Morgan Rugby v Dunfermline RFC (28/08/2010)

Playing in unfamiliar black and white change strips, Morgan prepared to defend the Dunfermline kick off, however the visiting stand off failed to send the ball the required 10 metres and Morgan were given the put in at the resultant scrum on half way.  Dunfermline had the heavier pack of forwards and disrupted the Morgan scrum to such an extent that they were given the put in at the reset.  The visitors used their bulk to advantage and put the home team under severe pressure and after 7 minutes play, their No 8 Sky Laurie touched down after a series of pick and drives.  Full back Keith Buchan converted to give his team a 7 point advantage.  Morgan were stung into action and spun the ball wide, for their backs to take play deep into the Dunfermline half, where the visitors gave away a penalty for entering a ruck from the side.  Graeme Kiddie’s attempt at goal was successful and Morgan were on the scoreboard for the first time.  Dunfermline however repeated their previous pattern of play and took the ball on through their forwards and were rewarded for their efforts with carbon copy try by Laurie, his second of the match. The visitors now led by 12 points to 3.  Again, Morgan again used their backs to relieve the pressure and the home side were again rewarded when the visitors discipline let them down.  They conceded another penalty which Kiddie kicked and had winger Graham Lowe yellow carded for his part in the play.  Dunfermline’s discipline again let them down when they gave away another penalty within kicking distance and Kiddie duly kicked the points. Approaching half time, Dunfermline found themselves in Morgan territory and repeated their successful play earlier in the half.  This time hooker Greg Valentine scored the visitors’ third try which was converted by Buchan, to give Dunfermline a half time lead of 19 points to 9, a scoreline which perhaps flattered the visitors who had not shown much adventure in their play, but to be fair, perhaps they reckoned they had found a way to dominate the game through their heavier pack.

In the second half, however, Morgan proved that this theory was wrong, as they began to take a grip of the game, so much so that Dunfermline had no scoring opportunities in the second period. Following a period of play in the Dunfermline half, Ross Lemon, in his first game back in Morgan colours, was on the end of a move and forced his way over the try line for Morgan’s first try of the game.  Although the conversion attempt was unsuccessful, Kiddie slotted yet another penalty for the home side as Dunfermline could feel the game slipping away from them. It was no surprise therefore, when they transgressed yet again inside their half, Dunfermline retreated thinking Kiddie would kick for goal. Not so, having spotted the opposition backing off towards their goal line, Kiddie took a quick tap penalty and passed to the supporting Gavin Wares who beat the remaining cover to score in the left hand corner. Having instigated the score with a bit of quick thinking, Kiddie finished off the afternoon’s scoring by slotting the conversion from the touchline and the match ended shortly thereafter with Morgan on the attack and the home side won the match by 24 points to 19.