Winning Start to Season at Stirling

Saturday 03 Sep 11, the Blairgowrie senior squad travelled to Stirling for their first RBS Caledonia League Division II game of the season against Stirling University. With Blairgowrie opting to play against the wind in the first half it was the students who applied the early pressure going into an early lead with a penalty after 5 minutes. Blairgowrie however weathered the early storm and came more into the match as the game progressed. Midway through the first half Blairgowrie got their first points on the scoreboard after Ryan Walker secured a long ball at the back of the lineout and broke through the students defence to then off load the ball to captain Mike Lee to score near the posts successfully converted by Stephen Souter. Minutes later Blairgowrie were to add a second try this time by Davie Grieve who picked up the ball at the base of the scrum and burst through the students defence for an excellent opportunist try. The students however used the wind to good effect putting Blairgowrie under pressure and forcing them to concede a number of penalties two of which they converted in quick succession. With minutes of the first half remaining John Cockburn made a try saving tackle to prevent the students taking the lead. Half time score Stirling University 9 Blairgowrie 12.

Minutes after the restart the students levelled the score with a well taken penalty but Blairgowrie quickly responded with John Cockburn making a superb break from his own 22 metre area who then passed the ball to the supporting Mike Lee who then made the final pass to Timmy Watson who finished the move off with a well taken try. With the game fairly evenly poised Stephen Souter slotted home a superb penalty kick from the half way line to extend Blairgowrie’s lead quickly followed by another penalty after a good run by Craig Thoms who was making his league debut for the senior squad. With the game drawing to a close some sloppy play by the Blairgowrie defence allowed the students to score a converted try to make the final score Stirling University 19 Blairgowrie 25.

This was a gutsy performance by Blairgowrie with every member of the squad contributing to a well earned win against a team who they have failed to beat away from home for a good number of years. With debutants Fraser Maxwell and Craig Thoms putting in good performances the Man of the Match points were awarded as follows; 3 points and Man of the Match - John Cockburn, 2 points each - Davie Grieve and Timmy Watson and 1 point each to all the other Blairgowrie players in recognition of a good team effort.

Team: Mike Lee (Captain), Tim Watson, Ryan Walker, Euan Constable, Mark Reddin, Neil MacRae, Russell Edwards, Davie Grieve, John Cockburn, Gavin Wynd, Peter Duncan, Fraser Bissett, Michael Black, Liam McLaren, Stephen Souter, James Buchanan, Stevie Stewart, Ben MacDonald, Fraser Maxwell, Craig Thoms.

This Saturday (10th) Blairgowrie play hosts to Madras RFC at the J J Coupar Park. With Madras RFC unbeaten all of last season and having had a convincing win last weekend it will be tough test for Blairgowrie so it is imperative that all players attend training this week. Training at the J J Coupar Park at 7.00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. New players welcome.
Congratulations to the Blairgowrie Rams Under 16’s and the Under 14’s teams who both had convincing wins last Sunday against Kinross and Strathmore respectively. With over 70 Blairgowrie Rams playing at the J J Coupar Park last Sunday the future looks good for Blairgowrie rugby.