news

I haven't updated here for 3 weeks because in all honesty I haven't had anything positive to say. We are playing terribly and have lost our last 3 games conceding 117 points and have only scored only 17. That now makes it 5 defeats in a row in the RBS Borders Regional Cup. Thankfully we have now completed our Cup games and have 3 weeks to regain some confidence before we start the push to try and gain promotion. We play Edinburgh Accies in Prem B at Riverside on January 14th.

Andy Mclean kicked our only points with a first half penalty. Once again our defence was awful.

Neil Cook scored a late consolation try to give Jed something as we became the first team to score a try against Gala in 7 hours of rugby. But we were woeful. Andy McLean kicked the conversion and a penalty. You can see highlights here if your brave enough. watch-v=r3cXgeIdYRg

This was better than the Gala and Hawick games. Andy McLean and Ross Goodfellow scored very good individual tries but our defence was suicidal and we let Kelso score 4 soft tries for a bonus win.

Jed were always going to face a tough match against Melrose with 6 regular backs missing and when James Hogg was taken ill in the warm up the task was not made easier. Darren Gillespie was sin binned after only 5 minutes to make matters even worse and Melrose crucified us to take a 29 - 0 half time lead.

Melrose also had injury problems, losing 2 props in the first 10 minutes causing the referee to order uncontested scrums and they also lost Bruce Dick in the second half. Jed stuck in well though and won the second half 17 - 0 with Iain Chisholm scoring 2 tries and Connor Hogg making an immediate impact from the bench to also cross the line for a try. Andy McLean converted one and Jed had plenty opportunities to at least gain a losing bonus point. Melrose's first half blitz was to much to claw back though and we came away with nothing except a little pride from a much better second half performance.

Jed once again fell to their bogey team Selkirk after a last quarter nightmare at Riverside. Jed started brightly and Lewis Young signed off with a try which Ewan Scott converted from wide out. Lewis is undergoing surgery to repair a damaged shoulder on Wednesday and will be out for around 4 months. Selkirk hit back with two converted tries but Andy McLean sliced through an open Selkirk back line to score under the posts and that leveled the scores at 14 - 14 at half time.

Ewan Scott had an off day with the boot so Andy Mclean took over and duly landed a long range penalty to take a narrow lead. Jed were barley in the Selkirk half for long spells of the second half and some seriously weak tackling on the young Selkirk sub Calum McColm let Selkirk score 2 more converted tries before Jed woke up. Ewan Scott scored out wide and McLean converted to give Jed hope with with 10 minutes remaining but another horrendous bout of missed tackles let Selkirk in again in the the score board corner for a 35 - 24 win.

Andy McLean once again looked good and Michael Weekley was pick of the forwards but quiet games by far too many others cost Jed dear in a game that was there for the taking.

Jed were 14 - 0 behind early in the game at Peebles but two David Gobby tries just before half time saw the teams swap ends at 14 - 10. A penalty each kept the score board ticking over but Jed went in front when David Gobby completed his hat trick. Jed got the bonus point when David Grieve scored from a good forwards drive after a lineout. Another Jed penalty by Andy McLean gave us a 28 - 17 lead. Peebles gave themselves a chance with a late try but Jed had done enough and held on for a 28 - 24 win.

Jed produced their best performance for a month to see of Hamilton 22 - 13 and secure a place in Premier B for the second half of the season. Jed were much the better team in the first half and scored 3 cracking tries through Lewis Young, David Grieve and the ever impressive Darren Gillespie. Chris Laidlaw had an off day with the boot and missed all 3 conversions and a couple of penalties. Jed could have been out of sight as Gregor Young had an early try disallowed for a forward pass. Hamilton had kicked 2 early penalties to make it 15 - 6 at half time.

Jed scored the bonus point try midway through the much more competitive second half when Lewis Young scored out wide at the town end. Jed's new boy Andy McLean kicked a cracking conversion from the touch line. Hamilton made the game a little tense with a converted try and they were camped in the Jed half for most of the last 10 minutes but Jed's defense held firm and sure for a 22 - 13 win.

Lewis Young's return to the starting line up at fullback on his 50th appearance for Jed was a huge factor in Jed's impressive first half and Jed's Aussie recruit, Andy McLean looks more than capable of filling Chris Laidlaw's boots.

Chris Laidlaw and Robert Ferguson now go to New Zealand for the rest of the season, but they leave with our best wishes and a top 4 place to be proud of.

The home team started the match at a pace the visitors Jed forest struggled to match, they knew how to play percentage rugby in the driving wind and rain Jed-Forest on the other hand tried to run the ball with wind advantage but were often caught short, the visitors were 21 – 3 down at the break with only a Laidlaw penalty after 10 minutes after Bigger scored three converted tries.

Jed started the second half with a bit more conviction and it wasn’t long before they scored a try by James Hogg after some controlled pick and drives by the Jed pack. Jed had Bigger on the back foot for most of the second half but it was the home side that were next on the score sheet when the converted a penalty on the 50th minute. Jed pushed on and after the introduction of their subs Lewis Young scored in the corner on the 70th minute then Darren Gillespie scored after more pick and drives by the Jed pack to rescue a bonus point, final score 25 – 18.

Jed now need to beat Hamilton next week to make sure we retain our top 4 spot before the split, although Selkirk need to win at Stew Mell to over take us you just can't rely on other results. A vocal support is needed on Saturday and I'm sure that the past players lunch will help to provide that. "Come on Jed!!"

Jed traveled to Philliphaugh knowing that a victory would almost certainly mean that we would finish in the top four of the league at the half way split. Who knows what happened on the bus to Selkirk but Jed just did not show up for the first hour of this game. We were hardly in Selkirk territory during a dire first half display and we went in 15 - 0 down at half time.

Darren and Kevin tried to rally the troops and we kept Selkirk waiting before the second half could start. However the aimless kicking and handling errors continued and all we could show was a Chris Laidlaw penalty. The referee continually penalised Selkirk for handling in the rucks and eventually sin binned the Selkirk Scrum Half. Jed did get their act together with 20 minutes to go which was encouraging and quick tries from Michael Weekley and Darren Gillespie gave the Jed support a glimmer of hope. These hopes were soon dashed when it looked like a perfectly good try by Darren Gillespie try was ruled out and David Cassidy kicked a penalty to take Selkirk more than 2 tries in front. Selkirk hung on for a well deserved 28 - 15 win.

Jed are still in second in the league but Selkirk are now in fifth and only 4 points separates the teams. There are only 2 games left and we must take points from the Biggar and Hamilton games to guarantee our top 4 spot.

Video highlights can be see here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2r96wF2Pr8

This was an exiting top of the table clash on a perfect day for rugby on a sun soaked Riverside. There was never going to be much separating the two teams as it proved when the lead changed hands 8 times.

He game was less than a minute old when Stewards were awarded there first penalty, ex Jed player Seb Trotter converting an easy penalty, this was quickly followed when Jed was awarded a penalty on the third minute Laidlaw converted to make it 3 all. The teams were evenly matched throughout, Laidlaw converted another penalty, and then Stewarts converted another penalty. Stewarts then scored an opportunist try when their winger broke free to score in the bottom corner which was also converted by Trotter. Jed then scored a try when Donald Grieve ducked under several tackled to score a good forwards try, this was then converted by Laidlaw.

Stewarts started the second half the stronger team although Jed scored first when Laidlaw converted a penalty, Stewards scored a try a short time later when their full back barged over, Jed replied with another penalty by Laidlaw. The lead changed hands another two times with another penalty by Laidlaw followed by a try for Stewarts on the 80th minute however Jed had a chance to score in the 82nd minute but a mix up with the resulting line out seen Jed penalised and the game take away from them to take the final score to 22 – 26 in the visitors favour.

Jed started strongly against a big hitting Falkirk side, David Gobby scored a try in the bottom corner within two minutes which was superbly converted by Chris Laidlaw. Jed continued to pressurise the visitors and were quickly rewarded when Laidlaw scored a try close to the posts after breaking several tackles he converted his try with ease. Falkirk then started to come into the game more however were unable to penetrate the Jed defence, Laidlaw converted a penalty just before half time to make the score 17-0

Falkirk started the second half strongly but against the run of play Jed were awarded a penalty after 4 minutes which Laidlaw converted. The game then went away from Jed, Falkirk had two tries disallowed, the first due to some punches thrown off the ball and the second for a double movement after their hooker had run almost half the length of the pitch, Falkirk were eventually rewarded with a score when their Number 6 Lepa barged over for a score which was converted by Hope their full back.

Jed now go into next week’s game against Stewarts Melville knowing that the winner will top the league, the Jed players know they have to work hard this week to continue the winning run.

Jed started the game on the front foot, after only 12minutes Darren Gillespie was first to get on the score sheet after being driven over by a dominant pack the try was converted by Laidlaw this was quickly followed by a fine individual score by Ross Goodfellow, both tries were scored when Kelso’s Ian Wallace was sin binned. Kelso’s only reward in the first half was a penalty by standoff Chester when David Grieve was sin binned for stamping.

Kelso started the second half with more purpose and were rewarded with 3 point after an off side decision against Jed however this was quickly followed by a penalty to Jed which was easily converted by Laidlaw.

Next up was a yellow card against one of Kelso’s recruit’s from Hawick when Lowrie was yellow carded for a technical infringement. Jed was quick to punish Kelso when after some pressure Ross Goodfellow charged down his opposite numbers clearance kick to score Jed’s third try.

Kelso then scored the best try of the day after some superb support play captain Richard Minto scored in the corner which was too far out to be converted. Jed’s Steven Scott was then sin binned however Jed still managed to get the final score when Laidlaw converted a penalty to make the final score 23 – 11 in Jed’s favour.

Jed’s next two games are at home against Falkirk and league leaders Stewarts Melville and would welcome as much home support as we can muster, wins against these teams will go a long way to ensuring a top 4 finish

The sun was shining at riverside when both teams took to the field on a pitch cut for running rugby.

Jed started the scoring after 9 minutes when Gregor Young latched onto a Gillespie pass after a break from inside his half to score wide on the Peebles line, Chris Laidlaw converted. Peebles then defended for much of the remainder of the half until Ross Goodfellow scored on the 39th minute which Chris Laidlaw again converting to make the halftime score 14 – 0 in Jeds favour.

Straight after the half time break David Gobby killed the game for Peebles with an opportunist try which Chris Laidlaw again converting, Peebles then took the game to Jed but the home sides defence held firm and sure, Jed scored in the 59th minute after the ball was passed from one side to another with Andrew Nagle taking a pass from off his toes then moving the ball to Gregor Young to score in the corner, Laidlaw was unable to convert.

Peebles were rewarded after some constant pressure on the Jed line with a try after a well worked lineout move scored by second row Kenny Clyde.

Jed-Forest were 15 points down after only 10 minutes play after Whitcraigs caught them cold scoring two tries a conversion and kicking a penalty.

Jeds first points came after 30 minutes when Chris Laidlaw kicked a penalty, this was quickly followed by a try from Gregor Young after the ball was moved wide breaking from the halfway line up the touch line to score under the posts Laidlaw converted then just before half time Laidlaw again kicked a penalty to make the halftime score 15-13.

It wasnt long after half time that Gregor Young got his second try after the Jed forwards began taking more control in set piece play, Jed began to throw the ball wide at every opertunity and were rewarded when Young scored his third try after 55 minutes which was then converted by Laidlaw, not to be outdone by his brother Lewis Young finished the scoring for Jed after another break from halfway.

Final score Whitecraigs 15 – Jedforest 30.

What a difference a week makes, the Jed backs were on fire scoring a bonus point try after 28 minutes, the Jed pack with several late call offs due to injury played out their skins to give our backs enough ball to have the game out of site by half time.

• David Gobby try 2Mins
• Convertion Chris Laidlaw

• Ross Goodfellow try 9 mins
• Conversion Chris Laidlaw

• Watsonians Penalty 12 mins

• David Gobby try 20 mins
• Conversion Chris Laidlaw.

• Gregor Young try after midfield break by Scott Raeburn 25mins.

• Ross Godfellow try 30 mins.
• Conversion Chris laidlaw.

• Darren Gillespie try after 40 mins.

• Gregor young try after 42mins.
• Conversion Chris Laidlaw.

• Half time Jed 43 – 3

• Michael Wheekly try 58 mins man of the match for his defensive work and ball carrying.
• Conversion Chris Laidlaw.

• Watsonians try 61 mins.

• Watsonians try 70 mins

• Chris Laidlaw try 80th minute.

• Final Score 55 - 13
_________________________________________

Nobody would think that both teams finished top of the C division last season on this show.

The game was a stop and start affair with everyone knowing who was in control by the way the game was refereed, however it was not only the man in the middle to blame for the performance on field. Jed made to many basic errors in their handling to make this entertaining, tries were scored by Darren Gillespie after 20 minutes then on the stroke of half time Hills kicked a penalty to make the score 5 – 3 at half time, shortly after half time Hills scored another penalty after Gillespie was carded for killing the ball, Jed were then made to work hard to get into the Hills half and were camped on their line for the last quarter with a try to David Grieve after some driving mauls . Final score was 13 – 6, Chris Laidlaw had kicked a second half penalty. A marked improvement will be needed if we are to compete with Watsonians next week.

Jed were left deflated after the final whistle out scoring West by 5 tries to 4, Jed’s penalty count cost them dear giving away over 20 penalties against West who only conceded 5, strangely it was a West player that was yellow carded for consistent infringements.

Jed secured a four try bonus point during the first half, with tries coming from Kevin Aitchison after 12 minutes then quickly followed by David Gobby and Gregor Young, the four try bonus point was secured by Darren Gillespie’s try on forty minutes three of these tries were converted by Ewan Scott to take the half time score to 26-10 with Jed firmly in control.

Shortly after the break West scored a converted try, this was quickly followed by Jed last try by Neil Cook, Jed started to crumble after this with penalty decisions keeping them on the back foot, West scored two converted tries to make the score level with ten minutes to go, two penalties were converted by West during the last ten minutes to take the game agonisingly away from Jed, a red card to captain Cook in the 79th minute just added to Jed’s frustrations, Jed collected two bonus points from the game which many teams will struggle to find visiting Burnbrae this season.

Jed-Forest became the first local club to play a competitive rugby match this season and looked sharp as they ran in 12 tries to overwhelm Haddington in the Booker Border League Pool B match at Riverside Park. The game was supposed to have been played at Haddington but the Midlothian club asked for the game to be switched to Jed-Forest, a decision which certainly didn't help their cause.

Within the first quarter Jed had wrapped up the bonus point scoring four tries and had two disallowed. In the end it was a stroll in the park as five of the team collected a brace of tries - David Gobby, Gregor Young, Ewan Scott, Darren Gillespie and Robert Hogg. Captain Neil Cook and Michael Weekley were also on the score sheet with Ewan Scott bagging six conversions.

Just back from Percy Park. The boys played really well in first 2 sessions not bad in the 3rd but did tire in the last period. We won by 8 tries to 7 there were some really good displays in the centre by Big Kev Atchinson a new recruit from Duns and also the kielder Beast Andy Irons another recruit from Tyndale Lets hope the boys keep progressing to next week and rest of the season Gid luck boys.

Former Jedforest scrum half Greig Laidlaw, who many have predicted will be included in the Scotland World Cup party to New Zealand, has been given a boost by being named today as captain of Edinburgh Rugby. Former Gala back row forward Roddy Grant has been named as his vice captain.

Greig, who has won two caps for Scotland so far at scrum half, has also been playing at fly half and as a quality goal kicker as well, has illustrated that his versatility is a huge asset to any team he plays in. He is no stranger to the captain's role either. He skippered Scotland A at Netherdale last season.

"It's a great honour to be named captain of Edinburgh," he said. "I enjoy leading from the front and the six years at the club has made me who I am."

New Edinburgh coach Mike Bradley has been very impressed with the popular Borderer, who is of course the nephew of Roy Laidlaw.

"He is a quality player who reflects key values that I want to see at Edinburgh. He is a great leader and has won respect of everyone. I am sure the professionalism Greig and Roddy bring to the club will help Edinburgh grow and prosper."