Stirling Get Revenge at Blairgowrie
Saturday 19 Nov 11, Blairgowrie played hosts to Stirling University in their RBS Caledonia League match at the J J Coupar Park. Having already beaten the students in Stirling earlier in the season Blairgowrie hoped that they would get back into winning ways again but it was not to be. With the game fairly evenly matched during the early part of the game it was the visitors who took the lead after Blairgowrie recklessly kicked the ball into the hands of a Stirling Uni defender who then ran the ball from his own 22 metre line to score a converted try under the posts. Blairgowrie responded positively with Davie Grieve putting in some strong runs for the home side forcing the visitors to concede a penalty which Stephen Souter duly converted. Minutes later Stephen Souter converted a second penalty after a good break by Liam McLaren and Fraser Bissett which was thwarted by the Stirling defence but the visitors quickly responded with a penalty. With seconds of the first half remaining Blairgowrie were stopped short of the Stirling try line but foolishly lost possession of the ball in the resultant scrum scorning a perfect scoring opportunity. Half time score Blairgowrie 6 Stirling University 10.
The second half started off badly for the home side with the students securing the ball from the restart and the proceeding to evade at least 6 missed tackles by Blairgowrie to score a converted try under the posts. This seemed to spur the home side into action with Fraser Maxwell and Timmy Watson both making good breaks but unfortunately on both occasions there was not enough support from their fellow team members. Midway through the second half Stephen Souter found touch with an excellent kick and from the resultant lineout the Blairgowrie forwards drove the ball with No 8 Davie Grieve touching down for the try. With the deficit now only 6 points Blairgowrie piled on the pressure and were encamped in the Stirling 22 metre are a for a long period but the students defence held out well. With minutes of the match remaining Blairgowrie failed to find touch with a long kick and the students once again carved their way through a number of missed tackles to score under the posts.
Final score Blairgowrie 11 Stirling University 24.
While this was a keenly contested match Blairgowrie will look on this as missed opportunity with the failure to take advantage of a 5 metre scrum just before half time effectively being the turning point in the game.
Team: Stuart Flatley, Timmy Watson, Ryan Walker, Mike Lee, Duncan Campbell, Neil MacRae, Russell Edward, Davie Grieve, Gavin Wynd, Stephen Souter, Fraser Bissett, Fraser Maxwell, Liam McLaren, Craig Thoms, Stuart Simpson, Callum Michie, James Buchanan, Al Guild, John Cockburn, Robert Larsen, Kev Brown, Alan Webster.
Following the match captain Mike Lee thanked the referee and Stirling University for a good game. Man of the Match points were awarded to: Callum Michie, Duncan Campbell, Russell Edward and Stuart Flately – 1 point each, Fraser Maxwell – 2 points and Davie Grieve – 3 points and the Man of the Match award.
On Saturday evening a large crowd of players past & present along with fellow members and guests enjoyed an excellent Dinner Dance at the Red House Hotel, Coupar Angus. At the end of the evening Club President Duncan MacRae thanked the ‘Pepperpot’ (the band for the evening) and Alan Bannerman and the staff at the Red House for a superb evening and also to all those players and guests who donated raffle prizes on the night.
This Saturday (26th) Blairgowrie travel to Clackmannanshire for a rearranged league match against Alloa RFC. 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.