Dunbar RFC v Murrayfield Wanderers FC
Saturday 15th November 2025
Match Report and Photos by Alex Coull
Dunbar 53 – Murrayfield Wanderers 22
Dunbar welcomed fourth placed Murrayfield Wanderers to Hallhill in the concluding game of the first half of East Region League 1 fixtures.
On a bitterly cold afternoon both teams took the field intent on playing high tempo rugby hoping to keep the watching spectators as warm as possible. Murrayfield Wanderers were first to threaten, and excellent combination play saw them create space for their left winger to outsprint the home defence and score out wide, An excellent conversion kick followed, and the visitors were leading by seven points.
Stung by this early reverse the home forwards launched a series of driving mauls and quick recycling allowed the backs the opportunity to test the visiting defence and a side entry penalty afforded Dunbar with a straightforward kick in front of the posts which Robbie Cockburn sent between the sticks,
The visitors however were in confident mood, and their forwards were rewarded with a penalty which was duly dispatched into the home twenty-two. The lineout throw was accurate, and a series of drives tied in the home defence and after some slick hands the space was created for a back row forward to dive over for a try in the corner. The conversion attempt drifted wide.
The home side continued to vary their attacks but in general were met with doughty defence which frustrated both home players and spectators alike and another visit to the away twenty-two resulted in another penalty which was duly dispatched between the uprights taking the score to 6 -12.
Both teams enjoyed spells of possession and after a loose lineout by the visitors resulted in an excellent break by Ross Thomson who was only denied by a latch-ditch tap tackle. Back came the visitors who turned the home backs with astute kicking but when the home side tried to broke blind only for a Murrayfield intercepted pass to come to an abrupt half after an unfortunate knock on. Grateful of this lucky escape the home side encamped themselves in the away twenty-two and they took a series of short penalties which saw the ball finally moved at pace and Thomas Usher came off his own wing to create the overlap and plunge over from close range. Robbie Cockburn converted and the home side enjoyed the lead for the first time.
The match continued to see each team test the other’s defensive systems and a rare, missed home tackle and slick interplay saw a Murrayfield back row forward take an inside pass to dive over in the corner. The conversion kick drifted wide and the visitor’s enjoyed a 17 – 12 lead at half time.
Dunbar kicked off the second half with a steely determination to take the game to their visitors, and they were rewarded when they managed to steal the ball and quick hands gave Mike Wimbledon-Hall the opportunity to outstrip the covering defenders and stroll over for a try. A successful conversion followed, and the home side now lead 20 – 17.
This early reverse clearly shocked the away side, and the home team were gaining in confidence and next to the fore was Callum Harding who drove hard and stretched the visiting defence, and they were relieved when Dunbar were deemed held up right under the bar. Murrayfield kept themselves under pressure when the resulting dropout went out on the full. Back came the home side and when yet another loose lineout was snaffled by Callum Harding and he then drove deep into the twenty-two and gave a well-timed pass to the supporting Ewan Patrizio saw him crash over by the posts for a well-deserved try.
The home side’s tails were up and after a home kick ahead saw the visitors launch a counterattack from just outside their own twenty-two it was an ever-alert Robbie Cockburn who intercepted the pass to turn defence into attack and outsprint the would-be tacklers to score the bonus point try in the corner. The conversion slipped by but the score was now 32 – 17.
The home pressure was now incessant, and it was the home backs who moved the ball at pace to Mike Wimbledon-Hall who took advantage of a slip by a Murrayfield centre to burst through and streak clear for an excellent solo and team bonus point try. Robbie Cockburn converted and the score was now 39 – 17.
The rampant home side continued to keep the visitors under the cosh and good strong running saw Mike Wimbledon-Hall burst through and side-step his way clear to stroll over for his hat-trick try. Another conversion followed and it was the home side who sensed a half century was now possible.
The game now entered the last ten minutes the improved second half performance saw the home support treated to a seventh try when after another spell of forward drives the ball was given to Euan MacRury who powered his way over by the posts. Robbie Cockburn slotted over the easy conversion to increase the score to 53 – 17.
There was still time for another pirating off the ball at a ruck and Prop Jack Gabbatiss went for a grubber kick which eventually allowed Murrayfield to clear. The visitors ended the game on a high when good interplay between forwards and backs saw space created for their winger to squeeze in the corner for a try bonus point.
The conversion kick drifted wide and referee Paul Rendle blew for full time with the home side in the end relying on their superior fitness and patience to secure a handsome win by 53 – 22.
This Saturday sees the first of the reverse fixtures take place with Broughton visiting Hallhill K.O. 2pm.
