Close Encounter Against Carnoustie
Saturday 29 Oct 11, the Blairgowrie senior squad welcomed Carnoustie RFC for their second round RBS National Bowl Competition match at the J J Coupar Park. Having beaten Carnoustie by one point in a league match earlier in the month this was always going to be a close encounter and so it turned out to be with Carnoustie fielding quite a number of different players from the previous encounter. From the kick off it was the home side who went into attack with some great runs by Michael Black ultimately resulting in a successful penalty kick by Stephen Souter after a Carnoustie player had been penalised for lying on the ball. Despite this positive start by the home side it was the Carnoustie No 10 who dictated play continually pinning the home side back in their own half with kicks to touch. This eventually led to a try from the visitors but despite losing Michael Black through injury the home side responded well with a second penalty kick from Stephen Souter after a good break by young Craig Thoms. With both teams continually conceding penalties Stephen Souter extended the lead with a third penalty kick with the Carnoustie No 10 hitting the upright with two penalties to make the half time score Blairgowrie 9 Carnoustie 8.
Unfortunately for the spectators the second half was much of the same with the game never being allowed to flow due to both teams persistently being penalised for various indiscretions. Towards the end of the game Blairgowrie appeared to go up a gear following a good break by Fraser Bissett and some good driving by the Blairgowrie forwards but were once again penalised for not releasing the ball. With both teams having missed more penalty kicks and the game drawing to a close a Blairgowrie was deemed to have been offside and from the resultant penalty Carnoustie sealed the win making the final score Blairgowrie 9 Carnoustie 11.
This was not a game for the rugby connoisseur with the referee blowing up for 38 penalties during the match which is nearly an average of a penalty every two minutes. On a more positive note it was pleasing to see that the recent niggling that has persisted between these two teams in the past appeared to have been put to one side and following the match captain for the day Neil MacRae thanked Carnoustie for a hard fought match. Thanks were also relayed to Clem Isbister for preparing the after match food with the Man of the Match points being awarded as follows: Ewan Morrison and Kev Brown – 1 point each, Ryan Walker – 2 points and Mark Reddin – 3 points and the Man of the Match.
Saturday evening saw an excellent crowd attend the Rugby Club Casino Night with the overall winner on the night being John Cockburn. Thanks to Wacek and Aileen Leszkowski for preparing the stovies, Robert Larsen, Stephen Souter and Timmy Watson resplendent in their bow ties for acting as croupiers and to Ali MacRae for acting as cashier.
This weekends RBS Midlands league match at Kinross has been brought forward and will be played under floodlights at Kinross on the Friday evening (4th) with a 7.30 pm kick off. Team selection and travel arrangements will be announced at training which takes place at the J J Coupar Park at 7.00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. New players welcome.
Tickets for the Rugby Club Dinner Dance which will be held this year at the Red House Hotel on 19th November are now on sale. More details from Duncan MacRae: Tel 0796366437.
Finally congratulations to Billy Campbell and his fellow Blairgowrie Rams Youth Coaches for organising a superb mini rugby tournament last Sunday. With over 280 mini rugby players and over 50 coaches taking part it was standing room only at the J J Coupar Park with the Micro section (P1/P2/P3’s) winning in a keenly contested final against Kinross.
With over 50 Blairgowrie youngsters taking part in the tournament plus an under 14 team playing at Montrose and an Under 16 team playing at Crieff on Sunday the future for rugby in Blairgowrie looks very healthy.