Last Saturday Marr thrilled the big home support with some fantastic, slick rugby as they hit Aberdeen Grammar for nine.
The first fifteen minutes of rugby was simply sublime, as Marr tore into their far travelled opponents, scoring four tries in a Blitzkrieg fifteen minute spell.
It was Marr hooker Olli Rossi that started the show with some powerful running, eventually breaking free to show his pace and touch down after only four minutes.
Immediately, Marr retained possession from the kick off and mauled their way to the Aberdeen 22m and recycled quick ball, only for Marr standoff Colin Surgeon to avoid any tackles and score beneath the posts.
Barely five minutes later with Grammar still looking shell shocked, Marr once again put another long phase together, resulting in Conor Bickerstaff creating an overlap for Marr’s young winger Jack Scott to score in the corner.
On the quarter of an hour mark, Captain Conor Bickerstaff chose a great line off a set piece and with his electric pace proved unstoppable to score Marr’s bonus point try.
Mackenzie Pearce then left the pitch with a leg knock but this did not hamper Marr’s attacking prowess.
Next Robert Brown broke free and charged up the park 50 metres and just before he was going to be tackled, put in a lovely grubber kick for Gregor Paxton to sprint onto. However his efforts were thwarted by some excellent Aberdeen defence, holding him up over the line. From the resulting five metre scrum Marr looked certain to score again, however as Jack Preston threw the certain try making pass, Aberdeen centre Tom Aplin intercepted the pass 5 metres from his own try line and sprinted 90 metres to score.
Conor Bickerstaff determined to punish Aberdeen for scoring against his team, repeated his move from 10 minutes previously, by creating an overlap, this time to the benefit of fullback Greg Montgomery to dive over in the corner.
Next it was Greg who became creator when he collected a great pass from Bene Grant and shipped it to winger Scott Bickerstaff in full flight that proved impossible for Grammar to stop.
Half time came at great relief to the away side and gave them time to regroup. Unfortunately for them, the score was 40 points to 7.
The team talk at half time looked like it did not work as Marr soon scored again. Greg Montgomery grabbed his second with an easy run in.
Aberdeen at long last raised their game and managed to stem the flow of Marr tries. They showed some good mauling and some excellent handling in the backs, however they did not manage to penetrate the solid Marr defence.
On the hour mark it was Marr play maker Colin Sturgeon that struck again with a show of ‘how to spot a gap’. Colin showing how he has the reputation of being one of the best 10’s in the Premiership.
One minute later Marr struck again, when Conor Bickerstaff broke free and kicked the ball on for Greg Montgomery to chase. Greg managed to fly hack the ball no less than three times, with the ball finally bouncing into Fraser Grants hands who had ran 60 metres in support. Fraser easily dived over the line to score Marr’s final and ninth try.
Aberdeen again stepped up their defensive game not allowing Marr to cross their line for the remainder of the match.
So it was a great day for the home team and we can now look ahead to attempting to retain the Bill McLaren shield against Marr’s old National 1 rivals, Jed Forest next week.
We know there will be a big support for this match with the prematch meal sold out long ago in eager anticipation.
The half way point in the Tennent’s Premiership has been reached and would any of the Marr support have predicted that Marr would be sitting top and unbeaten all year?
Marr: G Montgomery; S Bickerstaff, G Paxton, C Bickerstaff, J Scott; C Sturgeon, J Preston; W Farquhar, O Rossi, C Henderson, E Hamilton-Bulger, F Grant, M Pearce, R Brown, B Grant. Subs: A Muir, B Sweet, C Cunningham, K Diffenthal, G Ness.
Aberdeen Grammar: A Ovenstone; C Ruxton, S Mills, T Aplin, D Russell; S Knudson, P Ritchie; C Reddish, M Schosser, R Anderson, N Coe, A Robertson, D Wallen, J Spence, W Alton. Subs: T Ryan, VIfy Ojogwu, C Robertson, L Murphy, M Somerville.
Referee: Neil Muir
Scorers –
Marr: Tries: Sturgeon 2, Scott, C Bickerstaff, Rossi, Montgomery 2, S Bickertsaff, F Grant; Con: Sturgeon 8.
Aberdeen Grammar: Try: Aplin; Con: Aplin
Man-of-the-Match: Robert Brown for his non stop action style. Captain Conor Bickerstaff, Colin Sturgeon, Olli Rossi, Ewan Bulger all came close. However when I think about it any of the 20 players used could put their hands up.