EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

Point of the bonus rule proves downfall for Stew/Mel
BILL LOTHIAN
STEWART'S/MELVILLE rugby president Gordon Rigby has bravely admitted his club played "naively" in being relegated, through failure to exploit the bonus point rule.

Stew/Mel, whose fate was sealed in their first season back in the BT Premiership's Division One when Boroughmuir defeated Heriot's on Saturday, won more matches than four of the teams who survived and the same number - 11 - as confirmed third-place outfit, Aberdeen Grammar FPs. Said Rigby: "What we discovered was teams deliberately killing a game in order to collect one losing bonus point."




Teams finishing within a single score of the victors receive a bonus point - likewise those who score four tries in a match.

And Rigby added: "Early in the season we could have had a few more points if we had gone out like teams who were pre-occupied with shutting things down so as to stay in close touch rather than try to win.

"Naively, Stewart's/Melville tried to play rugby because that is what our guys get coached to do with the ethos of our club being to use the width of the pitch."

Such was the influence of bonus points that had a football-style scoring system been operating then Stew/Mel would have finished equal fifth in a 12-team competition.

That was of no comfort to Rigby whose focus is on ensuring the club retain some home grown players whose development he regards as the club's purpose.

He said: "What devastated us was losing at Watsonians.

"There we lost in the last minute fielding 12 players from Stewart's/Melville [college] against 12 from the Southern Hemisphere."

And in a reference to Joslin Rowe Recruitment Service boss Martin Krajewski, he added: "What increased our hurt was that Watsonians had a guy bankrolling them to the extent of £250,000 a year."

Turning to other rivals, Rigby looked to the one place in the league ahead of runners-up 'Sonians, to the champions and added: "What we also found ourselves up against was a Glasgow Hawks side who take out adverts, as shown last week in the newspapers, encouraging players to go to them for trials."

Contrasting that approach Rigby placed emphasis on self-development for clubs in Scotland.

"Developing players has to be our role because clubs have been seen to be unable to sustain rugby any other way than supporting the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Borders pro team approach."

Critics would argue that the perceived need for a centralist approach is undermined by Scottish wins at under-21 level over the past two seasons against England and Ireland since the picture isn't as bleak as the authorities seeking to retain control would suggest.

Rigby, however, disagrees and hits back, saying: "Scotland's recent win record at under-19 level is only 11 per cent and at under-21 level 14 per cent.

"Additionally there has just been one win over a Sanzar country in five years and the under-19s have just lost 78-3 to Australia."

But couldn't supporting the central approach rebound on Stew/Mel who gave up six players to representative rugby during the run-in to their ultimately unsuccessful season?

Rigby says the club hope to convince the authorities not to re-locate proposed additional central contractees to Division One clubs next season.

"Our management, coaches and senior players will meet on Tuesday to end the current period of limbo and discuss the way ahead.

"Early contact will have to be made with Edinburgh and the SRU so as to learn where we stand in terms of keeping our best youngsters who have benefited from an unparalleled club coaching system in the Capital."

Those apprenticed to Edinburgh are Ross Rennie, David McCall and Andrew Easson.

Rigby added: "The aim will be to persuade Murrayfield that players returning from their academies for games should go to their club of origin rather than Premier Division One outfits as has happened in the past. Among those who have now left us for New Zealand are Paul Wharakura and Hoti Asi and it could be tough to hang on to other players.

"Some may be talking right now to rival clubs and I know from being on both sides of the fence there is no love lost between the Premiership clubs, mostly viewed as doing less to bring on talent, and others who claim to have had their youngsters poached. We take pride in our coaching infrastructure and the situation has certainly changed from when we left the top flight in 1995.

"Then, professionalism was just coming in and players could still turn out as amateurs for Stew/Mel while being paid to represent Edinburgh.

"Nowadays few would want to move on for, say, £12,000 a year when many of our lads in any case are studying to enter professions such as medicine etc."

Off field matters are also a major concern with Rigby acknowledging: "Gate receipts this season jumped from £4,500 to £18,500 so that is another consideration albeit there should be four more games as things stand in Division Two; sponsors will also have to be contacted to ascertain their position regarding the lower level."

Reconstruction could still save Stewart's/Melville if a motion is put forward to this year's SRU annual meeting calling for plans to drop from 12 to ten teams next season to be scrapped.

While keeping an open mind, Rigby says: "We are interested in a proposal from Stirling County to expand the leagues again bearing in mind the original idea came from SRU chief executive Gordon McKie, who asked clubs to think carefully before committing to a reduction in numbers at top level.

"Not everyone is motivated by self-interest; for example Currie, who have finished fourth and are in the Cup Final, prefer a system based on more games."

Typically, Rigby refused to cry wolf either about the bonus point system, adding: "In the past bonuses have worked for us including when we pipped Edinburgh Acads for promotion from Division Three to Two so here we can have no complaints. On the subject of reconstruction we wouldn't refuse a bigger league."

This article was posted on 19-Apr-2006, 19:57 by Hugh Barrow.