Broughton put the lid on another league campaign with a 54-0
win over basement boys Earlston at Wardie.
10 unanswered tries in total including scores for Butcher &
Gladwin who broke their try-scoring duck in a competitive match for the Club.
The day belonged to Broughton die-hard Duncan Nicolson.
A Man of the Match performance, which included a try, was topped off by the Prop
picking up the Player of the Year Award later in the evening.
The game kicked off with the most unlikely scenario of the
icy wind blowing up the Wardie slope and it was Broughton who took early
advantage of the conditions when Matthews kicked the home side into the corner
from a penalty awarded for an Earlston forward holding-on. Unfortunately
the pressure didn't turn into points with a knock on at the maul set up from the
lineout.
However, the Wardie faithful on the opposite touchline didn't
have long to wait for the opening try. Smith turned over the ball in the
middle of the field and Tyson, complete with his erm, new "hairstyle", took the
ball on a run before setting up Fragne who waited until the last moment to draw
in the full back before releasing Keenan for the easiest of tries.
5-0. Arrandale missed the extras.
From the restart, Captain Wells went on the rampage, running
a full 30 metres to set up a maul on halfway, but over-eagerness by the
Broughton pack to inflict more early damage on the Borders outfit, saw an
unforced knock-on.
Arrandale, playing some of his finest rugby for the Club in
recent months, capitalised on the Earlston full-back's handling error on the 22
in the 17th minute. Before the player had managed to bend down to recover
the situation, the scrum-half put boot to ball and further fine soccer skills
saw Arrandale pick up the ball a metre out and perfect the finest
pirouette before dropping over the line. 10-0. Arrandale missed his own
conversion.
Man of the Match Nicolson got on the scoresheet after 27
minutes following a deceptively quick break by Keenan who escaped the clutches
of two Earlston defenders. Atkins drove on with the try-line begging and
as the ball came back, Nicolson was on hand and from 5 metres, no-one was
stopping the big Prop. Arrandale got his points at last at the
third time of asking. 17-0.
The bonus point try had a touch of handling brilliance from
the forwards that you would genuinely pay money to watch! The Earlston
hooker was having such a horrid time in the blustery conditions that his line
out just 10 metres away from his own try-line was almost caught by his scrum
half.
From the resultant scrum, McFarlane broke off at the back of
the scrum to make a couple of yards. With Arrandale held in the maul,
stand-in scrum-half Nicolson showed the finesse of Mike Blair and his
sympathetic pass to Wells on the wing saw the Club Captain dive over for
his 3rd try of the season. 22-0
On the stroke of half-time, Broughton added a 5th try.
A penalty for another Earlston transgression allowed McFarlane to go on a run up
to the opposition 22. The ball made it's way out to Nicolson, who seemed
to cover almost every blade of grass so far, and with 5 metres to go, he
selfishly popped the ball into the hands of Cox who glided over for his
first try of the season. Arrandale converted and the sides turned
around with Broughton 29-0 to the good.
Broughton had the advantage of the slope for the second half
and within 90 seconds of the restart, the floodgates looked set to open.
Matthews had a rush of try-line fever as he attempted a one man solo effort
trying to slalom between bedraggled Earlston defenders but he was stopped short.
That man Nicolson was on hand to recycle quick ball for Frange to go in
for a score. 34-0
Heelan was forced out due to injury (thankfully my copy/paste
button still works from all the other match reports!) and he was replaced by
Gladwin (sorry, Junior).
10 minutes later, Atkin got on the scoresheet as he
hugged the touchline waiting patiently as the ball went through the hands of
Arrandale, Matthews then Keenan before the young winger rounded off a great
move. 39-0.
On the hour mark, Fragne notched up his brace of tries
after Nicolson wrestled back possession to set up his backline to work it to the
flying Frenchman. 44-0.
Butcher, who had earlier come on from Kelly, opened up
his try scoring account in spectacular fashion 5 minutes later. The Earlston
full back got in a panic as the ball soared over his head and as he tried to
recover and clear for touch, his kick cruelly landed into the breadbasket of the
onrushing Butcher and he ran in under the posts for the 9th try of the day.
49-0. 'Junior' contrived to miss the conversion from under the posts,
however he was to have the last laugh.
The tourists, who didn't exactly have their troubles to seek,
finished the match with 14 men after their Hooker incurred the wrath of the ref.
The whistler was by now clearly frustrated at the continual killing of the ball
and despatched the No2 as his patience finally wore thin.
The tenth and final try of the day came with 5 minutes of
official time to go. The recently newly engaged Tyson presented the backs
with an ideal opportunity to inflict further damage on the already relegated
outfit and they didn't disappoint. Fine hands and overlaps are not regular
features at Wardie but with a man down and only pride to play for, the visitors
allowed Gladwin to score in the corner. I am delighted to say that
our beardy barman bought his first try jugs after the game!! 54-0.
With the referee taking pity, he blew up with 3 minutes to go
and a 54-0 win was a welcome way to finish the season.
