Nine Try Display in Anstruther

Saturday 13 Mar, the Blairgowrie senior squad travelled to the East Neuk of Fife for a rearranged Scottish Hydro Electric Caledonia League match against Waid RFC. Despite having had a comfortable win against Waid earlier in the season Blairgowrie were taking nothing for granted and opted to play against a very strong wind in the first half. For the first period of the match Waid used the wind to good effect pinning Blairgowrie back in their own half for long periods but good defensive tackling by Blairgowrie prevented the home side from scoring. With 20 minutes on the clock Blairgowrie made their way deep into the Waid half and from a lineout Neil MacRae picked up a loose ball to run a full 20 meters or so to score in the corner. Despite the strong wind Blairgowrie came more and more into the game with hooker Fraser Philip taking a number of balls against the head in the scrum. With minutes of the first half remaining Blairgowrie won a scrum on the Waid 22 meter line allowing the ball to be swiftly passed out along the back line for Michael Black to score under the posts converted by Stephen Souter. Half time Waid 0 Blairgowrie 12.

With the wind behind them in the second half Blairgowrie went straight into attack with Mark Reddin securing good ball on the half way line which he then fed to the supporting Michael Black who took the ball at pace to run in his second try of the match superbly converted from the touch line by Stephen Souter. Within minutes Blairgowrie secured their try bonus point with a fine individual try by Stephen Souter who evaded a number of tackles to score under the posts which he then duly converted. At this point of the match Blairgowrie were in total control of the match with the forwards linking well with the backs whose handling of the ball was much better than in previous weeks. Five more tries were to follow the first of these coming from Fraser Bissett after a great driving run by Richie Duncan and some slick handling by Liam McLaren, Gavin Wynd and Ally Walker.

The next try was again from Fraser Bissett after some good work by Ewan Morrison and Russell Edward when they secured a loose ball and from the ensuing ruck the ball was fed out along the backs again converted by Stephen Souter. The seventh try of the match came from Michael Simpson who burst through the Waid defence after some good rucking and mauling by the Blairgowrie props Jake Cockburn and James Buchanan. Try converted by Stephen Souter.  The eighth try of the match started with a great break by full back Stephen Souter from his own half. Despite being tackled on the Waid 22 metre line he managed to release the ball to the supporting Neil MacRae who in turn fed the ball to scrum half Gavin Wynd who took the ball at pace to score under the posts converted by Stephen Souter.

The final try of the match came from stand off Michael Simpson with a superb individual run from inside his own half evading numerous tackles en route to the try line to score under the posts converted by Stephen Souter. With minutes of the match remaining Tim Watson who was making a return to the first XV squad after being out of the game for over a year with an injury was unlucky not to score when he collected a pass from winger Stevie Stewart but was stopped short of the try line just before the final whistle blew to make the final score Waid 0 Blairgowrie 59.
This was a much improved display of rugby from Blairgowrie with every member of the squad contributing to a highly entertaining match with the  Man of the match points being awarded to Neil MacRae - 1 point, Michael Simpson - 2 points and Richie Duncan - 3 points and Man of the Match.

Team: Jake Cockburn, Fraser Philip, James Buchanan, Ewan Morrison, Mark Reddin, Neil MacRae, Russell Edward, Richie Duncan, Gavin Wynd, Michael Simpson, Fraser Bissett, Michael Black, Ally Walker, Liam McLaren, Tim Watson, Stevie Stewart, Gordon Black, Alan Webster.  
With the bulk of the senior squad heading on tour to Cyprus later this week to play two matches against Paphos Tigers on the 20th and RAF Akrotiri on the 24th the next league match will be a home match against Panmure RFC on Saturday 3rd April at the J J Coupar Park.

Everyone at Blairgowrie Rugby Club would like to extend their congratulations to Lisa and Ewan Morrison on the birth of their baby daughter Gemma and to Leanne and Robert Larsen on the birth of their baby son Ollie. Let’s hope they don’t have too many sleepless nights.