The Barbarians ran in 15 sparkling tries in a 97-31 win against Heriot’s in the Investec Cup match that celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Edinburgh club.
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
Heriot’s 31 Barbarians 97
Chrysander Botha (Exeter Chiefs) touched down four times on one flank and Joshua Adams (Scarlets) scored a hat-trick on the other as the famous invitation side ran up the third biggest total in a cosmopolitan history that also began in 1890.
The rest of the Barbarians tries were shared by Scotland lock Scott MacLeod (Newcastle Falcons), England flanker Chris Jones, Canada full back James Pritchard (Bedford Blues), Scotland scrum half Grayson Hart (Edinburgh), Aled Thomas (Gloucester), Ali Price (Glasgow), Aled Summerhill (Cardiff Blues) and USA prop Titi Lamositele (Saracens).
Another five minutes and they might have overtaken the 104 points scored against the East Midlands in 2004 but Heriot’s dug in and scored five tries of their own.
Colin Goudie touched down twice with Max Learmouth, Jamie Syme and Chris Mulligan all getting in on the act.
The Barbarians were captained by Gordon Ross, the London Welsh player-coach returning to his former club after a 13-year absence.
“It was a really nice atmosphere and from the playing point of view Heriot’s really bought into it - they had a real crack and it turned out fantastically well,” said Ross.
“The Barbarians coaches and the management have done a really good job in making it enjoyable and encouraging us to play with a smile on our face. We made a couple of mistakes and we knew that would happen. We scored a lot of tries and a lot of points - some excellent individual play and some excellent team stuff.”
The likes of Botha, back after a five month absence following an ankle dislocation, and Saracens’ flanker James Hankin, took their chance to shine.
“There were a lot of guys desperate for the game time, coming back from injury or a bit frustrated and wanting to play. When you have young guys with that sort of attitude and it’s a Barbarians game you can’t go too far wrong,” added Ross.
Ten tries and 64 points were shared in a breathless first half with Botha completing his hat-trick within 15 minutes and adding a fourth five minutes before the break.
Adams streaked through the middle to collect a cross kick for the Barbarians’ fourth and Pritchard traded passes with Gordon Ross before adding the sixth.
Edinburgh scrum half Hart added the seventh touchdown with a powerful run but Heriot’s dug in after being overwhelmed in the opening half-hour.
Learmouth and Goudie had run back long and short-range interceptions and then they sustained a spell of pressure with lock Syme powering over by the posts with Graham Wilson adding his second successful conversion.
Goudie’s second try was a gem of a chip and regather effort and replacement Mulligan bashed past tacklers for a fifth for the hosts.
But the high quality Barbarians scores kept on coming - MacLeod and Jones from close range, Thomas cruising over on the right and Adams twice outstripping defenders down the left to complete his treble.
Replacement scrum half Price and wing Summerhill increased the tally before USA prop Lamositele strolled over on the final play.
The Barbarians’ biggest totals
East Midlands 10 Barbarians 104 (Northampton 17.03.2004)
East Midlands 54 Barbarians 99 (Northampton 29.03.2000)
Heriot’s 31 Barbarians 97 (Edinburgh 21.04.2015)
Match details
Heriot’s: Charlie Simpson; Harry Boisseau, Liam Steele, Max Learmouth, Colin Goudie; Stuart Edwards, Graham Wilson; Nathan Borel, Stewart Mustard (captain), Struan Cessford, Russell Nimmo, Jamie Syme, Jamie Ritchie, Jack McLean, Jason Hill.
Replacements: Davy MacGregor for Cessford 41, JP Ward for Borel 41, Ben Cogley for Nimmo 41, Chris Mulligan for McLean 41, Davie Somerville for Wilson 41, Gregor McNeish for Edwards 41, Keith Buchan for Simpson 35, Jamie Mackinnon for Hill 41, George Turner for Ritchie 41, Murray McCallum for Mustard 60, Davie McMaster for Steele 41.
Scorers: Tries: Goudie 2, Learmouth, Syme, Mulligan. Conversions: Wilson 2, Mustard.
Barbarians: James Pritchard* (Bedford Blues); Chrysander Botha* (Exeter), Sireli Naqelevuki* (Exeter Chiefs), Aled Thomas (Gloucester), Joshua Adams (Scarlets); Gordon Ross* (London Welsh, captain), Grayson Hart* (Edinburgh); Aston Croall (Blackheath), Mike Mayhew (London Irish), Bruce Douglas* (Cardiff), Scott MacLeod* (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low* (London Irish), Chris Morgan (Cornish Pirates), Matt Hankin (Saracens), Chris Jones* (Yorkshire Carnegie).
Replacements: Neil Cochrane (Edinburgh) for Mayhew 41, Alan Brown (Dundee High) for Croall 41, Titi Lamositele* (Saracens) for Douglas 41, 19 Laurie McGlone (Cornish Pirates) for Low 55, James Eddie (Glasgow) for Jones 61, Ali Price (Glasgow) for Hart 41, Ian McKinley (Viadana) for Botha 55, Aled Summerhill (Cardiff Blues) for Naqelevuki 52.
Scorers: Tries: Botha 4, Adams 3, MacLeod 2, Pritchard, Hart, Thomas, Price, Summerhill, Lamositele. Conversions: Pritchard 7, Thomas 3, Ross.
Referee: David Changleng (SRU)
