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NewsMatch played: 10 November 2007
Portobello recorded a win against the league leaders that was a fitting backdrop to the official reopening of the clubhouse. Playing with the wind in the first half Portobello got off to a fabulous start when a misfield by the Hawick Linden back line on halfway was swooped on by Portobello and finished off by Fraser Boyter going over near to the posts with Connor MacLeod adding the conversion. Contrary to a fortnight ago when these teams met in the Cup, Portobello didn't let up and scored soon after when Sean Hollywood made a blistering break from the halfway line which took him within 10 yards of the try line. Feeling the Hawick defence closing him down he threw the ball in-field for Graeme Culbertson to score with Connor again adding the conversion. While Hawick Linden may have felt aggrieved about the referee missing the first of several forward passes, the third score by Darren Roe was a wonderful piece of play with great passing, fabulous support play and breathtaking offloads out of the tackle. Big 'Shrekkie' was on hand to pinch the ball out of Barry Marsh's mitts and dived over for a well deserved score. Connor missed the conversion and the score stood at 19 - nil with barely a quarter of the match gone. For all that the first quarter was outstanding the rest of the first half was very poor for Portobello and a sleepwalking defence allowed Hawick Linden to score from a tap penalty. Further indiscipline allowed Hawick several shots at the posts but fortunately they were only able to convert one.
Half Time: (19) Portobello vs. Hawick Linden (8)
The half time team talk emphasised the need to keep up the pressure on a Hawick side that were still very much in the game and now had the advantage of the wind at thier backs. The game ebbed and flowed without ever reaching the heights of the first quarter. The highlight for Portobello was another superb score featuring the back row who again passed the ball out of the tackle with the scoring pass from Ed Henderson allowing Rob Mott to go over in the corner. To add salt into the Hawick wounds, Connor kicked a great conversion from the 'wrong' touchline and into the wind for a further two points. Hawick then showed why they are still top of the league and kept taking the game to Portobello. They laid siege to the Portobello line which resulted in one indiscretion too many for the referee who yellow carded Kevin Bulloch. Its to the credit of the team that they did not concede any points at this time. With less than a quarter of the game to go Hawick kicked a penalty to reduce the arrears before giving Connor the chance to kick a goal from around thirty-five metres which took him past the 100 points mark for the season. Hawick don't know the meaning of losing and while Portobello players were involved or watching a scrap behind the goal line, Hawick scored another try aided by the referee who didn't seem to notice forward passes, knock-ons or squint throws at line-outs. Portobello held out for the rest of the half.
Full Time: (29) Portobello vs. Hawick Linden (18)
This was a mixed performance by Portobello. Some great play was matched by slackness and lack of concentration. When we were good we were excellent but when we were bad we were awful. Two yellow cards meant we played a quarter of the game a man down and too many penalties were conceded. We have to learn to play referees and just get on with the game.
This is a difficult one this week. All the units in the pack were excellent with Connor, Shrek and Chris Davis outstanding. The back row, particularily in the last 20 minutes all played well. In the backs Fraser Boyter, Ray Vaughan and Rob Mott all had big games but this weeks man of the match is Dave Hardy. The big veteran stand-off gave his opposite number and the visiting back row a torrid time with his bullocking runs. He kept the Portobello side going forward with some great kicking from hand and his passing was top drawer.
Article taken from Scotsman (Monday 12 November 2007), original article here.
GARY HEATLY
PORTOBELLO celebrated the opening of their revamped clubhouse on Saturday with a 29-18 win over Scottish Hydro Electric East League Division One leaders Hawick Linden at Cavalry Park.
The clubhouse, destroyed in May by fire, was reopened by opened by Colin Thomson, head of community rugby for the SRU.
Tries came from Fraser Boyer, Graham Culbertson, Darren Roe and Robbie Mott as Porty gained a bonus-point win to put them sixth in the table and end Linden's unbeaten start to the campaign.
Portobello captain Ed Henderson said: We played Linden two weeks ago in the cup when they beat us 17-7 so we knew what to expect. They threw a lot at us, but we played really well.
Team Photograph
Captain Ed Henderson and Hawick Linden Captain Brian Weir toss up
Fraser Boyter scores the first try
Connor kicks the conversion
Centre Keith Alison retires with a broken nose
Porty drive a lineout
Fraser Boyter tackles well
Graham Culbertson and Ed Henderson slow down a Hawick Linden player
Sean Hollywood takes contact
Sean Hollywood picks up from the scrum
Kevin Bulloch sets up Ed Henderson (unseen)
Darren Roe scores the second try
Chris Weir tackling
Leanne and Keith watch on
Kevin Bulloch (tongue out) spreads the ball wide
Softy clears to touch
Boyo looks for a pass
Kevin and Connor
Lee Dickson on the charge
The Back Row running amok
Ed Henderson makes break, ignore Bawbag and feeds Robbie for the bonus point try
Robbie Mott takes his try very well
Ed Henderson (with Boyo in support)
Big Softy gurning on the rampage
Big G
One handed off load from Ed
Softy on the break out (with Fraser Boyter in tow)
Wee Stocky Fella (Danny Roarty) on the charge
Connor lines up a second half penalty
Deserving winners
Noss MacLeod and Peter Griffin
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