The Murrayfield back pitches played host to the Edinburgh Shield Final fixture between MWFC and Musselburgh, the third time these teams have met this season. Unfortunately it would prove to be third time unlucky for the hosts who during the game were no doubt harshly reduced to 14 men within the first quarter of the match.

Murrayfield, fielding one of their strongest teams all season, began the match kicking off towards the ice rink with the glorious Saturday afternoon sun on their backs. In their typical fashion though, Musselburgh started well and used the reliable boot of David O'Hagan to clear the ball from anywhere near their own try line. Perhaps lady luck was watching over Murrayfield early on the game with two kickable penalties sailing wide of the uprights to maintain the score at nil all for the time being. An effective counter ruck on the half way line by Adam McFarlane allowed Murray Johnstone to provide quick ball to the backs. The ball was taken on by Barry Turnbull who passed inside to Chris Dove to race in for a converted try 7-0.

What happened next though left every single person present at the game - whether playing or spectating – mystified and bemused as referee, Graeme Wells, showed a straight red card to 2nd rower Johnny Lyons for an apparent stamping incident at the back of a maul. Whether justified or not, Wandies would have to battle through the next hour of the game with only 14 men on the field.

It didn't take long for the visitors to take advantage of the numerical upper hand. A neatly placed up and under kick bounced cruelly for the retiring Iain Harper and fell straight into the arms of Musselburgh Winger, James Murray who pinned the ears back and crossed the whitewash to level the scoring 7-7. Five minutes later, it was the turn of David O'Hagan to add to the scoreboard without the use of his boot when he took full advantage of a gap in the defence to the right of the sticks increasing the visitors' lead 7-14.

Half Time Score 7-14

Wanderers quickly learned that by keeping the ball within the forwards and playing a tight game, they could assert their dominance and make some good yards up the field. A number of well worked drives had on a couple of occasions brought Wandies close to the opposition try line. Musselburgh too showed that they could play that type of game and quickly worked their way back towards the Wandies try line. Another lapse in concentration in defence allowed the Musselburgh hooker, Rory Chesham, to power over to add to Murrayfield's woes 7-21.

The assistant referee's intervention deep into Musselburgh territory resulted in an unscheduled break in play whilst the officials deliberated over an outburst of swinging arms. The result of the discussion was a penalty award to Wanderers which was dully dispatched into touch by Niall Watson. The lineout was quickly sacked by Musselburgh but the following series of pick and go's by the forward pack battered the visitors defence which finally cracked allowing Nick Hart to go over at short range 14-28. With Wandies seemingly picking up momentum and regaining a foothold in the game, it was against the run of play that the Musselburgh backs delivered a striking blow releasing James Murray on the wing to streak in for their final try of the afternoon 14-28.

With 20 minutes to go and only pride salvageable from the fixture, Wandies took the game to Musselburgh with all 14 players giving everything they had left. The scoreboard however remained unchanged when the referee signalled for the end of the game resulting in Musselburgh lifting the inaugural Edinburgh Regional Shield and booking a National Shield semi final spot against Hawick YM later in the season.

Final Score 14-28

It's this same opponent that Wanderers will face in next week's fixture when Murrayfield travel to the border town to bring the end of the season one game closer.