Brief Reports on 1st XV Matches

19 January 2008
1st XV v High School of Dundee
Loss 15 - 22

Considering the long lay off there were some reasonable passages of play

• It was pleasing to note stand off Angus Tester playing for the first time this season.
• The forwards supplied some useful set piece ball.
• We lacked continuity in their half of the pitch with too many penalties and turnovers disrupting any chance of flow.

8 December 2007
1st XV vs Glenalmond College
Win 16 - 0, played at home

• Solid defence against a lively Glenalmond.
• Our backs struggled to penetrate due to very slow phase ball.
• Line out once again our best source of possession.
• A pleasing win if not performance.  

4 December 2007
1st XV vs King's School, Parramatta, Sydney
Loss 0 - 26, played at home

• Outstanding defensive effort by every player against one of Australia’s top rugby playing schools.
• Very little opportunity in attack.
• Created only 2 chances to score in the whole match.
• An extremely high tempo game which will stand the boys in good stead for the last home game of the season on Saturday 8 December vs Glenalmond.

1 December 2007
1st XV vs Fettes College
Loss 19 - 21, played at home

• Huge disappointment throughout the squad to lose the Colin Mackay Memorial Trophy for the first time.
• The winning kick came in the last play of the game.
• The last 15 minutes was full of incident and movement.
• Winger Danny Carruthers and full back Bill Auld were the pick of the backs and, once again, No 8 Callum Wishart was the outstanding forward.
• Fettes were probably worth their win but a draw might have been the right result.

24 November 2007
1st XV vs George Watson's College
Win 17- 7, played away

• Delighted with the result after losing to Watson’s in the Cup.
• Pack dominant in most phases.
• Very strong wind caused handling errors on both sides.
• Our defence held against some strong thrusts from their No 8 and outside centre.
• A very committed performance from the whole team.

17 November 2007
1st XV vs Robert Gordon's College
Loss 24 - 8, played away

• Outplayed in every area other than line out and scrum (1st half).
• We showed no control or composure when in possession.
• Failed to exert any territorial pressure.
• Beaten by a far better team.

10 November 2007
1st XV vs Stewart's Melville
Win 17 - 3, played at home

• Very pleasing result after the disappointment of the cup loss in midweek.
• Forwards dominated key areas with Callum Wishart at number 8 and Jamie Webb in the second row featured.
• Bill Auld’s return to full back freshened up the attack greatly.
• The boys should take a great deal of satisfaction from this win, it indicates how determined they are to be a successful 1st XV even though they are no longer in the cup.

06 November 2007
1st XV vs George Watson's College
Loss 5 - 10, played away

• Tense cup tie with defences on top played in very windy conditions.
• All 3 tries were scored from opposition error: an indication of the game’s intensity.
• Our lack of control in key line outs proved decisive.
• Loss of ball at the tackle situation gave us little opportunity to develop attacks.
• The players could not have put in more effort but they were bitterly disappointed to go out of the cup at this stage.

03 November 2007
1st XV vs St Aloysius College
Win 27 - 7, played away

• Apart from a purple patch in the first half this was a disappointing performance.
• Wet ball, poor line out possession and a lack of structure in the game produced a disjointed affair.
• Tom Hogarth our 4th Form scrum half played well and Alistair Cummings at flank was once again to the fore.
• However we are starting to develop the winning habit which would be good to continue against George Watson’s in the Scottish Schools Cup Tie on Tuesday 06 November.

30 October 2007
1st XV vs Shetland Select
Win 143 - 0, played away

• Shetland’s weather was at its gentlest and the pitch was in excellent condition which allowed us to play with width.
• The Shetland boys stuck to their task but lacked experience in match play due to their limited opportunities for fixtures.
• Alistair Cummings (flanker) clearly enjoyed supporting the ball carrier in front of him and was our top try scorer with five.
• A unique day for us all.

27 October 2007
1st XV vs North Berwick High School
Win 13 - 7, played away

• A hard fought victory.
• When possession was used effectively we looked comfortable.
• We were well beaten at the contact point their pack far more abrasive.
• The narrow pitch made it difficult for us to get round their defence.
• A good work out for what will be a very physical game against Shetland in the cup on Tuesday 30 October.

6 October 2007
1st XV vs Edinburgh Academy
Loss 10 - 18, played at home

• Set piece dominance was pleasing.
• We did not use ball effectively giving them the opportunity to counter attack on too many occasions.
• A steep learning curve  for many of our more inexperienced players
• Games at this level are won and lost on small things.
• They fully deserved to win a game which we might have.

29 September 2007
1st XV vs Glasgow High School
Win 44 - 0, played at home

• Solid set piece platform for the first time this season gave us the opportunity to put some width on our play.
• Bill Auld played with more authority and the backline benefited from his excellent passing.
• Two Form V boys, Courtenay Morrison (centre) and Calum Wishart (back row) continue to impress.

15 September 2007
1st XV vs Dundee High
Draw 10 - 10, played at home

• The 10 - 10 draw flattered Dollar.
• Well beaten in the forwards where poor line out and lack of control at the scrummage proved decisive.
• Backs had little chance to shine in attack but showed defensive weakness particularly in chase of kicks.
• Much improvement required if we are to cope with Merchiston on Thursday 20 September.

8 September 2007
1st/2nd Squad vs Loretto
Win 58 - 0, played at home

• Important last training game before final selection.
• Loretto's resistance asked questions of our play.
• We attacked with ball in hand very positively.
• Line-out was sound.
• A good opportunity for less experienced players to get used to the pace of 1st XV rugby.
• We will know more about this side in the next week following the first inter-school match against Dundee High on Saturday 15th.

1 September 2007
Leavers vs 1st XV
Win 24 - 17, played at home

• A worthwhile experience for all.
• A good opportunity for new members of the squad to show their strengths.
• It was pleasing to see so many in the Leavers team able to come back.
• A clearer picture of those who will make up this Session's 1st XV has now developed.