Chieftans make it clear they are in charge as Boroughmuir slip down to rock bottom
Currie rose to second place in the Premiership while Boroughmuir slipped to bottom of the table after this entirely predictable derby result, writes William Paul.
The Chieftans have a spring in their step as they hit a rich seam of form which will be tested on Saturday when they welcome league leaders Melrose, who will be smarting after losing for the first time this season against Ayr at the weekend.
By contrast, Boroughmuir are stumbling forlornly in the relegation zone, looking like a good team in flashes but unable to keep it together for more than short periods.
Muir coach Peter Wright said: “Currie are playing the best I have seen them in quite some time. We were in the game at half-time but in the second half they just blew us away.”
Currie coach Ben Cairns said: “We didn’t take all the opportunities we created but I’d be more worried if we weren’t creating those opportunities. We made quite a few mistakes and we need to have a little more composure to be able to finish things off at times. However, to beat anyone in the Prem by 40 points you’ve done pretty well and I have to be pleased with that.”
Half-a-dozen home tries dispatched the visitors in surprisingly good conditions and a firm pitch that allowed both sides to play expansive running rugby, only Currie proved to be much better at it.
Blindside flanker Mike Vernel crashed over under the posts in the first few minutes and lock Luke Crosbie did the same at the other end in the final minutes.
In between there was a penalty try flowing directly from the dominance of the Chieftans’ pack, and other scores for Richie Vernon, one of three pros in Currie colours, skipper Robbie Nelson and stand-off Jamie Forbes who also added the rest of the points with his boot. It will be small consolation but Boroughmuir can claim to have scored the best try of the day, selecting a cracker from their tactical play-book. First No 8 Craig Keddie rose above everyone else at a lineout to set up a driving maul that provided quick ball that went straight to stand-off Chris Laidlaw who, almost without looking, pivoted and kicked to the corner where winger Grant Mcconnell waited to collect and fall over the line with static defenders looking on impotently. Laidlaw’s conversion from the touchline was good, too.
Unfortunately for Boroughmuir, that was a good as it got before Currie moved up a gear and the tries began mounting up. With five on the board and Currie stretching away, Mcconnell was sin-binned for resorting to a deliberate knock-on as the only way to keep them out.