Boroughmuir Sweep Doubleheader at Fletcher’s
June 25, 2007

Last night at Fletcher’s, Boroughmuir High School from Scotland swept both games in their stop of their 2007 Canadian tour. They defeated the u16s 25 -12, in a game that was closer than the score indicated, and then they turned it up a notch as their fist XV overwhelmed the u18 squad 45 – 5.

In the first match the Scottish visitors found the going very tough against the u16 squad. They tried their best to move the ball wide at every opportunity, but a combination of heavy hitting, pressure defense and stifling humidity prevented them from playing an expansive game. The u16s were in the game in the early going and the match could have gone either way, but the Scots were able to exploits gaps in the defense as the u16s tired.

Scoring both tries for the u16s was fullback Mike Southcott with punishing runs after a fine series of plays by his teammates.

In the second game of the double header, Boroughmuir started quickly scoring two tries in the early going. The u18s responded with a try from fly-half Winston Cho, to narrow the score to 12-5. They continued to hammer the Scottish line, but they came just inches short of getting that vital second try as Scott Armstrong was prevented from scoring. It was the Scots that adapted to the heat and they ran in two tries in the final five minutes before half. The last try of the half was scored at the buzzer and was a psychological blow that the u18s were unable to shake off.

They started the second half with several changes, hoping that some fresh legs could give some energy to a tiring squad. It seemed to half an immediate impact, but once again, the Scots bent but did not break their defense. As momentum slowly turned it became clear that it was only a matter of time before the Scots would score. They poured in three tries in the final 15 minutes through a valiant but tired team that played their hearts out in defense for most of the second half.

Boroughmuir High School is a local authority, secondary school which accepts pupils from a catchment area on the south side of Edinburgh. They tour to Canada approximately every two years. They first game to Aurora in 2000 and have had subsequent trips to B.C. before this return trip to Ontario.

The Boroughmuir coaches had a chance to catch up with previous Aurora u18 coach Steve Bernardo and manager John Robinson who were both able to attend last night’s game. It was also nice that St. Andrew’s College coach and club supporter, Jon Butcher, could ref the match as SAC had been hosted by Boroughmuir in the last five years.

Boroughmuir would not have been able to come to Aurora without the generous hospitality of the many families that opened their homes to the Scottish guests. To a boy the Scots were extremely grateful for the chance to experience Canadian culture and our warm welcome.

I would also like to add my huge thanks to those families that hosted, fed, drove here and there and entertained our visitors. Without families willing to open their homes this type of cultural exchange would not be possible.