Borders off the mark
September 27, 2002

Borders celebrated their Netherdale debut with their first competitive win -a 28-13 triumph that leaves Celtic League champions Leinster almost certain not to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Centre Kevin Utterson was the big star, grabbing a first-half try, setting up another and landing a series of vital kicks.

Utterson drew first blood with a confidently-taken penalty in the fourth minute after the Irishmen were guilty of diving over the top in a ruck.

He stroked over another penalty for scrummage collapse - then burst through for the crucial opening touchdown.

Nikki Walker made the initial thrust with a charge into enemy territory to set-up a lineout.

Gregor Townsend then created the time and space for Utterson with a half-break - allowing the centre to cruise in under the crossbar to give himself a simple conversion.

Test man Brian O'Meara got Leinster off the mark with a penalty two minutes after the restart - but Borders were soon back in the groove.

Townsend and Utterson were in the thick of things before breakaway forward Semo Sititi powered through. Utterson added the goal.

Then it all threatened to go wrong. Borders were reduced to 13 men when Matt Taylor and Paul Thomson were sinbinned.

And Leinster powered back into the contest with touchdowns from John McWeeney and Ben Gissing - with O'Meara converting one and adding a penalty to cut the deficit to just two.

But Utterson eased the jitters with another excellent kick.

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