Currie Chiefs raise roof in historic match to secure a home tie in title play-offs

HERIOT’S 19 47

Currie Chieftains’ hat-trick hero Ben Robbins enjoyed the experience of playing indoors on Saturday and believes the surface helped his team play the fast style of rugby they aim to each week, writes Gary Heatly.

The 47-19 win for Ben Cairns’ men mean they will finish second in the BT Premiership and will have a home semifinal in the play-offs.

And Robbins, pictured right, and scrum-half Charlie Shiel in particular seemed to find the Oriam pitch to their liking, bagging five tries between them in the first top-flight match to be played under a roof in Scotland.

After his three tries Robbins said: “I really enjoyed playing the game at Oriam. It was certainly different than the pitches we are used to but it was great to get the game on and I think all of our backline found it good. Heriot’s put up a tough fight but after halftime we managed to get away from them and it is just good to know that we will be at home in the play-offs.”

Currie got off to a good start, but it was Heriot’s who struck first and tries by back-row Iain Wilson and winger Rob Kay put them 12-0 up.

The Currie fightback began 11 minutes from the break with a try by co-captain Fergus Scott which Shiel converted. They were 14-12 up six minutes later when Shiel scored a converted try of his own and then a third score by Robbins made it 19-12 to the visitors. Into the second half and Currie took control of this one.

Robbins (two), second-row Mike Vernel and Shiel went over for further tries to make it 47-12.

Liam Steele and Callum Mackintosh were then yellow carded for both sides before Heriot’s got a consolation score through back-row Michael Maltman, but it was Currie’s day.

0 A Heriot’s scrum during the first indoor top-flight game in Scotland.