Stars of the future got their first taste of playing at Murrayfield as Stewart’s Melville and George Watson’s were the big winners at this year’s Boys Schools Cup Finals.
There was some outstanding rugby played across the eight matches, with the U18 cup final a terrific contest between two evenly matched sides.
U18 Cup final: Merchiston Castle School 24-28 Stewart’s Melville College
Two tries inside the opening five minutes and an outstanding late defensive effort saw Stewart’s Melville upset Edinburgh rivals Merchiston, who had been unbeaten all season in the lead-up to the U18 cup final.
Callum Jessop opened the scoring after a blistering break from his midfield partner Adam Munro, then James Dalrymple barged over, while captain Howie Offord landed both conversions to give them a 14-0 lead.
Merchiston struggled for a foothold in the game early on but benefited from a fortuitous bounce as Luca Mathieson gathered Jake Dalziel’s pass to score, before completing their revival when openside Zander MacTaggart drove over from a tap penalty.
Sixteen-year-old Dalziel, son of Scotland forwards coach John, levelled the scores, but was sent to the sin-bin on the half-hour after a dangerous tackle. Stewart’s Melville took the lead in his absence, lock Mark Berroya charging under the posts.
And Berroya displayed his full range of skills with a stunning break and offload setting up prop James Page for as Stewart’s Melville’s fourth try to give them a 28-14 interval lead.
Merchiston reduced the arrears when replacement Miles Roseman snuck over in the corner after pouncing on a loose ball.
Dalziel then produced an outstanding piece of skill, fielding a stray kick inside his own 22 before chipping the Stewart’s Melville defence, regathering and a phase later, landing a perfect cross-field kick for wing Lucas Fiddes to score a sensational try.
A match not short on quality for the first 55 minutes became a cagey affair in the closing stages as errors crept in on both sides.
Merchiston applied pressure late on but could not find a way through as a stubborn rearguard action from Stewart’s Melville saw them hang on to claim the title.
Stewart’s Melville coach Stuart Edwards said: “We weren’t that flash, either of us,” he said. “We had two five-minute bursts when scored all our points and we really came alive, but apart from that we were a bit sticky.”
His Merchiston counterpart Roddy Deans praised his side's comeback despite a slow start.
"These boys in my squad always impress me because they just never give up. I am so proud of them.
"We could have potentially sneaked it at the end which I don’t feel would have been fair because although we gave it everything I felt like we were hanging on at times.
"Even though they didn’t score in the second half, I still felt that they had the momentum."
Elsewhere in the U18 competition, George Watson’s College won the Shield with a 34-12 triumph over the High School of Dundee, Robert Gordon’s College edged Glenalmond College to win the plate 27-19, and St Columba’s won the bowl against Queen Victoria School 31-14.
U16 Cup final: Stewart’s Melville College 10-34 George Watson’s College
A dominant display from George Watson’s College saw them lift the first trophy of the day as they won the U16 Cup against Edinburgh rivals Stewart’s Melville College.
Captain Richie White scored a brace of tries for George Watson’s, while fly-half Mathew Denham guided his side around expertly as they scored six tries to two in a comfortable victory.
White’s first try, a well-worked maul move, restored the cushion, and a superb solo score from Aiden Fitzgerald – the pick of the day’s tries scored on the day alongside an effort from High School of Dundee U18 number eight Fraser Doig - saw George Watson’s pull clear.
White added a second before Stewart’s Melville prop Duncan Anderson scored a consolation effort, but there was still time for Oliver Stones to add a sixth try for George Watson’s.
After lifting the trophy, White said: “It was incredible playing in the national stadium. I’ve seen all my heroes out here and it's just brilliant to play on the pitch. I’m absolutely buzzing with the boys, they all gave 100%. I couldn't have asked more for any of them.”
“It wasn't a vintage performance from us,” said victorious head coach Richard Snedden.
“I think our strength as a forward pack, the brutality they bring up-front, we held on to the ball for a long time and just wore them down.
"We are delighted with the win, but the performance wasn't probably our final performance we wanted."
Meanwhile, Stewart’s Melville coach Joe Ansbro, admitted the occasion of playing at Scottish Gas Murrayfield affected his side.
“We didn't quite put the performance together that we wanted today,” the former Scotland centre said.
“We were looking for a 70-minute performance. We barely got 10 minutes of us being on top of it, so the boys will be disappointed. I think the occasion probably got to them.”
But he hopes the experience stands his side in good stead.
“There's lots of positive memories,” Ansbro added.
“Some of them will be here again hopefully next year for the under-16s again because they're young, and some of the older boys may get to push up and join the under-18s.”
Elsewhere in the under-16s competition, St. Leonards/Madras Blues beat George Heriot’s 23-14 to claim the bowl, while High School of Dundee edged Hutchesons’ Grammar School 27-24 to win the plate.
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