MATCH REPORT – HIGHLAND V ELLON U18 – SAT 15TH SEPT 2012

It was a typically intense start to the match with not much action in the first few minutes. However, the windy conditions meant there would be a lot of kicking to touch. It became apparent early on that the lineout would play a crucial role in deciding the match. The first few lineouts were either won by Highland or the referee decided that Hooker, Douglas Sharp was not throwing straight.
Frustration grew amongst the Ellon supporters as the referee gave a succession of dubious decisions in favour of Highland. One of them resulted in a penalty in front of the posts which was converted to give Highland a three point advantage.
From the restart Matthew Emmison took the first of a succession of brilliant high balls to get Ellon on the front foot.
After eleven minutes Ellon took the lead following a break out of defence by Adam Krasjuk and a well-timed offload to winger Josh Walker. Josh had plenty to do but his pace and side steps saw him skin his opposite number and the fullback to touch down in the corner. The difficult conversion from the touchline was narrowly missed by Nathan Emery.
The lead only lasted four minutes as panic in the Ellon defence led to a rushed clearance straight into the hands of Highland’s left winger. Good passing and recycling led to an overlap on the right wing allowing a score in the corner. The conversion was missed and the score was 8-5 to Highland with 16 minutes played.
Ellon went further behind four minutes later when a lineout on the Ellon five metre line was taken cleanly and given to the giant replacement prop who carried at least three players over the line to score. Again the difficult conversion attempt was missed but Highland had stretched their lead to 13-5.
Ellon had been far from their best in the opening quarter but started to find their rhythm as the forwards drove inside the Highland 22. After several phases the ball was recycled. A quick pass off the ruck from scrum half Ben Shirron went along the line to centre Jamie Gillan who ran a great line at pace to score under the posts. Ben converted the try to bring Ellon within a point as the clock approached the half hour mark.
Ellon’s confidence was growing and a powerful break from Douglas Sharp set Josh Walker away down the touchline. However, this time the cover defence was able to get across and bundle him into touch.
As the half drew to a close Ellon were under pressure on their own line. Good tackling and rucking prevented Highland from breaching the line and the half time whistle blew with the score at 13-12.
The pack received a much-deserved pat on the back for their work at the scrum against a much bigger Highland pack. However, if Ellon were to win this match in the second half they would need to improve their lineout. The backs also needed to improve their decision making, run straighter and show more composure in their passing. The game was there for the taking but Ellon would be playing into the wind in the second half.
The second half started as the first half had ended with Highland having the bulk of the territory and possession. A scrum on the 22 metre line saw the referee miss a blatant knock on from the Highland scrum half – just one of a series of decisions that infuriated the Ellon coaches and supporters. The ball was passed back to the number ten who coolly slotted a drop goal to stretch Highland’s lead to four points.
Highland stretched their lead further after fifty minutes when another lineout inside the 22 was won and a series of missed tackles led to the Ellon line being breached once again. The try was converted and Highland were looking comfortable with a 23-12 lead.
Fifteen minutes into the second half Full back Nathan Emery, who had dealt well with a series of high balls in the windy conditions, was replaced by Craig Dalgarno and Flanker Tom Owen was replaced by Kieran Ewan.
Despite the scoreline, Ellon remained positive and could have got themselves back into the game after sixty minutes. A great forty metre break by Matthew Emmison created panic in the Highland defence. There was a clear overlap on the left wing and the ball just needed to be moved quickly. However, the centres both drifted towards the touchline closing down the space and poor timing of passes saw the chance disappear.
The situation was repeated five minutes later when a lovely break by stand-off Stewart Cruickshanks was taken on by Jamie Gillan. A try looked a certainty but the crisp passing and straight running that had been evident in training recently suddenly disappeared. A poor final pass went over the head of left winger, Liam Cousins and in to touch.
Two minutes later Ellon were back in the game with the forwards exerting pressure on the Highland try line. Good vision from scrum-half Ben Shirron saw him dive under the Highland defence to score and reduce the deficit to six points. The score became 23-19 when Ben got up to slot the conversion.
Ellon were clearly in the ascendancy and confidence was oozing from the team with just over five minutes remaining. But the game seemed to have been lost when a sloppy penalty inside the 22 led to another score from one of Highland’s army of giant props. The Highland number ten inflicted further pain when he landed a brilliant conversion from the touchline to make the score 30-19 with less than five minutes remaining.
Ellon never gave up and the hard work and commitment from the forwards was rewarded when Ellis Swainston drove over. The conversion was missed but the players knew a converted try in the final two minutes would give them victory.
The pressure was really on Highland as Ellon sniffed an unlikely victory but they just couldn’t quite break the defence. Ellon thought they had won a penalty when a Highland player dived into the ruck from the side. However, not for the first time, the referee chose to penalise Ellon for holding on. The ball was booted in to touch and Highland looked relieved to have withstood the Ellon onslaught to record a 30-24 victory and maintain their 100% record in the league.
It is a credit to Ellon that despite not bringing their “A” game to Inverness they only lost by a single score. More composure in attack might have led to a different result.
The man of the match was difficult to choose with some fine performances in the pack. However, for his composure under a succession of highballs and his great individual try the Man of the Match award goes to Josh Walker with Ellis Swainston coming a close second.
The team travel to Banchory next Saturday for the match against Deeside. The boys will look to get back to winning ways but will need to work hard in training this week to iron out some of the weaknesses evident in Inverness.

Simon Cousins