Young gun Dewar stars for triumphant Heriot's

HERIOT'S supersub Struan Dewar has pointed to the growing confidence in the Goldenacre ranks as one of the key factors in Saturday's hugely-impressive 33-24 Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership win over defending champions Boroughmuir at Meggetland.

Dewar and his colleagues trailed 14-6 at the break against a 'Muir side that had shown only rare glimpses of the attributes that brought them the silverware in style last season.

However, the teenage back rower stamped his mark on a contest that was played out in front of a live television audience as the trailblazing fixture for the BBC Alba agreement. Introduced at the break, Dewar added greater solidity to the visitors' pack and snatched the critical try with ten minutes left to play.

Heriot's opened the scoring with a Graham Wilson penalty after six minutes but fell behind to two examples of the finishing power that had seen 'Muir move into second place in the league table despite failing to rediscover the irresistible form of last season. First scrum half Calum Cusiter did the spadework for Tom Bury to touch down. Elgan O'Donnell added the conversion, as he did when Bronson Ross dived over from a close range ruck for try number two. Wilson ended the half with another penalty to reduce the deficit, but, at that stage, it was the home side that looked as if they would again post a win without performing at their best.

"It was difficult watching from the bench. The boys were sticking in there but they just weren't getting ahead," said Dewar.

And the home side tightened their grip with a penalty by O'Donnell. However, the momentum gradually swung Heriot's way when Wilson slotted his second penalty then winger Dave McCall grabbed two tries in less than ten minutes.

For the first, he showed impressive handling skills, picking up a pass at ankle level and powering in. Then his alertness allowed him to intercept on half way and gallop over to edge Heriot's ahead.

'Muir raised the pace and sought to overturn that slender two point gap but Dewar applied a devastating blow when he gathered just inside the home half and swept past three defenders to score between the sticks and leave Wilson a simple conversion.

"It didn't really open up so I just had to find a gap and when I did I just kept on going. Just feet work I guess," was the explanation of the modest 19-year-old, who has played for Scotland at Under-18 and Under-19 level and is a member of the sevens squad.

And the job was completed when Colin Goudie darted through a gap in the 'Muir defence to chalk up the bonus point try.

"It was crucial to get the bonus point and I think we all knew that it was there if we just kept going," added Dewar.

And while Bury darted in for a late converted try, it was of little consolation as the Clark Cup headed across the city – the first silverware added to the Goldenacre trophy cabinet under the stewardship of delighted coach Bob McKillop. And he paid tribute to Dewar's contribution, saying: "I thought Struan changed the game with his catching of kick offs and returning them up the pitch, the way he finished his try. And he wins good lineout ball for us and spoils the opposition lineout.

"He is a very talented young man and I was very pleased with the way he played."

In the home camp, there was some relief that results elsewhere meant the damage to 'Muir's title defence was limited.

Assistant coach Brian Richardson is confident that his men will be ready for next week's trip to face leaders Ayr.

"Everybody knows that we didn't perform to our best and we have to work on it on Tuesday and Thursday. We have a massive game next week at Ayr which will drive the guys on," he said, before conceding that the result had been a fair reflection of the game. "I thought we were second best. We played our best rugby early in the first half and at the every end when we managed to keep the ball. The rest of the time, we couldn't keep the ball long enough, Heriot's capitalised and in the end I thought they deserved the victory."

For McKillop, whose side now sit third in the table, the task in hand is to ensure a repeat performance in next week's Capital derby at home to Edinburgh Accies.

"The challenge for me is to make sure I get that level of mental and physical performance next week. Accies will pose a different challenge for us but we have to make sure we get ourselves ready," he concluded.

Scorers:

Boroughmuir: Tries: Bury (2), Ross. Cons: O'Donnell (2), Bury. Pens: O'Donnell

Heriot's: Tries: McCall (2), Dewar, Goudie. Cons: Wilson (2). Pens: Wilson (3)

Boroughmuir: G Cottrell, T Bury, M Clapperton, E O'Donnell, E Mills, M Cannon, C Cusiter, C Costigan, B Ross, F Lait, F Pringle, G Scott, O Brown, A Martyn, E Matheson. Subs Used: N Malloy, S Waddell, B Fisher

Heriot's: C Goudie, D McCall, G Thomson, R Mill, S Bell, G Rutherford, G Wilson, A Dymock, S Burnett, I Brown, T McVie, I Nimmo, J Parker, C Fusaro, J Syme. Subs Used: F Gillies, W Blacklock, S Dewar

Referee: T Coutts (Watsonians)