Weekend Sport – 17th November – Rugby 1st XV win in Glasgow

Rugby: Whitecraigs  22   Stewart’s Melville RFC   50

While the attention of the World was on Scotland’s efforts against South Africa at Murrayfield the 1st XV were in Glasgow notching another good result in their quest for promotion from National League 2.

Two early converted tries gave us a 14-0 lead and although the home side held their own thereafter another two scores late on earned the side an important win in maintaining their hopes for the season.

After 12 rounds of matches Biggar lead with 54 points, Highland are second on 50 points and Stew Mel in third place on 44 points.   On Saturday the 1st XV head for Aberdeen and a cup match with Grammar with the next home match being on 1st December v league leaders Biggar with a 2pm kick off.    A big support for that one would be welcome.

 

Christmas Carol Party deadline for tickets approaching

The Christmas Reception followed by the ESMS Carol Party will take place on the Mary Erskine campus on 7 December starting at 6:00pm.  There is always a great demand for tickets from the grandparents/parents of the children taking part in the Carol Concert.  Consequently, we have to set an early deadline for applications for tickets, which is Friday, 23 November following which any tickets not required are returned to the school.  If you would like to attend please let Charles Wilson know (charles_s_wilson@btinternet) as soon as possible and tickets, priced at £15 each, will be reserved for you.  Arrangements for payment will be agreed when your application is acknowledged.

 

Weekend Sport – Sat 10th November. Rugby – 1st XV win at Falkirk

Rugby:    Falkirk    25     Stewart’s Melville RFC    49

Congrats to the 1st XV in achieving a comprehensive win  in an early kick-off only hours after their annual shindig at Prestonfield House turning around an 18-12 deficit after half an hour’s play  (obviously took them some time to shake off the effects !)   In the context of the league table now at the half way point the other significant weekend result was unbeaten league leaders Biggar losing for the first by 10-7 to Peebles, a result which leaves them on 49 points with second placed Highland, big winners at Howe of Fife second on 45 points with Stew Mel in third place on 39 points.

A full match report will appear here.

Next Saturday it’s a visit to Whitecraigs (kick-off 1pm).

 

 

 

Weekend Sport – Sat 3rd Nov. Rugby – 1st XV return to winning ways / Golf

Rugby:     Stewart’s Melville RFC     87     Howe of Fife    7

After two weeks on the road coupled with a couple of disappointing results the 1st XV were back on familiar territory and facing a Howe of Fife team with no bench to call on due to a catalogue of injured players which seems to affect all teams those days.   With the flow of the game going against them Howe of Fife were reduced to 13 players on the field before the first half was done and the score inevitably mounted before proceedings were brought to an early conclusion after about 70 minutes.   The result was a welcome boost to the team’s league position.  Next week its a visit to mid table Falkirk.

Kevin Murchie’s match report here  http://www.stewmelrugby.com/match-report-v-howe-of-fife-rfc-saturday-3-november-inverleith/ 

Golf:   Grant Forrest’s progress on European Golf’s Challenge Tour has been followed with interest.   A top ten finish in the tour’s final event of the season secured him seventh place in the end of season rankings and along with three other Scots in the top fifteen a place on the full European Tour next season which kicks off with five events before Christmas.   We all look forward to seeing him achieving further successes in his golf career.

Weekend Sport – Sat 27th Oct. 1st XV in Inverness

Highland    36    Stewart’s Melville   RFC     5

A second successive defeat away from home at the hands of Highland means Highland stay in second place on 35 points from nine matches, six more than Stew Mel now in fourth place on 29 points, one point behind third place Falkirk.   Table toppers Biggar easily maintained their 100% record and  now have 43 points after defeating Preston Lodge 49-0.

This Saturday the 1sts are back at Inverleith for a home match v Howe of Fife with a 2pm kick-off.

 

 

 

Weekend Sport – Sat 20th October. Defeat for 1st XV at Dumfries

Dumfries    41     Stewart’s Melville RFC    26

Our 1st XV headed for Dumfries with high expectations.   Only one defeat in seven matches and looking good in second place.   Such thoughts were soon dismissed when Dumfries took the lead with an early try.   Although the 1sts pulled that back to square the match again Dumfries thereafter steamed ahead building up a 41-5 lead before Stew Mel retrieved the situation somewhat with three converted tries.

Biggar still lead NL2, unbeaten with 38 points from 8 matches with our next opponents Highland now taking over second place with 30 points to our 29 with Preston Lodge close behind on 27.   Saturday’s match is up in Inverness where historically the club have found the going difficult although probably only older members remember when we last met in a league situation.

Link to Kevin Murchie’s report on Dumfries is here http://www.stewmelrugby.com/match-report-vs-dumfries-saints-20th-october-2018/

 

 

ESMS Carol Party | Friday 7 December 2018

A beautiful evening of music, friends and Christmas cheer awaits.  Book you place for the magical Christmas Reception held on Friday 7 December 2018 in The Mar Hall, The Mary Erskine School, Ravelston Dykes 7pm.

To book your tickets please email Charles Wilson HERE

 

Weekend Sport – Sat/Sun 13th/14th Oct. Success in Rugby and Golf

Rugby:       Stewart’s Melville RFC    22   Peebles    7

Another win for the 1st XV on Saturday, the sixth in seven games keeps them in second place in the NL2 table with 28 points, five behind leaders Biggar who maintained their 100% record.  Highland are third on 25 points and  Preston Lodge fourth with 22 points after securing a one point victory over Falkirk.

The link to the full match report is here  http://www.stewmelrugby.com/match-report-vs-peebles-rfc-13th-october-2018/

Golf:    Former pupil Grant Forrest secures playing card for main 2019 European Tour

Playing on Europe’s second tier Challenge Tour this season Grant Forrest achieved a third second place finish on Sunday in the Hainan Open played in China taking him up to seventh place in the tour rankings with two events left which with the top fifteen getting playing rights on the main tour for 2019 guarantees him that status at the season’s end.   In this event he got off to a flier with a 10 under par first round of 62 (28 for the inward half including eagles at two consecutive holes).    Ultimately he finished two shots behind the tournament winner with a 13 under par total of 275 failing to obtain the required birdie on the par 5 72nd hole which would have given him the win.

The European Challenge Tour includes events in Kenya, China and the UAE so this week’s tournament is also being played in China before the concluding event in the UAE.

Christmas Lunch | Monday 17 December 2018

Make sure you book your place for the FP Club Christmas lunch on Monday 17 December.  Always a highlight is a visit from Santa.. What will he have to say this year?

Weekend Sport – 6th October 2018. Rugby – Big win for 1sts at GHK.

GHK     7    Stewart’s Melville RFC    46

For once the rugby club’s senior management of President Bill McNie and Vice-President Simon Breeze had a stress free afternoon as the 1st XV strode to their biggest win of the season by 46-7 having led 22-0 at half-time.

With league leaders Biggar defeating Highland, Stew Mel rise to the heights of second place in the league table on 24 points from with five wins out of six games.   Biggar having won all six matches played lead the way with 28 points.

On Saturday the 1sts entertain Peebles at Inverleith (3pm).

A full report will be available soon on the Rugby Club website.