Peeblesshire News | Sport | Youth shows the way for Peebles

Published: Friday, 21st March, 2008 09:00

Youth shows the way for Peebles

By D.P.T. Scribe at Milntown

Langholm 14 v Peebles 24

THIS was definitely not the expected walkover that would have been expected considering the different leagues that the two sides currently play.

Langholm gave as good as they got; the boot of their fly half keeping them in the lead until past the interval in this exciting BSPC Border League game.

On a surprisingly dry and mild night and on a pitch that was reported unplayable the day before due to standing water, we were told before kick off that the stand side was still a very boggy.

But this was the side that 1st team debutante Stuart Cockburn showed a clean pair of heels to his opposite number later in the second half.

It was also a game where the travelling faithful supporters anticipated the expected arrival onto the pitch of coach Steven Ferguson, to make a father and son combination with Ross who was also debuting in the 1st team, having been bled in previous weeks in the seconds.

Alas it was not to be, as the closest that Steven got, was to take of his tracky bottoms before the body ruled heart and the crowd were disappointed.

However don’t be too upset as the rumour is that Steven will be turning out in the over 35’s game tonight at the Gytes against Gala Star, KO 7.30 PM tonight.

The stars of the night were definitely the 4 debutante players, 3 of which are current colts – Ross Ferguson, Stuart Borthwick, Stuart Cockburn, along with another current colt, Euan Jackson who has turned out previously for the Tweed Homes team.

Jamie Graham, a regular in the seconds this season, and a colt last season was the other debutante and all put body and soul into what was a very hard fought BSPC challenge.

The seconds also featured well, as there were only two current 1st team regulars in the pack, and four in the backs, and with Calum Farmer being instrumental in two of the three tries, the regulars integrated with the youngsters.

Adding to last week’s brothers’ theme, Craig and Stuart Borthwick were the half back pairing.

With such a mixture, it was the home team that got off to a good start, and it took only 4 minutes for Peebles to be caught offside in front of their posts just inside their own 10 metre line; the Langholm stand off slotting the penalty with ease.

Within another couple of minutes, he repeated the success, when not only were Peebles caught infringing, but were also marched back for 10 metres and the Tweed Homes men were quickly six points down and looking a bit fragmented.

Peebles started to gel slowly, and half a dozen minutes later a strong break from full back Dale Clancy, turned the defence and when wing Craig Hunter received the ball, he burst a couple of tackles to go in under the posts, allowing stand off Craig Borthwick to convert and put the visitors into the lead for the first time.

The game became a bit frenetic as it moved end to end, with neither side seizing the reins for long and defences held.

Just after the end of the first quarter, the Langholm stand off added another penalty, again from in front and 38 metres out as they retook the lead by two points.

Peebles nearly grabbed the lead back when a fine lineout take by Steven Irvine five metres out was driven over, but the ball was unseen in the melee of bodies and the referee had no option but to order a scrum five.

And the home side not only cleared but worked into the Peebles 22 winning a penalty out to the left which went well wide of the mark as the earlier successful kicking boots lost their magic.

Eventually when the Langholm hooker was admonished for a haymaker, Peebles cleared and went into the interval with a two-point deficit.

The half time team talk must have been a corker, as Peebles, now facing the slight slope, came out of the blocks with the speed of Linford Christie.

Openside flanker, Euan Jackson seemed to find the turbo charger button and for the whole of the second half, he seemed to be everywhere in attack and defence.

It took only three minutes and an uninterrupted succession of 6 phases for club captain, Calum Farmer at pace to take the scoring pass and go in just to the left of the posts to put Peebles into the lead which they retained till the end.

Craig Borthwick added the conversion.

Langholm had another unsuccessful penalty attempt from the Peebles 22 as they continued to battle.

Peebles moved out of the danger zone, when a kick ahead by Stuart Borthwick, saw Craig Hunter recover the ball, and despite the attention of several tacklers, kept going forward.

From the eventual ruck, Langholm infringed and Craig Borthwick added the penalty to go 12 points up at 9-17 after 16 minutes of the second half.

Peebles still did not have it their own way, and a mistake from the kick off, allowed a Langholm scrum.

When the Milntown scrum half broke from the base, it was only hard tackling that stopped him short of the line, and there was a period where Peebles had to defend hard, with the home side being held up over the line four times and held up once inches short from the line.

Even the very Partisan Langholm supporters gave credit to the excellent Peebles defence in this period.

Langholm faded when, although winning a lineout, a mistake at half back, allowed turbo Jackson to race through and snaffle the ball on the ground.

Peebles cleared up the pitch, and then produced the try of the night.

First Steven Irvine took yet another clean lineout, the brothers at half back smartly moved the ball to Calum Farmer at pace who took the ball on before releasing Stuart Cockburn.

Despite the boggy stand side of the pitch, the replacement winger rounded his opposite number and showed everyone a clean set of heels as he outpaced the defence to score.

Craig Borthwick completed a 100% kicking record as he slotted the hardest one of the night, with 10 minutes to go.

Despite, Euan Jackson now running the opposition ragged, there was no more scoring for the Tweed Homes men, and in fact it was Langholm that dominated territory for the final five minutes as they were held up again centimetres from the line.

“They’ve got to hold it up man” shouted a partisan Milntown supporter; “They’re only doing it for badness”.

Not too factual; more that the youngsters in the Peebles team were playing a BSPC Border League match, and a 1st team game, some for the first time, and were keen to impress the coaching staff and the visiting supporters.

Still, when Langholm took the ball against the head, but were again held up over the line, the same voice was heard, a little quieter, “Their defence is good”.

Pressure on the Peebles line eventually gave when the home No 7, George Nicol went over on full time for the final score of the game at 14 points to 24. If only Scotland’s defence was as good the following day.

After the match Peebles coach and non playing substitute, Steven Ferguson commented on the solid contribution made by the very young side, especially those appearing in the top side for the first time.

“It’s great to see the home grown talent being given the chance and shining on the night” said one Peebles supporter, “it bodes well for the future in Premier 2”.

Peebles: Andrew Brown, Rhys Wilson, Adam Clark, Will Aitken, Jamie Graham, Ross Ferguson, Euan Jackson, Steven Irvine, Stuart Borthwick, Craig Borthwick, Neil Hogarth, Calum Farmer, Adam Moffat, Craig Hunter, Dale Clancy

Replacements Stuart Cockburn, Steven Ferguson

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