BT National League One

MARR RUGBY 78

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR RUGBY 7

FREE-scoring Marr maintained their stranglehold on top spot by sweeping aside the northeners at Fullarton.

They scored TWELVE tries in an easy win.

The hosts delivered one of their most complete performances of the season and from set-piece and open play they forced open defensive holes that were exploited to good effect.

Within six minutes Marr were two tries ahead. The first was scored off a driving maul from a close range lineout as Ben Johnston peeled off to crash through. Five minutes later Scott Bickerstaff was released down his wing. As he powered over the line Tom Aplin tackled high to prevent the touchdown. Referee George Pounder awarded a penalty try and issued a yellow card.

Ironically, the following 10 minutes saw Grammar play some of their best attacking rugby and were rewarded with a converted try after Craig Shepherd blasted through Marr’s defence from a close range drive.

Towards the end of the first quarter Marr got back on track. Tom Steven was brought into midfield play off an attacking scrum and deftly slipped into a defensive gap to score from 25 metres. This was quickly followed by a try from Scott Bickerstaff. Five minutes later Mackenzie Pearce added the first of his three tries.

Marr’s forwards were camped near Grammar’s try line and Mackenzie took a route one approach to explode through to score. Grammar’s defence was being seriously stretched but held firm until just before half-time when once again Pearce bulldozed his way through from close range.

Marr kept the momentum going in the opening minutes of the second half. Great interplay from defence by Scott and Conor Bickerstaff led to a try scored by Conor. For the following 15 minutes Grammar stepped up a gear and enjoyed some good possession and territory. However they weren’t able to convert this to point,.

As the final quarter approached Marr regained the offensive initiative. Craig Kolarik’s tactical kicking gave Marr territorial advantage and he was at the centre of creating the next try with some silky and evasive running that saw him skip past tacklers before being stopped close to the line. Quick re-cycling saw the ball fed to Ben Johnston who burst and twisted through several tackles to cross and score.

This set off a final period, in worsening weather conditions, where Marr dominated. Tries followed in quick succession.

]Stephen Adair started the final flurry and was followed by Pearce who exploited an opportunity from a short range penalty to barge through the defence and score. This was followed by Bickerstaff’s second and to round it off a perfectly weighted chip from Colin Sturgeon was collected by Kolarik who executed a great two-on-one pass to Steven who ran in from 40 metres to score.

Man of the match: Mackenzie Pearce

BT Reserve West One

CARTHA QP FC 15

MARR RUGBY 26

The 2nd XV came through their stiffest test with flying colours as they beat second placed Cartha QP RFC to strengthen their league lead to 14 points.

With Marr having five matches to play and Cartha only four, with maximum potential of getting 20 points, to close and exceed the gap prospects of league success for Marr look favourable.

Going in to the match with Cartha trailing by only 10 points, it was clearthe result would have significant implications on the title run-in.

With Marr understrength due to injuries and other absences, coach, Keith Dunsmuir called in veterans Don Morrison and Andrew Watson to supplement bench cover. Don delivered a performance that nearly won man-of-the-match and was only just edged by Danny Clark.

A close fought and combative eighty minutes of rugby was delivered and at the end Marr’s two tries, conversion and four successful penalty conversions was enough to secure a clear win

Man of the match: Danny Clark.

Marr Rugby next fixtures, Saturday, March 4: 1s Selkirk (a) league; 2s Greenock (h) league.