2003-04 reports

No Match report but man of the Match was Mark Fitzgerald who was outstanding in the first half. Ali Campbell second for his great tackling round the fringes and 3rd Donald Grieve.

Jed at home to Murrayfield Wanderers in an end of season game, and it showed in the Jed team selection with only seven of the regular first team on the field at the start of the game. Both teams had nothing to play for today it was always going to be a half hearted game, with players thinking of the Gala Sevens on Sunday. Wanderers looked like they wanted to win the game from the start with Carl McWilliams kicking four first half penalties, Jed were camped on Wanderers line and had a string of five penalties on the line with no joy, Murrayfields Olloy Saparamada got sin-binned right on half time Jed 0 Wanderers 12.

With Wanderers down to fourteen players Jed should have had the upper hand but it was the visitors who scored through Adam Broach and then Andy farquharson McWilliams kicked the conversion 0-24. Jason Gill came on for Neil Cook who had his best game for Jed in a while but got a leg knock in the first half. Gilly was in the action almost right away with a break from his ten meter line chipped the ball over the defence but when the defence got back Gilly ran into him and went down like a football player, the ref was conned and Jed got a penalty but like most of the match got turned over. Jed did finally score with five to go Paul Hill went over in the corner Amo missed the kick the final score Jed 5 Murrayfield Wanderers 24.

This was a very disappointing game Jed were never in it at all they lost ball in every area scrum, lineout and in the loose the pick of the bunch today has to go to Billy Graham his work rate was second to none James Hogg also had a good game and made some good breaks and last but not least Neil Cook, it was good to see Ross Goodie back after a long lay off.

Both teams were quickly in to their stride and it was clear from the start how Dundee were going to play this tie with a huge pack and a stand-off with a good kick, They were happy to keep Jed on the back foot and have the pack drive on deep into the Jed 22 but some great tackling from all the Jed team helped by some knock on's kept the score level. It was 30 mins before the first try was scored but not before Jed's Jason Gill intercepted on his own 22 and nearly ran the length of the park with Jamie McCraw just a little too close and when Gilly gave him the ball the defender managed to get in the try saving tackle, Dundee battled up the park and Kerr slipped a couple of tackles to score the kick was missed 5-0. Just before half time the try scorer dropped a goal H/T 8-5.

The second half started badly for Jed when Pip tried a quick throw-in on his own 22 with Amo and Amo was adjudged to not be 5 meters. From the resulting free-kick Whittaker drove over 13-0. Jed came back into the game when Amo kicked two penalties, he then missed another when Jamie Mc was assaulted by Hawkins who deserved more than just a yellow card 13-6. Jed had a brief spell of pressure but really struggled to contain the big Dundee pack, too many knock-on's forward passes and Jed tackling stopped this being a bigger score. Mason finished the game with a drop goal that hit the bar and went over. The final score Dundee 16 Jed-Forest 6.

Cup time at Riverside with Jed taking on Selkirk. With a win apiece in the league and only one point between the teams in both games this game was going to be close and very hard. Selkirk kicked off with the strong wind at their backs and from the off where on top, Jed strayed off side and within ten mins Guy Blair had two penalties on the scoreboard 0-6. Jed where not about to lie down and soon hit back with some very good and controlled play from the forwards who managed to drive over who else but Davie Forster, the conversion into the very strong wind was wide 5-6. Straight after the restart Jed were soon back into the Selkirk half with some fine play from the backs and forwards working well as a team but all to often the ball was spilled and with one kick the ball was back down the park. Amo picked up a long kick and went back behind his own line to touch down for a scrum 5 to Selkirk which they scored from on the left with Fraser Harkness and the kick from Blair 6-13. Jed were again buy far the better team after the kick off with Hendy playing a fine captains role. Jed then made a change, John Szkudro on for Euan Kelly. With the game deep in the Selkirk half a mix up in the Jed backs allowed replacement Craig Hunter to race away to score under the posts, Blair again got the kick 5-20. To be honest Jed never really looked out of the game for they had most of the territory and possession. Just before half time Mark Fitzgerald made a break from his own 22 broke three tackles and run all the way under the posts Amo kicked the conversion to make the score at half time Jed-Forest 12 Selkirk 20.

The second half must have been a relief with Jed now playing with the wind Chris Richards kept Selkirk pinned back in there own 22 and when Selkirk were caught off side Amo kicked two penalties 18-20. Again after the kick off the Jed pack did all the hard work with several phases on the Selkirk line without scoring it was Nod Laing who stole the glory to nip in near the posts Amo converted Jed now in the lead for the first time 25-20. There was no stopping Jed now Chris Richards kicked a penalty to touch five meters out and Skuds took the ball clean and the forwards drove over with a little help from Amo and Nod try number sixteen for Davie Forster. Selkirk had a brief rally in the last few mins but it was to little to late. Final score Jed-Forest 30 Selkirk 20.

After Stew Mel beat league leaders Gala last week and Jed with so many first team players out this should have been a very difficult game but Jed were certainly up for this game right from the kick-off. It took Stew Mel at least 15mins to get into the Jed half of the field and the first chance came to Jed in the shape of a penalty but Nod Laing missed kicking into a very strong wind. A few mins later the Jed pack drove forward towards the line the ball was shipped to Chris Richards who scored a great try. Stew Mel stand off N Wood then kicked two penalties to make the score 6-5. Jed looked certain to score when Simon Lightbody broke the Stew Mel defence on the half way and with one man to beat passed to Jason Gill, you would bet good money on Gilly going on the score under the posts but he dropped the ball with the line at his mercy. With half time approaching, the Jed forwards turned over the ball to drive Davie Forster over for his twelfth try of the season, Nod again had no luck with the kick so at half time it was Stew Mel 6 Jed-Forest 10.

With the snow coming down harder then ever the second half got under way with Stew Mel moving up a gear and scoring two try's. The first was a sixty meter run when Chris Richards put in a crunching tackle the ball went to J Gordon, Roy McFarlane missed the tackle on the half way line and he had a clear run home 11-10, soon after the big prop Wharakura scored under the posts 16-10. Just as Stew Mel looked to be coming back Nod Laing put in a great kick near the home line and the Jed forwards who had dominated all day stole the ball at the line-out to drive Davie Forster over for another try again the kick was missed. With the game hanging in the balance Jed had a long spell on the Stew Mel line and Pym McDonnell went over this time Amo got the two points 16-22, Amo then kicked a penalty to seal the game.

All in all this was a very good win and the Jed forwards were first class to-day, Hendy lead from the front and the pack followed, all the pack played out there skins the backs also linked well and really showed how they can play.

After a close game at Netherdale this should have been a close affair but with Gala coming out with all guns blazing and scoring a try under the posts with the conversion from Berthinussen within the first few minutes Jed looked shell shocked. Jed's K Amos missed a penalty but McLean kicked a penalty for Gala 0-10, Jed looked to have stemmed the tide when James Hogg took a pass from Chris Richards to score an excellent try, Nod Laing missed the kick 5-10. Gala then went almost straight from the kick off to score their second try when T Stuck took advantage of some very sloppy Jed tackling to dive over for a try 5-15, Nod Laing then narrowed the gap with a well struck penalty to make it 8-15. Gala were now well on top and Dalglish split the Jed defence out wide to score his first of two try's, with the conversion the half time score stood at Jed-Forest 8 Gala 22.

The game got worse for Jed when the injured Davie Forster had to be replaced by Tim Van Vliet. Jed were still in the game at 8-22 but a barrage of try's from McLean, Dalglish and hooker McDonald and couple of conversions and a penalty put the score at 8-41. Further misery for Jed when Chris Richards and Nod Laing had to leave the field but the Royal Blues never gave up and Mark Fitzgerald barged over for a late consolation try and with the conversion by Kevin Amos, the final score was Jed-Forest 15 Gala 41.

Although Gala scored 41 points the game was closer than the score suggests some bad tackling gifted Gala at least three of there six try's, The Jed team played well considering they had at least six first team players off by the end of the game and a forward playing at scrum-half. Jed struggled in the lineout with to many small forwards and there was only really one option in (Szkuds) but Gala had him well marked. The only really bright star for Jed was Billy Graham (if only he was a foot taller) he was at the sharp end of everything Jed did so the player of the day goes to Billy Graham then James Henderson and although he only played half a game Tim Van Vliet.

Jed-Forest were at Haddington yesterday and again not at full strength, with Ross G out for the season, Gary Hill out for a least a month and Jason Gill calling off late with an knee injury. So it was the home team who started the better scoring a try but missing the kick after Jed had missed a couple of tackles. It was soon after that Jed got started and after some good forward work Davie Forster was driven over the line to score his now customary try, with Nod Laing kicking the conversion 5-7. Haddington again went in front when their centre D Snodgrass out stripped the flimsy Jed defence. Just before half-time Mark Fitzgerald intercepted a loose pass 10 meters from his own line and looked like running the length of the park only for the Haddington winger to race from the other side of the park to tackle him 15meters short and Haddington cleared the ball on the half-time whistle 10-7.

Jed made a change after the break with Euan Kelly going off because of a head knock and Billy Graham coming on, this change allowed Skuds to go back to second row and Jed were all the better for it. After some great play with the backs and forwards Jed got a scrum on the home 22, Davie Forster picked-up, fed to James Hogg and the ball went out to Jamie McCraw who raced in for a try, converted by Nod Laing. With the score now at 10-14 and Jed looked like they might start to pull away but Haddington scored a third try, 15-14. With time very much against Jed, Nod Laing kicked a monster drop goal which hit the post and scraped over, Haddington 15 Jed 17 and it seemed all Jed had to do was stay up the Haddington end but they lost the line out and the home team broke down the park and into touch. Jed won the ball and Amo kicked to touch and the ball came off a Haddington hand but the linesman gave the home team the throw. They won the ball and drove forward but a Jed player came in from the side of the ruck. S Brownlee the Haddington stand off kicked the resulting penalty the game ended Haddington 18 Jed-Forest 17.

Jed were pretty well gutted at this result, for they had played so well. In the clubhouse after the game Chris Richards was awarded the Jed man off the match (hope he got his bottle off bubbly) There was a lot of good performances Skuds is getting better as he gets fitter Simon Lightbody and Jamie McCraw both looked sharp Hendy, Donald Grieve and Davie Forster all had good games but and for player of the day points top player for his determination and never give up attitude James Hogg, Chris Richards a very close second and John Szkudro

Jed entertained not only Kirkcaldy on Saturday but also our own senior citizens, about 50 I believe. Jed started the game playing against the very strong wind but as in previous weeks were on top from the start and soon got a penalty but Nod Laing (taking over the kicking duties this week) just knocked the ball wide. Kirkcaldy then kicked a three pointer and went into the lead but their lead was to be short lived. Jed had a few chance's on the line with first Mark Fitzgerald and then Hendy being held up but the ball went wide for Nod Laing to side step his way under the posts and then pop the extra's 7-3. Just after the restart Nod again kicked a goal for Jed to go 10-3. Jed were by now well on top and the Kirkcaldy boys had no answer to the Jed backs, of which Chris Richards was a different player to last week much more up for the game and looked like the old Chris but it was Davie Forster who got pushed over for his tennth try of the season, Nod kicked the goal 17-3. Kirkcaldy were then reduced to 14 when they had a player sin-binned for stamping on Pym. The last score before half time was a bit scrappy, the ball was kicked through from the Kirkcaldy 22 when it eventually got over the line anyone of three players could have scored but it was Fitzy who got the touch down for Jed to go to half time 22-3.

What ever the Kirkcaldy coach said at half time certainly worked, for they came out fighting and there pack drove over Steve Mitchell for a try 22-8. Neil Tunnah then scored after Jed got a lineout near the Kirkcaldy line and with the resulting maul drove over, Nod ended Jed's scoring for the day with the conversion 29-8. Kirkcaldy were far from finished with their scoring, their pack drove over Craig MacDonald with Barry Jones getting the conversion 29-15. Jed were looking a bit shaky in the later stage's after Pym got sin-binned for something that happened with Kirkcaldy prop who had been sin-binned earlier (need I say more). Scott McDonald came on for Simon Lightbody who had a very good game considering he's hardly played since the Dundee game way back. Simon hardly got his tracksuit on when Scott got a bad knock and had to come off and Simon getting back on. With Jed now home and dry with a bonus point Craig MacDonald went over again for Kirkcaldy, full time Jed-Forest 29 Kirkcaldy 20.

This was another game where Jed seemed to go to sleep in the second half but there was some good display's to-day. With Ross Goodfellow out for sometime and Gary Hill out for another month, James Hogg and Chris Richards played very well as did Simon Lightbody and Jamie McCraw on the wings, Pym looks back to his old self. John Szkudro tired in the second half but played very well.

What a cracking fixture to start the year, Kelso at Poynder Park and it was Jed who started the stronger with some fine play by the forwards with Hendy and Neil Tunnah in dominate form. It was Jed who had the first chance to get points on the board with a penalty but Amo put the ball just wide and with everybody in the Kelso team leaving the ball to go dead Jamie McCraw was so close to touching down first. Jed kept the pressure on Kelso with play deep inside the Kelso half but Kelso worked there way up the park to win a penalty for the stand-off Manungapaku to get Kelso first on the board 3-0. With Jed still pushing for a score the pack drove over the Kelso line but knocked on over the line so it was 3-0 at H/T.

The second half got under way with John Szkudro (first game for almost two years) replacing Neil Cook who got a knock in the first half. With in minutes Skuds caught a line-out ball and with the pack driving on Davie Forster scored, Amo again missed the kick 3-5. Kelso then went back in front with a penalty 6-5. Jed kept powering on but the excellent Kelso defence held strong until a bit of magic from Mark Fitzgerald, who dodged past three or four defenders to score Jed's second try and a conversion by Nod Laing made it Kelso 6 Jed 12. Jed's forwards had some great driving mauls and good rucking play to push Kelso back and looked like increasingly likely to score but Jed got a line-out close to their own line but Paul Cranston's throw didn't go to plan and Kelso stole and shipped the ball wide to squeeze in at the corner, Manungapaku failed with the kick 11-12. With the game now in the balance Jed had a chance from a line out but the ball went to Kelso who got to the Jed line but Jed held strong but then strayed off-side for Manungapku to score an easy three points 14-12. Jed pushed for a late score and Amo tried a huge drop goal, the ref had a good look but it was just under the bar Full Time 14-12.

The points to note this week Gary Armstrong starred again as did Neil Tunnah, Hendy and Neil Cook. Euan Kelly again won some good ball in the line-out Davie Forster and Jason Gills work rate was first class. On the down side Fizzy never looked the part with-out Gary Hill in the centre and Chris Richards never looked much interested at centre but the good new John Szkudro looked like he's never been away. Next week Kirkcaldy at Riverside keep up the good work boy's

With Dundee H.S at the top of the league and it chucking down with rain this game was not going to be an easy one but it was Jed who scored first with a try from Jamie McCraw almost right from the kick-off, Amo kicked the goal 7-0. Dundee hit back with a penalty from Jonny Petty 7-3. Jed never gave Dundee a chance to settle at all with the forwards now in rampant form driving Dundee back, Nod Laing popped over a drop goal 10-3. Jason Gill scored Jed's second try with one of his usual breaks from deep, Amo missed the kick 15-3. Jed lost Amo with a leg knock just after the restart and seconds later also lost Gary Hill (leg knock) on came Chris Richards and Gary Young, Nod Laing then kicked a penalty 18-3. Davie Forster scored down at the score board end 23-3, Nod kicked the extras. H/T 25-3 and Dundee were in total shock because they could do nothing with this charged up Jed team.

The second half was more of the same with Davie F and Gilly in full flow, the Jed pack drove Davie Forster over the line for his second try, Nod hit the outside of the post 30-3. Nod the kicked another penalty 33-3. Dundee started to put the pressure on the Jed line and after some great tackling Jed conceded a try right down at the scoreboard. The game looked over at 33-8 and Jed restarted and somehow Nod Laing went down the blind side, chipped over the winger, Mark Fitzgerald then hacked on for Nod to score the try of the game, final score Jed-Forest 38 Dundee H.S.F.P 8.

This game is without a doubt the best Jed have played all season. Special mentions this week for Euan Kelly a second row having to play on the wing Gilly playing at centre Neil Cook had an excellent game as did Don Grieve, Hendy, Roy McF, Jamie McC, and Kelvin Todd had a solid first game in royal blue but the player of the week points go to Davie Forster, Ross Goodfellow and Nod Laing. This weeks top player was the most difficult yet and long may it continue.

Jed v Selkirk games are always close and hard fought and Jed were up for the game right from the kick off. With Jason Gill in the thick of the action the Jed pack dominated the first half but got little reward for all the hard work and big runs from Gilly and Davie Forster. There always seemed to be one movement of the ball too many when maybe the direct approach could have been better. It was up to Amo to kick a couple of penalties to one from Selkirk H/T 3-6

Selkirk came out the second half a different team and started playing like they wanted to win and it was they who scored the first try of the game 8-6. Mark Fitzgerald then crossed the line for Jed after a long spell of Jed pressure, Amo missed the conversion but made amends a few minutes later with his third penalty 8-14. Selkirk then scored a converted try and a penalty and as a result Ross Goody was sent to the sin bin. With the score at 18-14 and about 15mins to go it was heartache for the Jed support to see Gilly sin binned but he did get the biggest cheer of the day when he left the field (from the Selkirk support) because he was a constant thorn in there side with his barging runs and big hits some might say a little late. So with Jed down to 13 players Selkirk scored an unconverted try 23-14 and Jed looked to be losing the game. Ross Goody came back onto the park just before full time to score, Amo missed the kick 23 -19. Jed were back to full strength with Gilly back on the park and Selkirk had a late rally but Jed kept them out. The Jed team were not to be beaten and with some great work from the whole Jed team they worked there way up the park for Jamie McCraw to score the final points of the day Selkirk 23 Jed-Forest 24.

Players worth a special mention everyone on the park. I believe Simon Lightbody and Chris Richards are both due back it's hard to see where they will play but a nice problem for the management for a change.

BT Cup round 4; With league business on the back burner we have another week to help the walking wounded recover. Jed started the game with big intentions working hard but it took 21 mins before Roy McFarlane could break the Duns defence to score the first try Amo converted 7-0. The try's came thick and fast after that with another 3 in the first half from Jason Gill, Euan Kelly, and Neil Tunnah. H/T Jed-Forest 26 Duns 0.

The second half just went on like the first and the cheekiest try of the day came when the ball went out for a line out on the half way line Gilly shouted for everyone to leave it he sprinted up the touch line and took a quick throw Ross Goody who ran up the line and drew the full back to feed Jason who raced in. The next came when Nod Laing collected the ball from Gilly who passed the ball on the line to try and miss buying a jug to score. Number seven came from Neil Tunnah who has really impressed over the last few weeks Davie Forster scored a try either side of Roy McFarlane's second try, while Duns managed an interception from D Affleck to run the length of the park to score under the posts with D Robertson kicking the conversion. The last try of the day was from the very impressive Jason Gill who hacked on from the Duns ten meter line to score his hat trick, Nod Laing added the last two points, and Jed won a one sided game to go into the last 16 draw by 69-7.

Looks like we are over the worst of the injuries with more players back every week and with the second half of the league starting next week at West of Scotland we need all the help we can get.

To-days big performers, Jason was on everybody's shoulder as was Davie Forster Neil Tunnah looked solid Nod Laing seems to get better each week so the player of the day goes to Jason Gill from Neil Tunnah and Nod Laing.

Jed were back in Edinburgh this week to face Edinburgh Wanderers with Gary Armstrong and Davie Forster in the team, Gary coming in from pro duty and Davie from a hand injury. The first ten minutes or so it was the home team who were on top pinning Jed back in their own 22 but it was Jed who scored when Amo kicked a penalty. Shortly after Jed started playing and pressure on the home line lead to Jason Gill scoring his first of two try's on the half hour, Amo kicked the conversion to go 10 nil , H/T 10-0.

Jed went further ahead early in the second half when Nod Laing made a break up the middle of the park and fed the pass to Jason Gill who as ever was in support to score unopposed beside the posts Amo kicked the extra's. The next twenty min's it was all Wands who had picked up their game and for the first time in the game we missed a couple of tackle's and lost two try's in quick succession down the right hand wing. Jed brought on Pym Mc to help the scrum and off went young Robert F who is playing well above his years but was struggling with a shoulder injury. The Jed defence got a grip of the game and worked there way up the park with some good play from Gary Hill and Jason Gill and we got a penalty which Amo stuck over with ease. A few min's after the kick off the young lad at scrum half Gary Armstrong made a great break up the right and from the ruck the ball went out to Nod Laing and from an outrages side step scored under the posts, by this time Amo had been replaced by Jamie McCraw so Nod converted his own try, Edin Wands 12 Jed-Forest 27.

To sum up the performance Guts determination and inspiration and it all came through Gary Armstrong (how old is he? showed the young lads a thing or two just ask his opposite number) they say one man doesn't make a team, but he really did help. Other notable performance's Jason Gill, Gareth Davies and back from injury Davie Forster. Player of the day I would have picked Gary Armstrong, but to keep the tally fair any professional won't count.

Cup rugby at Berwick kick-off 2:00 but Jed never started until 20 past. Berwick hit hard in the first quarter and were first to score with an easily converted try and then a penalty But Jed dug deep and Amo kicked a penalty, and from a couple of rucks it was Jason Gill who eventually drove over near the posts and Amo popped over the extra two points. Just before half time Roy McFarlane scored a very good try with the ball going through half a dozen pairs of hands to make it Berwick 10 Jed 15.

The second half started with Berwick on top again but Jed struck at the right time with Gareth Davies knocking the Berwick defence out the way to score near the posts Amo converted 10-20. Just when Jed looked like they were going to stretch away there was Berwick with their second wind to score a converted try. There was a long break for treatment of Michael Graham to a nasty looking injury, and Jed were by now on the back foot but Amo kicked a penalty and Berwick grabbed a late try to make the final score Berwick 22 Jed-Forest 25.

This was an excellent result for Jed when you consider the amount of injuries we have at the moment and the amount of players playing out of position. To make matters worse Pym limped off as well as Michael G. Just before Pym limped off he did manage to toe poke the ball into touch at the corner to save a try.

With Jed not going to well at the moment and Grangemouth bottom of the league this was always going to be a dour game and it was, But right from the start it was Jed who took control with Hendy leading the charge with some great barging runs up the middle of the park. Amo opened the scoring with a penalty but it was a burst through the middle by Hilly who feed the ever present Jason Gill to score the only try of the first half Amo converted and then kicked an other penalty. Looks like Sal has announced his second retirement after suffering an knee injury. H/T 13 - 6.

The second half was very much like the first Jed still dominated but in reality Grangemouth made us look good we were to slow to the breakdown and had too many unforced errors. Big Roy Mc had a few good runs before finally breaking the Grangemouth defence in the Kop end Amo kicked the conversion from wide. Final score Jed 20 Grangemouth 6.

A difficult trip to Netherdale in store without Davie F, Simon L, Chris R, Hendy and more besides.

It was as predicted with Gala on top at the start and they soon went ahead with a penalty, soon after Amo levelled. The game swung back and forth with Jed gaining the upper hand after a slow start but Gala scored a try in the corner 8-3. Then Gala kicked a couple of penalties and Amo replied with a penalty. Jed's forwards worked really hard to make inroads to the Gala defence with Gareth Davies and Jason Gill to the fore and it looked like Jed might have the power to beat Gala but for some strange kicking from midfield. H/T 14-6.

Halftime came too soon for Jed as Gala picked up the pace in the second half to score a try from a rolling maul in the corner. Soon after Amo burst through the home defence for a fine try in the corner but missed with the difficult kick. After the re-start Jed again attacked the home line but just ran out of time. F/T Gala 19 Jed-Forest 14.

I'm sure this performance will give Jed some new inspiration over the coming weeks there were a lot of good displays today starting with no less than Sal, Billy G, Nod Laing, Amo, Hilly and Hamish had some crunching tackles.

Another long trip this week to Kirkcaldy and it was the home team who started the better putting pressure on the Jed line. When Kirkcaldy scored first it looked ominous for Jed but they dug deep and started to play like a team for about the first time this year. It was Scott Laidlaw who opened Jed's account with a fine try involving backs and forwards. Jed buy now had gathered some pace but lost a soft try out wide when the Jed defence was posted missing. There was a replacement just before the restart when the ref had to leave the field with a back injury. Amo then slotted a penalty for Jed to go in a couple of points down at half time.

Gareth Davies looks a good signing with some fine break from the base of the scrum, he and Davie F should work well together in the coming weeks. The big number 8 scored a fine try just after H/T. We then lost Jamie McCraw (leg injury) and he was replaced by James Hogg who within mins got a forearm smash to the throat and Kirkcaldy had a man sin-binned then Jed really came alive. Jed had a penalty deep in there own half and Ross G took a quickie Jed put the ball in around ten pairs of hands for Gary Hill to score a great try . Jed now took command of the game with another score from Gareth D and one from Hamish Stewart. Amo kicked a couple of penalties and converted Gareths second try.

The game was always going to be an uphill struggle, The first half Kelso were on top but Jed did have a few good spells with Hendy and Tim making some good ground but Kelso scored first with a penalty and then a try in the corner at the kop end, Jed did manage to score a try under the posts was it Hendy? Amo kicked the goal, Kelso then kicked another penalty and Amo kicked wide a good chance just before the break to make it Jed 7 Kelso 13.

The second half started well when Amo kicked a goal and the forwards started to find their feet and for the first time in a while Jed started to look like a team. Kelso managed to get a turnover near there own line and a few mins later scored in the corner. After the restart Tim made a great run from his own half, the ball went loose and Amo managed to score an excellent try. Just when the game looked like coming back the Jed way, straight from the short kick-off Hamish was tackled in the back just as he was about to unload, the ball went loose and Kelso scored again. With time running out Jamie Mc broke the Kelso defence to score but Kelso had given there all and as Jed made a last attempt to win the game the ball spilled forward game over. Jed-Forest 20 Kelso 25.

The big Dundee pack were up for the game right from the kick-off with the number 8 making inroads into the Jed defence with some brenging runs (having lost my program I don't have any home team names) but Dundee managed to score two tries in the first half after a couple of missed first tackles and we were all a sea, Both conversions were missed. Amo managed to kick a penalty in the fist half and we never really looked like a team that could score a try H/T 10-3.

Just after the re-start Dundee scored again with a good team try, again missed tackles were to blame. The Jed pack were well beaten in every part of the game when we got in good attacking position as Roy Mc did a few times he had no back up and the ball was turned over, even when the forwards had the ball the Dundee forwards just took it back.

Some good news from a ruck Ross G kicked ahead for Jamie Mc to score an excellent try in the corner Amo shoot wide with the kick, Dundee regrouped to score two more tries with time running out I think it was Amo scoring in the corner. There were so many people on the touch line it was difficult to see but it was Amo who missed the kick final score 25-13.

Looks like there are no easy games in this league. Jed were boosted by the return of Simon Lightbody and a first game for Tim VanVliet at hooker. The game started well enough with Jed playing with the strong breeze, Bigger had the best of the early exchanges but the Jed defence stood strong with both centres getting in some big tackles. Chris Richards kicked a penalty, Chris then minutes later just missed a monster penalty. It has to be said most of the first half was played between the 22s but Jed got a penalty around 10m out and Hoggy dived over the line after a quick tap penalty Amo kicked the goal H/T 10-0.

The second half was much the same story as last week with the visiting team kicking long after Jed had battled up to the Bigger 22, the Jed line-out was a shambles again winning not much more then 50% of there own throw. To be honest Jed never really looked like losing a try Murray Thomson kick a couple of penalties and then when they had a man in the sin bin Thomson nipped in for a soft score which he converted. By this time Jed had brought on the young lad Campbell for Ross MacD ( I think it was to stop him wearing out the technical area) Bigger had another player in the sin bin with three mins to go Jed tried hard to find an opening running penalties from there own line a couple of good breaks from Hilly and Hamish were not quite enough as the ref blew for time 13-13.

Here we go with week two a bigger test that last week, The game started brightly for Jed with Chris Richards kicking a long range penalty, Jed then scored a good try when Hilly broke the Selkirk defence to lay of to Scott Laidlaw and Chris had an easy kick to make it 10-0. The teams swapped a couple of penalties then Selkirk scored a try at the Kop end, the Kop where pretty sure it was a forward pass as always H/T 16-8.
The second half it was all Selkirk and the Jed pack had no answer to the bigger and hungrier Selkirk pack. With the wind at there backs the big scrum-half come stand-off just kept humping the ball down the park to keep Jed under pressure. Roy Mc had a good run up the stand side but three players failed to pick up the loose pass. Jed pressured the Selkirk line but failed to score, Amo shaved the right hand post with a drop goal attempt Selkirk turned over the ball humped it down the park and that was just about that. Selkirk kicked three more penalties to pip Jed by a point once again final score Jed-Forest 16 Selkirk 17.
I would like to say there were some plus points but they were hard to see, lineout and scrum were a dead loss the backs only seemed to use the crash ball with very little imagination, We need some weight in the pack, Good to see Hendy back Hoggy had another good game star man again Davie Forster.

The match report is written by someone who wishes to stay anonymous. The player of the day underneath is decided by the same person as last year to keep consistency, so that is why there may be some contradictions.

Welcome to the new season the few people that bothered to turn up, New names new faces and new enthusiasm. Jed started well and it was not long before Amo kicked a penalty 3-0 and Hamish Stewart ( looks like we will see that name on the score sheet a lot this year) scored from a midfield break Amo kicked the goal 10-0. Amo again kicked a 3 pointer Jed finished the first half well on top an should have scored more points, 13-0 half time.

The second half, Jed again started well with some good inter play with backs and forwards, the young lad James Hogg never looked out of his depth one for the future I'm sure. Some great attacking play by Roy McFarlane from half way breaking four tackles and the ball went through two or three pair's of hands before the best try of the day from Donald Grieve. The big West pack had no answer to the dynamic play from the home forwards with West being pushed around in the mauls and the scrums. After around 50mins it was the Davie Forster show, and he banged in four try's before the end of the game Amo managed to convert two of the try's.