East Lothian v Co-Optimist XV

 Wednesday 6th May 2015 at Dunbar 

"East Lothian put in a hard shift against a strong Co-optimists unit."

East Lothian met the Co-optimists on Wednesday night at Hallhill. The East Lothian team comprised players from Preston Lodge, Musselburgh, Haddington and Dunbar with Jason Riley the captain on the night. With Ross Weston a late call off, Cal Davis took over the Co-optimists Captains armband. 

East Lothian started well and had their more senior opponents deep in their own half defending. The Co-optimists eventually got their act together and forced play deep into East Lothian territory. The home team gave away a series of penalties that put added pressure on and that pressure would tell after 16 minutes with a converted try. East Lothian had a great chance to level several minutes later when Jason Riley broke clear but the pass inside was knocked on. The Co-optimists made them pay dearly by going straight up field and scoring a well worked try by Logan Bonar on 25 minutes. Within five minutes the Co-optimists had extended that lead to 17-0 with another well worked try through McNeish. 

East Lothian then had a period of sustained pressure but the ball was turned over . The clearance kick did not reach touch but was contested by James Ferguson and the opposing full back with the Haddington man taking the high ball. With the Co-ops defence struggling to support, Ferguson sprinted through to score. The Co-optimists pressed as the referee blew for half time.

Half Time  East Lothian 5 Co-optimists 17

East Lothian coach Callum Low brought on the whole bench at half time to give some players a well-earned rest. East Lothian started the second half on top and were awarded a penalty on the twenty two which they tapped and the forwards drove hard up the middle. When it looked like a case of white line fever had set in the ball was moved wide where Antoin Penrose burst over for the score. Danny Owenson added the extra points to bring East Lothian right back into the match after 44 minutes. Both side kept up the pressure with the defences on top. 
With 52 minutes on the clock the Co-optimists struck with a well worked try through Whittingham. McNeish added the extra points to extend the lead to 24-12. The Co-optimists then scored again after 63 minutes when Morgan was in support of McPhillips to take the scoring pass. East Lothian lost their influential skipper to a leg knock attempting to prevent the try. With time running out it was the local team who would have the final say with the best try of the match. Ruaridh Young took a great ball and burst clean through the visitors defence where he was tap tackled near the line. The big Centre was quickest to react and immediately got back on his feet to reach the line as he was tackled. Andrew Manson completed the scoring with the simplist of conversions in front of the posts.

Full Time
East Lothian 19   Co-optimists 31