Puffin Gannets versus Chicago Frogs (Saturday 6th September)

The final match of the Golden Oldies Festival was between the Puffin Gannets and The Chicago Frogs. It kicked off at a fast and furious pace with both sides running and handling well. From the word go it was clear that these two well matched teams were both up for it! Team selector/coach Grant Denholm had twenty five able body men raring to go along with big Glenda who was limbering up on the touch line waiting for the nod from Granty. A great covering tackle after only seven minutes of the game played stopped the Frogs from forging ahead in the match. Unfortunately Robin Grant had to leave the field injured and his service was badly missed. The puffins fought on tirelessly trying to get the first score of the match but some good defensive play from the Frogs kept the first period of play scoreless.The players although playing on the coldest day so far were seen to take on more water at the break than usual showing what this first half had taken out of them.
The puffins started the second half playing into a stiff breeze and up the hill. But within minutes of the restart Stuart MacIntyre made a great break from the half way line and passed to the safe hands of Peter Sanderson who passed to Jason Logan who sprinted at pace for the first try of the match. Within minutes Jason Logan put in a tackle to stop what would have been a certain try for the Frogs. The Frogs within minutes were back and after some ferocious play managed to breach the resolute Puffin line for their first try of the match. At this point and after one hundred and forty eight minutes of play on came Johnny (The Doc ) Macnair for the first time in the tournament. From some open play on the Frogs ten yard line super fit Abbin Anderson picked up the ball and went for the line to score a fine try. Both sides at this point were putting on rolling subs as the pace of the game was fast and hard. With four minutes to go before the end of the second period the Frogs scored a well taken try through their former American international No8 and fly half to bring the score to two tries a piece the end of the second twenty minute period.
The teams were evenly matched at this point. The Frogs from Chicago which has twenty five rugby union sides in the city of eleven million people have more players to call on than the Puffin Gannets who hail from North Berwick,Dunbar,Dirleton,Gullane,Aberlady and The Boggs Holdings.
Glenda our ex referee was sufficiently warmed up and took the field at number eight for several memorable minutes and a couple of good tackles before retiring to the sideline. Some very good rugby was being played as both teams were looking for the next score. Almost end to end rugby played in the very best of spirit. A break down the left wing with handling by six or seven players ending with a super pass from Abbin Anderson to Iain Maclean who used all his weight to fall over the line for a try which proved to be the match winner. Try as they did for the next six minutes the Frogs were stopped on several attempts from crossing the Puffin Gannets line. The large crowd which included Mummy Dooner and a few of their children along with Mummy Hart our oldest supporter showed their appreciation for a well fought match which included some excellent rugby.