Portobello High School Under-18s 45, Shetland Schools Under-18s 13
FORTUNATELY the weather abated sufficiently for a good trip down to Edinburgh for this Bell Lawrie White Schools Plate, second round rugby game.
The long trips invariably have an effect and this match was no exception with the hosts scoring in the first minute. It was going to be a hard shift.
Following the early setback the Shetland lads settled down and from a string of rucks Peter Sidgwick was able to score on the right. Portobello hit back with a try of their own after quarter of an hour.
Shetland scored again when Joe McElhone pounced on a dropped pass and played the advantage rule to the full, racing away to score under the posts.
Portobello's backs were the difference. Their half backs were slick and tactically aware and used the wind to pin Shetland back in their 22. Good use of the ball saw another three tries before half-time, making the score at the break 31-10 to Portobello.
Shetland had the wind at their back and used their forward dominance to pressure the opposition at the start of the second period. Portobello resorted to illegal play to get the ball back which the referee was quick to pick up on. From one offence Lewis King slotted a penalty.
Despite increased pressure from the visitors the home team scored twice from spilt ball. The last quarter is usually a telling time for teams following a long journey but credit to Shetland as they kept pounding away at the Portobello until referee Roddy McLeod brought proceedings to an end.
Despite the score Shetland were equal in many departments and with a bit more incisiveness the game could have been much closer. Man of the match for Shetland was Michael Williamson of Whalsay School who quietly went about his business in the scrum and line out and was effective in the loose.
This draws to a conclusion the boys involvement in the Bell Lawrie White competition. The next match should be in the North Schools Cup with opposition and venue to be announced.