Last Minute Victory for Blairgowrie

Saturday 24 Oct 09, Blairgowrie traveled to Clackmannanshire for their Scottish Hydro Electric Caledonia League match against Alloa RFC. Blairgowrie started the game with commitment with good breaks by Ryan Walker and Fraser Bissett early in the match but it was the home side who went into an early lead with two converted penalties after Blairgowrie had been penalised for handling on the ground. Alloa continued to pressurise the Blairgowrie defence which eventually resulted in a converted try to put the home side into a 13-0 lead. Blairgowrie responded positively with the forwards driving the ball at every opportunity with Alloa conceding a number of penalties within their own 22 meter area which Blairgowrie opted to run but without success. With the first half drawing to a close Stephen Souter converted two penalties to make the half time score Alloa 13 Blairgowrie 6.

From the restart Blairgowrie went straight into attack and were immediately awarded a penalty which Stephen Souter converted to reduce the deficit but Alloa responded with another penalty midway through the second half. Blairgowrie continued to pressurise the home defence but simple errors and unnecessary knock-ons prevented them from scoring. With 10 minutes of the match remaining the Blairgowrie forwards won a scrum against the head. Number 8  Kev Brown picked up the ball at the base of the scrum and charged at the home defence only to be stopped short of the try line. Kev however managed to release the ball to fellow back rower Neil MacRae who managed to drive over under the posts which was then converted by Stephen Souter to level the scores at 16-16. From the restart Blairgowrie ran the ball straight back at the Alloa defence who conceded yet another penalty in the middle of their own half. Unfortunately Blairgowrie failed to convert the penalty and at this point it looked as if Blairgowrie had lost their chance to secure the win. With the light fading and play going into injury time coach Alan Webster who had come on as a substitute managed to secure a loose ball in the middle of the park which was passed out to young Michael Simpson. With players to his right and to his left Michael opted to run at the home defence and with a blistering sprint evaded a number of tackles to score under the posts which Stephen Souter successfully converted with the last kick of the match. Final score Alloa 16 Blairgowrie 23.

While this was not one of Blairgowrie’s best displays of the season credit must go to the whole team who showed true grit and determination to come back from being 13-0 down early in the match. The wet conditions  made it difficult for both teams but full marks for the Blairgowrie forwards who had to work particularly hard throughout the game with a piece of individual brilliance from Michael Simpson securing the points at the very end of the game. Following the match captain for the day Fraser Bissett thanked the Alloa players and the referee for a good game with the man of the match points being awarded to Michael Simpson and Kev Brown both 1 point, Ewen Morrison -2 points and Neil MacRae - 3 points and the Man of the Match.

Team: Alan Clarke, Rory Philip, Ryan Walker, Ewen Morrison, Mark Reddin, Richie Duncan, Neil MacRae, Kev Brown, John Cockburn, Michael Simpson, Fraser Bissett, Michael Black, Michael Grant, Ally Walker, Stephen Souter, Robert Larsen, Stevie Stewart, Mickey Todd, Al Guild, Jake Cockburn, Alan Webster..

This Saturday (31st) Blairgowrie welcome Stobswell RFC to the J J Coupar Park with a 2.00 kick off.