Below you will find a match report written by our benefactor and Herioter, Prof Hunter Mabon.
Heriot’s Rugby Club President, Mel McCallum: “The trip to Stockholm for the Heriot’s Blues Men was one of the most enjoyable short tours I have experienced. Our tour party comprised a squad of boys who each made significant contributions both on and off the pitch to make our brief visit to Stockholm so enjoyable. We are indebted to the Mabon family for their organisation and hospitality. We must also mention Henry Von Niemark who did so much to organise the event and who looked after us admirably.
We much look forward to the return match with Exiles at Goldenacre at a time yet to be decided next season.“
MATCH REPORT – STOCKHOLM EXILES V HERIOT’S BLUES MEN
The much awaited game against Heriot’s is over and the expected favourites won. But it was a much tougher game than the 38 – 12 score suggests. The first half was closely fought with Exiles in command in the forwards and Heriot´s looking the sharper in the backs. Before Exiles could adapt to the pace of the game, Heriot´s were 14 points up after 10 min, but for the rest of the half Exiles had the edge. Solid Heriot´s defence kept Exiles out of their 22 and errors nullified their scoring chances. Finally, all they had to show for their efforts was a converted try after a strong run by Sean Burke. That made it 14 -7 to the visitors at half time and some hope that the Exiles, traditionally strong in the second half, could spring a major surprise. But it was not to be. A very weak defensive kick saw the whole of the Exiles´ team offside and from the ensuing penalty, Heriot´s passed slickly to get in at the corner. after 50 seconds. Heriot´s kept attacking with strong Exiles tackling but poor defensive kicking and a negative penalty count saw wave after wave of Heriot´s attacks. Good interpassing saw them go in under the posts and at 26 – 7 after 45” Exiles hopes were almost gone. Heriot´s continued to be in command but strong tackling kept them out. On at least six occasions Exiles defensive kicks failed to find touch and Heriot´s ran back at them in wave after wave. Finally, a desperately poor goal-line drop-out failed to make the 22 and Heriot´s on 60” could stroll over more or less unopposed. With 20 minutes to go and 31 – 7 down it was looking ominous for Exiles but they came back strongly and the game was pretty much between the 22s until, with 3” to go, Heriot´s snapped up a ball coming out on Exiles´ side of the scrum to go over the line for the 6th time. There was still time for Heriot´s to make one of their very few errors in the backs which allowed Curtis Pollard to boot ahead and to win the race to the touchdown.
Heriot´s were the better team on the day, although a high error count from Exiles contributed to the size of the win for the visitors. Exiles kept Heriot´s from scoring in a half hour period in the first half and only conceded one try in a similar period in the second half. Heriot´s can now go into their season with some confidence and Exiles can continue at the lower pace of the Swedish Championship with their hopes undiminished.
Great defensive work as usual from Matt Mitchell in the centre while Joonas Bask had a solid game in attack and defence from fullback. For Heriots, the pick of the bunch of a young team were wing-forward Malachy Keough, the two Rorys, Jackson and Kirpatrick, and the Japanese stand-off Kenta Kutsuna. The Hamish More Memorial Trophy thus wends its way down to Goldenacre, hopefully to be contended between the two clubs for many years to come.
Hunter Mabon Sr
The photograph below is with the Exiles and at Allan Mabon’s home with the Mabon family.
