Next Game

Saturday 4th February 2012

RHC 1st XV -v- Hawick YM

KO, 1:00pm at Barnton.

Note: Early kick off because of Six Nations

To view the full schedule of games click on the pink results box on the upper right.

Players Medal Table

September 2011

We all play rugby to win..... don't we.
So...in the spirit of the coming Olympic year and to keep the competitive spirit going we have set up a Medals Table on which the outstanding 1st XV players at each game can gain merits.

This will acrue over the season and the winner will be suitably recognised at the club dinner and awards at the seasons end.

Points given will be 3, 2 & 1 for Gold, Silver and Bronze respectively

Match Report

Saturday 26th November 2011

RHC 1st XV -v- Musselburgh

Who’d be a coach?!

The clash against undefeated table toppers Musselburgh, who had thrashed the Cougars earlier in the season, was a daunting prospect – the gale that sprang up overnight served only to increase interest. Would it be a leveller? We were soon to find out!

The match started with the Cougars playing with the gale force wind at their back – the strength of the wind was sufficient to blow over the Musselburgh camera man as he tried to keep his tripod steady!

Would the wind prove disruptive? It took two minutes to confirm just how difficult conditions were, as the Musselburgh scrum half fed his stand off from a line out on their own twenty two. The ball was caught on a gust, blew over the recipient and bounced towards the line before a second gust carried it over and away from the full back. Ever alert Happy pounced to score and, with a successful conversion, gave the Cougars a 7 – 0 lead.

Musselburgh regrouped and gave up on passing any ball out the back line, relying on pick and goes from scrum, ruck and maul, to grind their way back up the pitch. On the rare occasions the ball went off the pitch, the Referee, very sensibly, allowed any ball that went over the forwards, rather than directly to the scrum half, to be considered straight! Scoring on a day like this was going to be difficult and Happy’s conversion of a penalty in the fifteenth minute was fair reward for some Cougar control. He was not so fortunate ten minutes later as an attempt narrowly missed.

Musselburgh’s tight game was proving successful and they continued to exert pressure on the home side, forcing the Cougars to give away a couple of penalties in their own twenty two, the second of which was quickly taken. Two drives later the ball was spun right where the right wing scored in the corner in the thirty eight minute. Unbelievably the conversion into the strengthening wind, narrowly missed.

Half time 10 – 5.

The second half started with Musselburgh trying to use the wind to get into the Cougar twenty two. An early opportunity to convert a penalty was missed, but the pressure was intensifying. So a much unexpected try to the home side rocked the league leaders. A drop out from a twenty two was spilled, Andy Cramond hacked down field supported by Beano, who dribbled on before winning the foot race to score. Happy narrowly missed with his attempt, 15 – 5.

Surprisingly the Cougars continued to press and were very unfortunate not to get anything from a series of drives that took them to within five meters. Musselburgh were further handicapped with the first Yellow card of the day. Luck however was on Cougar side when the Musselburgh full back made a great break from his own half, cleaving the Home defence. In the clear with only one man to round, a score looked a certainty. Bizarrely he elected to try and chip and chase. The howling gale took over, and the ball ran out the end of the park. A definite let off!

With the wind reducing elements of the game to a lottery, it became increasingly difficult for both sides to play their normal game. Any kicks to touch into the wind struggled to find touch, whilst kicks with it were equally difficult as the wind blew straight down the park. However it was from a lineout on the Cougars five meters , that Musselburgh were to score their second try. An enterprising lineout, with a pass to the man at one being returned to the hooker, who dived over to score. A well executed move that took advantage of an unexpected lack of concentration by the Home side. Twelve minutes to go and the Cougar lead has been reduced to 15 – 10.

Musselburgh upped their game and were quickly rewarded with a penalty after some sloppy Cougar play at a lineout allowed them to drive into the Cougar twenty two. The successful kicked narrowed the lead still further, 15 – 13.

t was now a battle against the clock for both sides. Would the Cougars be able to hold on or would Musselburgh manage to snatch a victory. The Home side were further handicapped when the Referee questionably awarded a Yellow card against Steve MacEwan for a ruck offence, which would see the Cougars play out the game reduced to fourteen men.

Almost inevitably, the Visitors were rewarded with a penalty as the home side, whose defence by both backs and forwards had been immense all game, struggled to protect their line. With a minute to go the visiting stand-off scored what was to be the final points of the afternoon, to give Musselburgh the lead for the first time 15 – 16.

Full time 15 – 16.

A fantastic team effort, rewarded by a miserable single bonus point hardly seemed just. However:

• Would I have accepted a bonus point before the game? Yes.
• Would I have accepted a bonus point at half time when we led 10 – 5 with the second half to be played into the teeth of the gale? Yes
• Would I have accepted a bonus point when we were reduced to fourteen men, leading 15 – 13, with ten minutes to go? Certainly Yes
.

Well how come I feel so deflated winning only a single bonus point, after as brave a performance as we have witnessed in a long time?

In a team of heroes, the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards go to Gordy Hunter, Drew and Matty respectively, with commendations to all, the back row in particular.

Cougars Sponsorship

Season 2011/12

The Committee has decided to take an expanded approach to Sponsorship for the coming season. Please find below details of our Sponsorship packages which ranges from full Club Sponsor at £2,500 down to Match Ball Sponsorship at £50. There are also individual benefits for Players with the new Player Sponsorship package which is also attached.

The committee want players to take a proactive approach and actively seek their own personal sponsorship. Players can call upon employers, associates, relatives, friends or indeed friends of friends to sponsor them for the coming season. We need the income to continue to improve the club and develop the game... so get out there and get some sponsorship. Your club really does need you.

Please use your contacts to circulate this opportunity. For more information, you can contact:

Graham Duff at

or

Dougie Cross at

Please read the outline documents here for Team Sponsorship or Player Sponsorship