BT Reserve National League Two

MARR RUGBY 50

BIGGAR RFC 19

MARR Rugby’s 2nd XV end the year as league leaders after their bonus point win was enough to leapfrog Hawick and take the top spot by a single point.

With both sides now having played the same number of matches and both enjoying good and consistent winning runs their meeting at Mansfield Park on January 20 is shaping up as even more significant in the run-in to the end of the season.

It was an impressive performance from Marr as they ran in eight tries against a strong Biggar side who worked hard throughout. The visitors bigger pack had the edge in the set-piece scrum and won several turnover balls at the breakdown but were mercilessly punished as Marr made great use of any and every opportunity to launch attacks from all over pitch.

Marr’s opening score came in five minutes after Danny Clark burst through tackles and made a 30m break into midfield. He was tackled 15 metres short of the line but quickly recycling saw the ball spread wide and Ry McInnes flew into score in the corner. Biggar bounced back and they were rewarded with a converted try to claim the lead.

In 15 minutes Marr added try two scored by Jack Scott who was in close support of Andrew Mill who made a great midfield line-break to open up the defence. Once again Biggar quickly hit back and regained the lead with another converted try following a clever kick and chase got behind Marr’s defence. In a ping-pong affair Marr claimed their third try just on the half hour as replacement prop Marr Allison bulldozed his way through from short range as Marr made good use of a close range attacking lineout and this time Rory McGee added the extra points. Just before half-time Marr added the bonus point try, this time the score coming from Max Freydell who chased down a deft chip through from Danny Clark.

Scoring in the second half started on four minutes as Rory McGee added try five and then converted for the extra points. As Biggar started to tire Marr opened up play scoring a further two tries in quick succession. From a scrum midway inside Biggar’s half Marr spread the ball wide and Murray Beckwith picked a great angle for his run to slice through to score. Try seven was scored by Josh Evans who had made several rampaging midfield breaks and was unstoppable as he swatted aside defenders to power in to score.

On the hour Biggar got their third try to set up a frenzied final quarter. Within a minute Marr added their eighth try as replacement hooker Curran McMillan blasted his way through close defence to score.

Marr’s 2s go into their winter break but have early action in the new year when they travel on January 6 to play GHA in a re-arranged fixture.

Marr Rugby 2nd XV man of the match: Rory McGee.

Friendly

MARR RUGBY 3s 12

KILMARNOCK RFC 2s 10

THE Marr 3rd XV ended up having to play a 'friendly' against Kilmarnock's 2s after the referee failed to arrive at Fullarton. The league fixture will be re-arranged but the 'friendly' was a good hit-out for both sides and an a close contest Marr had the edge courtesy of the boot of Thomas Watkins who converted one of Marr's brace of tries.

Marr Rugby's 1st XV had to make do with an additional training session after their match away to Watsonians FC was postponed due to frozen pitches. This fixture is likely to be re-arranged until January 6. See Marr Rugby website and Facebook for confirmation.