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JOHNCOCK HAT-TRICK HELPS HOWE TO TREBLE

Musselburgh 14 Howe of Fife 27

Howe of Fife took the honours in the Youth League Cup Final on the international pitch at Murrayfield tonight seeing off a valiant Musselburgh side by 27-14.

The result, placed alongside Bell Baxter High School’s triumphs in the Royal Navy Scottish Schools 7s and the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup, provided a unique treble for a hard-working group of players, coaches and volunteers who have shown what can be achieved when club and school work together and energise a community.

John Lathangie, proud parent – whose son Stewart scored Howe’s final try tonight – and who is part of the coaching set-up in the twin identities, reflected: “This will be the end for this particular age-group. We’d like to see the stronger lads go on to bigger and better things but we’d also hope to get a core – and by that I mean seven or eight – of these players through to the club to play at senior level.”

The script may have suggested that Howe would stroll to success tonight but Musselburgh displayed no shortage of skill and commitment to also suggest a rosy future.

Their coach, their former representative scrum-half, Donald Macdonald, had every right to be upbeat at full-time. “I thought our guys did really well,” he said. “It was a classic case of the forward power and good setpiece in our team alongside the very dangerous runners when the game opened out on their side.

“They scored some cracking tries from a distance and are hard to defend against.”
Macdonald could find consolation that only around five of his side step up to senior rugby at the end of this season. “Hopefully, most of the team will get another chance on another day,” he predicted.

Underdogs Musselburgh certainly made a sprightly start. Their diminutive full-back Brian Walls collected a clearance kick from his opposite number Peter Horne, close to half-way. He hoisted his own Garryowen and collected it on the full on the Howe 22 to romp in for a try which centre Andy Grodynski converted with little more than one minute played.

Howe spent most of that opening ten-15 minutes in defensive mode but from a loose ball on half-way Graeme Johncock gathered and showed a clean pair of heels as he sprinted in under the posts. Horne converted to level the scores.

On 20 minutes Johncock added his second try, again showing good sustained pace, in the tight five metre corridor on the East Stand touchline and although Grodynski missed with a penalty just before the break this was a contest befitting a final and had the 1,252 crowd engrossed.

Half time: Musselburgh 7 Howe of Fife 12

Within ten minutes of the restart Howe had stretched their lead with the backs linking to send Rory Drummond in at the right corner flag for a 17-7 advantage.

Two minutes later Johncock showed admirable pace and strength to cruise in from his own 22 for a thoroughbred score to complete his hat-trick.

The night’s one sour note occurred in the 57th minute. On the intervention of touch-judge Graeme Marshall, Howe of Fife lock Darren Lorimer was sent-off for what the match officials described as a head-butt.

Almost immediately - from another searing intrusion into the line by Musselburgh's dynamic full-back Walls - the East Lothian side’s pack stormed towards the Fifers' goal-line for lock Tom Searle to be credited with the try.
Grodynski converted.

In the closing stages Stewart Lathangie crossed for Howe’s fifth try and thus sealed a remarkable treble.

Pro-players Mike Blair, Simon Webster and Calum MacRae voted Graeme Johncock man of the match.

Our picture shows Howe of Fife captain Chris Mason on the charge.

Musselburgh: Brian Walls; Rory Thomson, Andy Grodynski, Craig Veitch, Paul Davies; Hamish Munro, Euan Watson; David Paton, Fraser Millar captain, Craig Owenson, William Fleming, Tom Searle, Declan Slaven, Michael Maltman, Andrew Lamb

Subs: Ben Armstrong, Scott Leslie, Mike Scott, Neil Durham, Michael Cowan, Alexander Robinson, Gary Steedman

Howe of Fife: Peter Horne; Rory
Drummond, Robbie Williamson, Steven Wilson, Graeme Johncock; Ross Aitken, Stewart Lathangie; Donald Fraser, Josh Fox-Clark, Paul Robertson, Grant Henderson, Darren Lorimer, Michael Fedo, Chris Mason captain, Chris Fusaro

Subs: Steven Young, Chris McNab, Andy Young, Lewis Wilson, Joe Barker, Chris Martin, William Wardlaw

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Gala)