Peebles 26

Marr 20

PEEBLES finally got their league campaign up and running with a sensational victory against in-form Marr last weekend.

The visitors arrived at Peebles last week as league leaders having not lost a game this season. In contrast, Peebles were bottom having not won a game this season.

But there had been signs over the last few weeks that things were slowly coming together. Recent defeats had only been by the odd score, and so the home side went into this encounter with more confidence than their league position would suggest.

That was boosted by a lightening start against Marr.

Peebles were 17-3 up after 23 minutes and well worthy of their lead, after Marr had initially opened the scoring on 3 minutes with a Sturgeon penalty from 40 metres.

Peebles hit back almost immediately. They kicked a penalty into the corner, won the lineout in the Marr 22. This resulted in a scrum after Peebles were accidentally offside at a driving maul from the lineout. Peebles pushed Marr off the ball and won the penalty.

They kicked to touch and from the lineout Peebles prop James Cockburn had a good drive at the line and set up a ruck on the whitewash.

Peebles won the ball and again Cockburn had another drive from which he scored a good try. Greg Raeburn converted for 7-3.

That man Cockburn scored again 10 minutes later. Richard Harrison took a great lineout ball in the Marr 22 and again a driving maul gained ground before Cockburn drive over to increase the scoreline with his and his teams second try.

Raeburn again added the conversion and kicked a penalty shortly thereafter to make the score 17-3.

Marr are not top of the table for nothing and they hit back. Only good defence by Peebles in their own lone kept the visitors on 3 points, but they did score a try in the 35 minute after their number 8 Ben Johnston barged his way over the line. Sturgeon added the conversion points to make the score 17-10 at the break.

At the start of the second period, Callum Anderson made a nice break up the middle of the pitch and and took play into the visitors 22. The support play behind him was not quick enough and Marr managed to bring him to the ground and clear the danger.

However Greg Raeburn extended the the lead in the 44 minute with a penalty, making it 20-10. Marr kicker Sturgeon missed a relatively simple kick from 35 metres in front of the Peebles posts which would have put them within one score of the home team.

They did score again and it looked as if there was crossing or obstruction by the Marr centre Ali Walker as the visitors backs ran the ball to the right from a scrum on the Peebles 10 metre line.

As the ball was passed along the backs, Walker did a 'dummy run' which to the Peebles supporters looked like obstruction. But referee Steven Turnbull thought otherwise and Marr right win Scott Bickerstaff touched down at the corner flag despite desperate attempts by the Peebles defence. The Marr kicker then missed the resultant conversion.

A yellow card was an option for the referee when Callum Anderson was again stopped short of the Marr goal line and Marr were penalised for not releasing after the tackle. With support players right alongside, maximum points instead of 3 looked on, but Greg Raeburn's kick pushed the score out to 23-15.

Another fluid running move in the 70th minute by the Marr three quarters by the Marr three quarters brought the home crowd to their feet after, on this occasion, the Marr left winger Stuart Howie outpaced the Peebles defence to dive for a touchdown in the left hand corner and at the same time knocking over the corner flag.

Sturgeon attempted the conversion one or two metres from the touchline, but the kick went wide.

With three minutes of normal time playing left Greg Raeburn added another penalty which made the gap in the score to 6 points and only a try and conversion from the visitors would suffice.

Marr threw everything into attack and were camped in the Peebles 22 for the remainder of the game. But the Peebles defence were resolute, holding out for a memorable victory.