Saturday 6th
Sep, Blairgowrie RFC played hosts to Crieff RFC in the first round
of the Scottish Hydro Electric Caledonia Regional Cup. This was
always going to be a difficult task for the Blairgowrie team with
Crieff currently in a league above Blair' and having last season
reached the final of the national Plate competition at Muarrayfield.
Allied to
this Blairgowrie were without a number of first team regulars
and within minutes of the kick off Crieff went into an early lead
after some poor tackling by the Blairgowrie backs. Blairgowrie
did have a number of opportunities to score in the first half
but poor decision making at crucial times meant that it was the
visitors who went into the half time break with a 21-0 point lead.
Coach Peter
Ireland made a number of changes at the interval and straight
from the restart it was Blairgowrie who went into attack with
Peter Duncan making an excellent break supported by captain Kev
Brown who in turn provided the pass to Al Robertson to score under
the posts, converted by Stephen Souter. From this point Blairgowrie
came more into the game with backs Gavin Wynd, Peter Duncan, Fraser
Bissett and Stephen Souter attacking the opposition at every opportunity.
This pressure finally paid off with the Crieff full back failing
to clear his line after some pressure from winger Andrew Cowan
(apologies for calling him Jonathon in last weeks report!!) allowing
Ryan Walker to mark his return from injury with a try, converted
by Stephen Souter.
With only
seven points separating the teams at this point it looks as if
Blairgowrie were in with a chance but some sloppy play by the
Blairgowrie defence allowed the visitors back into the game with
two soft tries. To their credit the Blairgowrie squad responded
positively and with minutes of the match remaining added a third
try when Euan Constable took a quick penalty only to be stopped
short of the line. He managed however to offload the ball to Kev
Brown who flipped the ball up to Timmy Watson who took the ball
at pace to score under the post. Converted by Stephen Souter.
Final score Blairgowrie 21 Crieff 35.
To use the old cliché this was a game of two halves with
Blairgowrie effectively winning the second half by three tries
to two. Man of the Match Awards Fraser Bissett - 1 Point, Kev
Brown - 2 points and Gavin Wynd -3 points and man of the match.
Team: James
Buchanan, Ross Parsons, Euan Constable, Al Clarke, Ewen Morrison,
Ryan Walker, Kev Brown, Timmy Watson, Gavin Wynd, Al Robertson,
Fraser Bissett, Peter Duncan, Michael Black, Andy MacNiven, Stephen
Souter, Jackie Cockburn, Andrew Cowan, Craig Brown, Lawreence
Menzies, Mick Bowen.
This Saturday
(13th) Blairgowrie return to League duties with an away tie at
Montrose. Having lost at Montrose last year Blairgowrie will have
a hrd match on their hands so a good turnout is required at training
on Tuesday and Thursday.
See pictures
here...
