Bonus Points at Panmure

Saturday 19 Sep 09, Blairgowrie traveled the relatively short journey to Broughty Ferry for their fourth match of the season against Panmure RFC in the Scottish Hydro Electric Caledonia League Division II.

Within a minute of the kick off Blairgowrie were unlucky not to score through winger Michael Grant after he had fielded a high ball by Gavin Wynd near the half way line only to be stopped inches short of the try line by the Panmure full back. Alas this was about the only high point of the first half for Blairgowrie who gave away possession far too easily allowing Panmure to kick the ball deep into the Blairgowrie half on more than one occasion and it was from a lineout from one of these clearances that Panmure secured the ball to score the first try of the match. Both teams huffed and puffed through the first half with Blairgowrie finally managing to get three points on the board through a Stephen Souter penalty to make the half time score Panmure 5 Blairgowrie 3.

Whatever coach Alan Webster said to the Blairgowrie team during the interval appeared to work with the Blairgowrie forwards upping the tempo and providing much better ball for their backline in the second half. Following a good kick by Stephen Souter deep into Panmure’s 22 meter area Kev Brown picked up the ball from the back of the scrum and drove forward. The ball was in turn recycled by the Blairgowrie back row players with Rory Philips feeding the ball out to Stephen Souter who took the ball at pace but despite being tackled short of the line managed to stretch over the try line for Blairgowrie’s first try of the match which he then duly converted.

Some five minutes later Blairgowrie added a second try after the forwards had driven superbly allowing young scrum half John Cockburn to spin the ball out to the on running Stephen Souter to score his second try of the match. At this point of the match coach Alan Webster introduced himself to the fray and immediately made an impact by driving directly at the Panmure defence thus allowing the ball to be recycled quickly out through the backs with Peter Duncan driving over in the corner for Blairgowrie’s third try. With minutes of the match remaining Blairgowrie knew that one more try would secure a bonus point. Fortunately for the visitors Panmure spilt the ball on their own 22 metre line which Fraser Bissett pounced on and once again the Blairgowrie forwards were on hand to recycle the ball out to the backs allowing Peter Duncan to break through the Panmure defence to score in the last minute of the match which was then converted by Stephen Souter. Final score: Panmure 5 Blairgowrie 27.

Yet again this was a game of two halves with the Blairgowrie squad failing to make any impression on the game in the first half but managing to turn things around in the second half. At the interval it certainly did not look as if Blairgworie would secure a try bonus point but to their credit every member of the squad upped their game after the interval to score four tries. Following the match captain Gavin Wynd thanked referee Tim Harris for his fair and honest refereeing and also thanked Panmure for a good game and for their hospitality after the game. Man of the match points were awarded as follows; Stephen Souter - 1 point, Rory Philips - 2 points and John Cockburn - 3 points and Man of the Match.

Team; Ewan Constable, Robert Larsen, James Buchanan, Al Guild, Andy Barnett, Ewan Morrison, Mark Reddin, Rory Philips, Kev Brown, Neil MacRae, John Cockburn, Gavin Wynd, Fraser Bissett, Peter Duncan, Stevie Stewart, Michael Grant, Stephen Souter, Michael Black, Alan Webster, Liam MacLaren, Ally Walker.

This Saturday (26th) Blairgowrie play hosts to Bannockburn RFC with a 3.00 kick off at the J J Coupar Park. Training at 7.00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the J J Coupar Park. New players always welcome.