A glorious autumnal afternoon was exemplified by a slightly larger attendance to hopefully cheer on ‘Burgh to their first league win of the season at the third time of asking.
Jamie Loomes, the Accies stand-off, got proceedings under way, and the visitors soon had a ‘Burgh side, wearing their change strips of red, on the defensive. After taking the early initiative, the visitors opened the scoring from close range with only 2 minutes on the clock as their No.8 Ruairi Campbell went over before Loomes converted for an early seven-point lead. The capital side continued to hog possession and pressurise ‘Burgh with their back row of O’Sullivan, Sole and Campbell causing much chaos in the home rearguard. Even at this early stage, ‘Burgh were finding it difficult to escape their own half. The pressure again told again after only 15 minutes, as Accies full back Ben Appleson finished a handling move before Loomes converted for 0-14.
Musselburgh at last got some possession and Willie Fleming was inches away from scoring, which was encouraging, but in the process, he took a knock and had to be replaced by Jack Haynes. ‘Burgh then had their most sustained period of possession thus far, as Owenson and Cunningham were directing operations behind a pack which was hungry to fight their way back into the game. They were then rewarded as pressure told on Accies and poor defensive handling allowed Tom Foley to touch down after 28 minutes, before Owenson converted for 7-14.
Then just as it appeared ‘Burgh were getting back into the game, they lost their third try of the day, which was almost identical to the try they themselves had just scored, as poor defensive handling let Accies flanker and captain Jamie Sole in for a try in 35 minutes, Loomes again converting for 7-21.
The play had hardly restarted when ‘Burgh’s fortunes went from bad to worse as Accies scrum half Sinclair scored their fourth and ‘bonus point’ try after a clearance kick had been charged down and Loomes added the conversion for 7-28 after 37 minutes. As the interval approached Accies then added injury to injury time with another score in the dying embers of the first half when Sole finished off another slick handling move for his second try of the day, before Loomes again converted for a half time score of
Musselburgh 7 Edinburgh Accies 35
Musselburgh started the second half pretty well and had plenty of forward possession and pressure which looked to have the visitors penned in, but surge after home surge was thwarted time and again by stubborn Accies defence, before their No.8 Campbell released the pressure with a terrific break upfield.
The temporary siege having been lifted, Accies then rubbed salt into ‘Burgh’s wounds by increasing their lead on 52minutes via a fine solo try by centre Robert Wilson, which was unconverted for 7-40.
‘Burgh then replaced Cunningham with McGhie and as appeared to happen last week at Marr,’Burgh continued to concede to many penalties. The visitors, having regained the offensive, increased their lead after a smart grubber kick allowed replacement Adamson to go over, before Richard Mill, their centre, successfully took over the kicking duties for 7-47.
‘Burgh were wilting in the heat under the pressure of the Accies pack and a penalty try was conceded on 70 minutes for 7-54.
Though the games was already won and lost the visitors must take great credit for the relentless way they continued to pressure ‘Burgh and Mill at centre finished off more fine handling before converting his own try for 7-61.
Then finally, almost on the final whistle, the ‘Burgh supporters got a small crumb of comfort, when Ferguson scored a late consolation try converted by Owenson for a final score of
Musselburgh 14 Edinburgh Accies 61
‘Burgh head west again on Saturday to visit Glasgow Hawks on league duty, having eliminated them from the Scottish Cup on the first day of the season. A very difficult match no doubt awaits.