Date:
Kick-off:
Venue:
Result:
Dumfries 2nd XV 43 – President’s Homecoming XV 0
As part of the lead up to the new season the seconds played their part in the festival of rugby to herald the opening of the new improved clubhouse. Playing a Homecoming XV comprising some notable old boys and bolstered by members of the current Saints playing squad they were able to give some lesser experienced players valuable game time.
The homecoming side contained former luminaries Tony Gribben, Robbie Little, Gary Kuehnel, the Walden brothers and a De Luca who claims to be a better player than his sibling. Father and son duo Rob and Cammie Orr delighted in playing in the same side bringing occasional flashes of yesteryear and future glories. You chose which description fits the father and which the son.
With a solid base of 2nd XV players packing down in the Homecoming front row of Leyva, Kerr and Sturgeon the signs were clear that up front this would be an abrasive encounter and so it proved.
In a tight first session the seconds playing into a fresh breeze had their work cut out holding the homecoming boys who entered into the game with a relish. It took comeback man John Magill to break the deadlock running over half the pitch with a clutch of opponents trying to pull him down to score an unconverted try. Vili (Doc) Sitala added a second which Campion converted. Andrew Whiteford added a third touch down to end the period and make the half time score 17 – 0 to the Saints 2nd XV.
In the second half, as expected, the seconds despite releasing three players to the 1st XV squad, dominated proceedings and added further tries through Magill again, Campion, Crichton (2) with Campion adding three conversions to make the final score Saints 2nd XV 43 – Homecoming XV 0
Saints 2nd XV Team Riddick; Smith; Davidson; Sitala; Whiteford; Burgess; Campion; Robertson; R Haggerty; Mackinnon; Magill; Bryden; Renwick; Crichton; D Henderson; Replacements (all used) Turnbull; Cox; Strawbridge; Blower; Kennedy;
G Mack
This was a good work out for the second’s who are in the enviable position of expecting a significant number of returning players in the coming weeks who were absent through injury, holidays or work commitments to further bolster the squad.
Ritchie Davidson leads the 2nd XV attack
