Rugby Union: Watsonians win friends with Scots on rocks

Edinburgh Academicals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Watsonians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

TWO positive teams committed to winning rather than avoiding defeat produced a timely spectacle so far as the beleaguered Scottish rugby establishment is concerned.

A series of sterile games coupled with an Scottish Rugby Union decision to ask the International Board for a reappraisal of the concept of scrums, line-outs and ruck / mauls has provoked radical discussions fringing on the heretic.

Matt Duncan, the former Scotland wing, is claiming that a hybrid game involving rugby union and rugby league is looming and much is being made of the fact that Alan Hosie, the former Test referee and IB member, organised a match in Glasgow based on 13-a-side that featuring such experiments as the option of scrum or line-out when the ball went into touch.

Hosie is concerned about union's dwindling entertainment value and his views will no doubt be sought this month by an IB which has agreed to consider an Australian promoter's proposal for a composite game in aid of charity.

Meanwhile, spectators who paid pounds 5 for admission were soon enthusing on Saturday over the handling skills of Watsonians, who did well to maintain concentration after Gordon Hannah had been carried off at 16-all. Fortunately, the No 8's neck injury was not as serious as at first feared.

Edinburgh are due to name their first representative XV of the season this week and the Watsonian backs - who have helped the team into joint leadership of the First Division along with Stirling County and Glasgow High after Melrose, the champions, lost for the second time - are expected to figure strongly.

Edinburgh Academicals: Try Newton; Conversion Shepherd; Drop goal Hay-Smith; Penalties Shepherd 5. Watsonians: Tries Kerr, Henderson, Hodge; Conversion G Hastings; Penalties G Hastings 3.

Edinburgh Academicals: R Shepherd; A Moore, C Simmers, C Newton, S Burns; B Hay-Smith, P Simpson; R Moffitt, P Haslett, B Stewart, A Adamson, J Richardson, D McIvor (capt), M Waite, S Murray.

Watsonians: G Hastings; F Henderson, S Hastings, G Jessop, J Kerr; D Hodge, N Burnett; M Stanaway, K Hay, R McLeod, J Mathieson, C Campbell, C Mather, G Hannah, (D Gray, 60), J MacDonald (capt).

Referee: R Duhau (France).