the scratch prize from Scott Noble with a round of 83 after a count back.   Donald Lowe with 40 Stableford points had no challegers for the handicap prize.  Robin Mather won nearest the pin at the short 14th but Bert Barclay scooped the twos sweep with the only two of the day at the same hole.   Twenty-one members took part.

 

Weekend Sport – Sat 16th February Wins for Hockey Men and Ladies Cricket Annual Dinner & Awards Evening

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Hockey:   ESMS Mens 1st XI travelled to Inverness to play Highland at Bught Park and were rewarded with an 8-2 win which keeps them on top in NL 3 with 8 wins out of eight matches played.     ESMS Ladies 1st XI were also big winners, 5-0 v Dundee University at Ravelston.  With a 9 and 3 record they remain in second place in NL2 four points behind Gordonians.

Rugby:   A planned friendly match with Dundee did not take place – league rugby resumes on 2nd March v Dumfries at Inverleith.   This weekend’s focus is on the Six Nations when Scotland play in Paris.   The bar at Inverleith is open for a large screen viewing of the match.

Cricket:   The Cricket Club had their Annual Dinner and Awards night on Friday evening.   A full report on the evening’s awards can be seen on the Cricket Club’s website at http://www.stewartsmelvillecricket.com

 

Weekend Sport – Sat/Sun 2nd/3rd Feb Rugby / Outdoor Hockey resume Saturday 16th February

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Rugby

No competition play to report on this weekend with League rugby taking a break during the Six Nations Rugby Championship although a friendly match has been arranged for Saturday 16th February with Dundee at Inverleith.   The match will be followed in the evening by the Rugby Club’s own version of a Burns Supper.

Hockey

Outdoor hockey is on the mid winter break resuming on 16th February.   The Mens 1st team went into the break in NL3 with a 100% record of 7 wins from 7 games, top of the league ahead of FMGM from Dundee who have a 6 and 1 record.  The team’s next match is against Highland at Bught Park, Inverness with the next again match on 23rd February at Inverleith v Stirling University.   The Ladies 1st team are presently in 2nd place in NL2 with 8 wins and 3 defeats (24 points).   Gordonians lead the league with 28 points from 9 wins, a draw and one defeat.  Their next match is on the 16th against St Andrews University at MES (2.30pm).

 

Weekend Sport – Sat 26th January. 1st XV lose but stay in touch with second place

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Peebles  25   Stewart’s Melville RFC  17

 

A disappointing outcome for the 1st XV at Peebles failing to add to our games point total.    Turning around a 15-3 deficit into a winning 17-15 position with 15 minutes left Peebles added a penalty and a try with 5 minutes left to give them the win.   A lift was received however when the result of Highland’s match at Dumfries came through, 10-3 to the “Saints” leaving Stew Mel tied on points with Highland on 62.    We have four games left, all in March, including one v Highland on Saturday 16th March at Inverleith.   Highland still have to travel to Peebles on 6th April for a catch up fixture … so all is not lost.

 

PosTeamPWLDF:ADiff.TBLBPoints
1Biggar RFC181710730:12260814183
2Highland RFC161240480:23224811362
3Stewart’s Melville RFC181350543:36318010062

Weekend Sport – Saturday 12th January. Rugby – Another win for 1st XV

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Preston Lodge    21    Stewart’s Melville RFC    27

For many our supporters the highlight of the day was the substantial pre match lunch complete with non PC comedian put on by PL and which our club chairman Finlay Calder issued the equivalent of a three line whip to attend, it all being enjoyed by a packed clubhouse.

The game itself required a hike up the road to the ground at Pennypit where the former clubhouse is no more but the ground as cold as ever.   Most of the points came in the first half of fluctuating play that saw us reach half-time 24-16 ahead.   A further penalty after 15 minutes of the second half put us comfortably ahead at 27-16 a situation we held onto until the final minutes when PL crossed for another try leaving our supporters somewhat less than comfortable as they wished for the ref to blow the final whistle.    The win ultimately kept us with 57 points from 16 games on the coat tails of second placed Highland on 60 points but with two more games played.  Biggar 74 points from 16 games look uncatchable.

Full match report here   http://www.stewmelrugby.com/match-report-v-preston-lodge-rfc-saturday-12-january/ .

On Saturday we welcome GHK to Inverleith (2pm kick off).

Monday 17th Dec – Santa visits Inverleith

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Santa dips into his sack

 

The club’s Annual Christmas Lunch attracted a full house of over 100 to Inverleith today to enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch and a visit from Santa.   A great time was had by all.

Hopefully most will return on Friday 25th January for the Burns Day celebration,  12 noon for 12.30pm – no booking necessary.  Just turn up.

Weekend Sport – Sat 15th Dec. Substantial win for 1st XV before Christmas break

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Stewart’s Melville RFC   58     Lasswade   7

Doug Randall crosses for Stew Mel’s second try

The 1st XV finished their pre Christmas National League 2 campaign in freezing cold weather and virtual darkness with probably their best performance of the season scoring nine tries with four converted maintaining third place in the league.   Two early scores the second by Doug Randall (above) gave Stew Mel an early 12-0 lead which was pulled to 12-7 after a Lasswade interception.  Three more tries with two being converted took the half-time lead to 31-7 but with the prospect of playing against the whipping wind in the second half.   Despite facing the wind Stew Mel continued their adventurous brand of possession rugby adding five more tries and a further conversion to make the final score 58-7 – a great way to finish the first part of the season.  With the other matches  in the league being cancelled StewMel closed the gap to second placed Highland to seven points though with a game more played.

Good too to see sixty guests attending the pre match lunch two weeks on from 120 attending the lunch before the Biggar match.

The season resumes on Saturday 12th January with a match v Preston Lodge away.   PL are doing a pre match lunch at Pennypit Park and anyone wanting to attend it should contact Bill McNie.   If there is sufficient take up the club will provide transport.

Weekend Sport – 8th December. 1st XV win in Glasgow

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Glasgow Academicals   8    Stewart’s Melville RFC    13

 

The 1st XV travelled to Glasgow to take on an Accies side who we had previously recorded a win against at Inverleith.    The weather conditions were rather different on this occasion and not conducive to a handling game.   Stew Mel opened the scoring with penalty and built on this lead with two unconverted tries by Freddie Roddick and Craig Davidson before half-time, 13-0.   The second half was a struggle to hold on as Accies clawed their way back into the game with a penalty and a try, 13-8 and that was how it remained to the final whistle.   The win and the four points keep us in third place in the league on 48 points  but two wins behind second placed Highland (60) and leaders Biggar (64), all from 14 matches.   The action returns to Inverleith on Saturday with a home match v Lasswade, 2 pm.   After that we have a Christmas break from league play until 12th January.

Weekend Sport – Sat/Sun 1/2 Dec. Rugby. 1st XV v Biggar. Golf – Grant Forrest’s 7th place in Mauritius

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Rugby:  Stewart’s Melville RFC    0     Biggar RFC    31


A clubhouse lunch for 120 former players and guests preceded Saturday’s match against NL2 league leaders Biggar and was thoroughly enjoyed by all with a prize raffle and heads and tails quiz included.

Things did not go quite to plan out on the field thereafter with Biggar opening the scoring with a converted try after only five minutes.   Stew Mel had a spell of territorial advantage and a fair share of possession thereafter without breaching Biggar’s strong defence before another converted try put Biggar 14-0 ahead at half-time  Five minutes after the break  Stew Mel extended the day’s hospitality to our visitors with an unfortunate gifted try, 19-0 down and  things looking as bleak as the weather.  Two more Biggar tries followed, the first being converted to take the score to 31-0.    Further Stew Mel pressure failed to produce any points leaving Biggar in a good place at the top of the league on 59 points, four ahead of Highland on 55 with Stew Mel still in third place but 11 points behind Highland on 44 after thirteen rounds of fixtures.   Next week’s match is away to Glasgow Accies at New Anniesland (kick-off 2pm).

Golf:    Good weekend on the European Tour for Grant Forrest

Grant Forrest in his second tournament as a full member of the European Tour had weekend rounds of 65 and 68 to finish in a tie for seventh place in the Mauritius Open with a 14 under par total of 274 after opening rounds of 70 and 71 saw him into the weekend with just one shot to spare.    Although he never threatened the winning score of 268 he picked up sufficient ranking points (and cash!) to take him into 15th place in the 2018-19 “Race to Dubai” points table.    This week he is in Johannesburg for the South African Open.   Former Open Champions Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen and former US Masters Champion Trevor Immelman as well as the 2018 Scottish Open Champion Brandon Stone are in the field.

Weekend Sport – Sat/Sun 24th/25th Nov. Rugby / Golf

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Rugby:    Aberdeen Grammar  31   Stewart’s Melville RFC  14   (National League Cup – Round 2)

 

Another long away trip for the 1st XV ended in another defeat at the hands of NL 1 side Aberdeen Grammar on Saturday ending our interest in the cup for National League teams for another year.

Link to Aberdeen Grammar’s report on the match https://www.aberdeenrugby.org.uk/aberdeen-grammar-31-stewarts-melville-14/

Saturday sees the return of league action with an important game against league leaders  Biggar at Inverleith (kick off 2pm).    The rugby club is holding a pre match lunch – contact Lindsey Geddes.

Golf:   Grant Forrest played his first event as a European Tour member in the Hong Kong Open qualifying for the weekend’s play and ultimately finishing in 36th place with a three under par total of  277 with rounds of 70,68,70,69.