author - colin renton - offside line

SOUTHERN KNIGHTS 26 | WATSONIANS 40

WATSONIANS chalked up a second successive win with a high-energy performance that featured patches of pace and flair. The home side made a stunning start and had the bonus point inside the opening quarter. However, they never fully managed to shrug off a dogged Knights outfit that merited the bonus point they clinched with the final play.

Both coaches were satisfied while insisting that there is more to come as players become available over the coming weeks.

“It’s five points,” was the succinct assessment of Nikki Walker in the home camp. “We had five emergency loan players and those guys stepped up. We will get stronger as the season goes on, with players coming back from injury, but to win the first two games is really pleasing.

“We were a little bit disappointed that we weren’t further ahead at half-time but credit to the Knights – they showed a lot of fight. We almost had to start again at half-time because they got three quick tries,” he added.

His Knights counterpart, Alan Tait, also had reason to feel satisfied with the showing of his youngsters.

“That has given me a better feeling than last week. I wasn’t really overjoyed at the end of last week’s game even though we got the win,” he said. “We just haven’t got the fire-power at the minute. We still haven’t filled our squad – we’re still three or four players short.”

Of the performance, he added: “The guys stuck in. We could have been blown away at the start but we’ve got a bonus point. We never scored four tries in any of our games in the Sprint so getting the four tries is a massive step forward.”

The hosts opened the scoring with surprising ease when a line-out on halfway provided the platform to move the ball wide to George Pringle who raced into the 22 and freed Freddie Owsley for a simple run to the line, leaving Jason Baggott with a simple conversion.

The second try, four minutes later, was the result of slick handling – Kody McGovern offloading to Owsley who was thwarted just shy of the line before recycled ball allowed Murray Scott to fire a pass to Campbell Wilson who blasted over for a converted score.

Knights had their first visit to opposition territory after nine minutes, and it proved to be a fruitful incursion. Aidan Cross showed his pace to sprint past a handful of defenders before being brought down. The ball was switched right then left where the stretched home defence allowed Hamish Bentley to supply Calum Barrett who stepped neatly past his man to dot down. Cal Grieve converted and it looked as if we had a game on our hands.

Owsley was looking sharp and almost unlocked the Knights defence for a third time but was foiled in his attempt to gather his own chip ahead. The score was only briefly delayed and a five metre scrum allowed Kwagga van Niekerk to send Kieran Watt crashing over.

Baggott converted then struck the post after Owsley bagged his second score of the night – and secured the bonus point – on 19 minutes. The winger raced down the wing then repeated the chip and chase that had come close earlier. This time it proved successful as he pipped Donald Crawford in the race to the line.

A brief lull in the scoring ended when Knights bagged their second try of the evening. Harry Borthwick made the initial dent with a robust run and the ball was flipped out to Will Ferrie who dived in at the corner.

And by half-time, the visitors had trimmed the deficit to seven points. Ryan Godsmark made the break and combined with Cross. He was tackled but the ball found its way to Grieve, whose wonderfully weighted cross-kick fell perfectly for Barrett who completed the job. Grieve’s conversion finished off the first half scoring.

The momentum remained with the Borderers after the restart but they were unable to convert pressure into points and the hosts regained the initiative. Baggott opted for touch with a close-range penalty award and at the ensuing line-out, Jake Kerr picked out Neil Irvine-Hess and the drive ended with Wilson forcing his way over for the second time, with Baggott banging over another conversion.

A game that had been played at a fast pace, gradually petered out, but there was time for another try apiece. The Watsonians touchdown came from van Niekerk, who hurtled in at the corner. Baggott’s conversion ensured the win. However, Knights had the final word when Theo Nwou-Hope forced his way over for the bonus point score, with Harris Rutherford adding the extras.

Scorers –

Watsonians: Tries: Owsley 2, C Wilson 2, Watt, van Niekerk; Cons Baggott 5.

Southern Knights: Tries: Barrett 2, Ferrie, Nwosu-Hope; Cons: Grieve 2, Rutherford.