Hoffie’s three-try burst paves the away for Watson’s success

STEWART’SMELVILLE

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Three excellently taken tries inside23minutesfromgeorge Watson’s winger Angus Hoffie set the tone for the Under-16 Schools’ Cup final at Murrayfield last night. Although there was a brave rally from Stewart’s Melville during ten minutes either side of half-time, Watson’s held their nerve to secure a comfortable victory over their capital rivals.

Stewart’s Melville dominated the opening exchanges, and had a golden chance to grab the lead with an overlap on the right, but Nuhan Hus- sain couldn’t quite hold on to the ball. Watson’s, on the other hand, were deadly once they managed to establish some field position and territory, with Hoffie demonstrating not only raw pace but the ability to hit a devastating line, on his way to a well-taken try from a simple scrum manoeuvre.

The impressive winger went one better on 20 minutes with a powerful surge up the right wing, sweeping past two defenders, on his way to the line; and the hat-trick was in the bag three minutes later, when Hoffie appeared in midfield and scrambled in under the posts.

Stewart’s Melville snatched a foothold just before the break when second-row Aaron Robertson rumbled over from close range, and the deficit was wiped out within a few min-

0 George Watson’s players celebrate as they lift the U16 trophy. utes of the resumption with two quickfire tries from left wing Joshua Grant.

However, Watson’s quickly reasserted their authority. Stand-off Alex Harley broke from midfield to score under the posts, quickly followed by centre Angus Cousin coming in from the right.

Any lingering hope Stewart’s Melville may have had of causing an upset evaporated when Olly Snodgrass squeezed over for try number six. Rory Stephen, Gregor Scougall and Harley (for his second) got in on the act before man-of-thematch Hoffie appropriately finished off the scoring in the last play of the match.

Hoffie also contributed 14 points with the boot through seven successful conversions, to take his total tally for the day to 34 points. Duhan van der Merwe has revealed he is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his Edinburgh team-mates and countrymen WP Nel and Cornell du Preez by staying in Scotland and qualifying for the national team through residency.

The 22-year-old South Africa-born winger, who signed for Edinburgh on a two-year deal in the summer after leaving French side Montpellier Hérault, represented the Springboks at Under-20 level and also played for their U18 sevens team but could qualify to play for Scotland by 2020 if he stays at Edinburgh.

The rules on residency are set to change in 2019, meaning players signed after the Rugby World Cup will have to live in a country for five years in order to qualify for that nation.

Van der Merwe told STV: “My long-term goal is to stay here for a few years and maybe qualify to play for Scotland. That is my ambition, I am hoping that can happen.”

Scotland leapt ahead of the Springboks in the world rankings earlier this month as political feuding and financial issues take their toll on South African rugby. As a result, a number of players are turning to other leagues, such as those in Australia, Japan and Europe.

Van der Merwe added: “I have always wanted to play international rugby but with all the stuff going on in South Africa I just decided that I was never going to get the opportunity to play there. I didn’t initially think about coming over here just to be eligible to play [for Scotland] after three years.” But van der Merwe revealed he asked about it when Edinburgh first made contact, and was told ‘if you are good enough [after three years] then you will be eligible [for Scotland].”

“I thought that was a good thing,” van der Merwe continued.

Meanwhile, Italy international Michele Rizzo has been recalled by Leicester from his loan spell at Edinburgh as cover for injured prop Ellis Genge who requires shoulder surgery.