Forrester 1st XV v Trinity Accies 1st XV

Forrester welcomed Trinity to the Fortress for their second encounter in the league, with Forrester winning the first game which was the opener to the campaign. Hopes were high for an even better result.
The home team kicked off which Trinity gathered well and set off in attack, this was soon turned over resulting in a well worked try in the second minute for Robbie Douglas which Newbs easily converted. 5 minutes down and penalty for Forrie leading to a scrum, but the dominant drive comes to nothing as Paddy fumbles his number 8 pick up. Forrester are penalised a few minutes later for crossing, but Trinity are penalised for coming off their feet in the ruck from their attack. Forrester take the penalty quickly while the visitors are regrouping with Alan Panther nipping over on the 8th minute after selling the dummy, converted by Newbs.
Forrester are awarded another penalty for Trinity diving into the ruck, but Forrie in their haste knock on. With such dominance in the scrum the ball is taken against the head, with some great team handling Dudge touches down with 13 minutes gone, converted again by Newbs. With Forrester having the upper hand and threatening the Trinity line, they are awarded a penalty for offside at the ruck, 18 mins and Newbs slots the penalty. The ball changes hands a few times from turnovers in the rucks and eventually ends with a scrum to Forrester. The ball appears to shoot out the opposite side of the tunnel, but with no whistle from the Female referee, Trinity pick and go and relieve some of the pressure they have been under. Forrester are still applying the pressure which results in another try on 25 mins, scored and converted by Newbs.
Trinity are awarded a penalty which is moved up an extra 10 yards for over use of the mouth from our Vice-captain, luckily it is not in a threatening position and nothing comes from it. As play goes on Forrie are awarded a penalty for Trinity playing the ball back by hand in the scrum as they struggle with the home team strength. From this Lucas scores and Newbs converts on 33 minutes. Johnny Mac is penalised for tackling the scrum-half without using his arms, but luckily all he receives is a talking to from the Ref. The line-out from the penalty kick is turned over in our favour, with good Forrie handling the ball works it's way to Robbie on the right wing, who is bundled into touch on the opposition 22. Trinity try to break out, but Jordan cleverly steals the ball, with Brodie scoring from Alan's reluctant offload in front of the line on 36 mins, Newbs converts. With little time left in the half, Forrester collect the restart kick and head for the try-line again, but are judged to have passed forward at the line. Trinity look relieved with time called, a bit of respite for a few minutes at least.

Half-time Forrester 45- 0 Trinity

Podge and Big C replace Aiden and Calzo. With the half-time chat about taking the game up another level and not allowing the Visitors to get on the scoreboard, Forrester take another scrum against the head on their own 10 metre line working good hands up to the Trinity 22 line achieving a line-out. The line-out is lost, but soon won back in the ruck. The link up play sets Brodie up for another try 44 mins, Newbs converts. Trinity manage to make a rare break a few minutes later, with Newbs sat down by the Trinity player, left rolling about on his back like a tortoise. With a scrum in our own 22,Sean B is judged to have fed his put in, free-kick Trinity. The ball is stolen back from the ruck and Sean makes up by clearing to touch, Forrie steal the line-out and kill the Trinity threat. Robbie is replaced on 48 mins for Daniel Park.
Another strong driving scrum from the Greenies again allows Paddy to pick and go, but the ball is taken out of touch. Trinity win their own line-out throw in their 22, from there they break out and head up the pitch with some poor missed tackles, allowing one of their replacements to score on 51 mins, conversion is successful. Wyper comes on for Johnny Mac, PJ replaces Jordan and almost immediately scores with his first touch of the ball on 53 mins to the disgust of Jordan who never achieved it in his time on the park, score is not converted much to Newbs annoyance. Forrester threaten again with a good carry from Brodie in the Trinity 22, who sits his tackler down and the ball finds it's way to Dudge for a score on 57 mins, Newbs converts this time.
The scrums revert to uncontested due to Trinity front row injuries, Forrie take Dave Fish and Big C off and bring on Johnny Mac and Ryan to increase the attacking threat. Handbags are drawn on the hour mark near the touch-line, with the result being a Red Card for the Trinity No-5 for throwing a punch and Captain Horse taking a yellow with a 10 minute rest, as the Ref did not identify which home player was involved. With Podge shedding a few pounds and inches from his illness on honeymoon, he says it was not Ebola, he unsuccessfully attempted to slip between two players, resulting in getting smashed into touch. Would have been a tight squeeze even for Wee Al.
Somehow Trinity were able to bring a front row player back on, allowing contested scrums again. Forrie shuffled the pack about without any replacements With the next scrum they still managed to steal another ball from Trinity, which led to a try for Johhny Mac and conversion for Newbs on 65 mins. A good catch from the restart with Brodie stepping his tackler and breaking up field, feeding Podge who then managed a well worked one handed pop round his tackler to Himbo, who was penalised for not releasing on the ground from being tackled.
Forrie made more changes than a swingers party at South Gyle, with Paddy,Johnny Mac and Brodie off, Calzo,Big C and Hardie on. The changes had no adverse effect on the Forrie attack as Ryan scored from another well worked play on 70 mins, not converted. Robbie replaced Dudge due to a back injury. With the clock ticking down a break from Alan and good support sent Newbs over for another score and conversion 78 mins. The game finished on the Trinity try-line with Forrester breaking from their own 22 with great handling, but was spoilt with a poor finish.

Full-time Forrester 83- 7 Trinity.