NARROW
SEMI FINAL DEFEAT FOR BLAIR UNDER 16’s
Sunday
20th Apr 08, Blairgowrie under 16’s played hosts to Dundee
Eagles in the semi final of the Caledonia Youth Bowl Competition
hoping to secure a place in the final against Orkney or Mackie
who were contesting the other semi final.
On
a sunny but cold afternoon it was the visitors who applied the
early pressure scoring two tries in quick succession and very
nearly scoring a third try but for an absolutely superb try saving
tackle by stand off Michael Simpson who ran half the length of
the pitch to deny the Dundee winger a try. This seemed to spur
on the Blairgowrie boys who upped a gear by putting the Dundee
Eagles under pressure but despite some excellent defensive play
by the visitors they could not stop winger Craig Thoms scoring
for the home side. The Eagles quickly responded with some poor
tackling by the home defence allowing the Eagles to score a converted
try to make the half time score Blairgowrie 5 Dundee Eagles 19.
Coaches
Cally Gordon and Ian Simpson must have had a few words to say
to the Blairgowrie boys during the interval because they went
straight into attack from the restart with the Eagles defending
well until Blairgowrie centre David Thom dived over the line after
some good driving by the Blairgowrie forwards. From this point
on Blairgowrie were encamped for long periods in the Eagles 22
metre area but again some superb defending by the visitors prevented
Blairgowrie crossing the line until scrum half John Cockburn darted
through the Eagles defence to score under the posts which was
ably converted by Michael Simpson. The Eagles responded with a
well taken penalty quickly followed by a converted try but the
Blairgowrie boys were not for giving up easily. With some 5 minutes
of the match remaining stand off Michael Simpson made yet another
superb break evading numerous tackles only to be caught short
of the try line. Support was on hand however when the ball was
retrieved from the ensuing ruck for man of the match Leo Grozier
to score again converted by Michael Simpson. This brought the
Blairgowrie boys within 3 points of the lead but despite a final
effort referee Gordon Black blew the final whistle to make the
final score Blairgowrie 24 Dundee Eagles 27.
It was a pity that theer had to be alosing team on the day as
both teams must be congratulated for a thoroughly entertaining
game of rugby and if this Blairgowrie squad can keep improving
as they have done there is a bright future ahead for this talented
group of players.
Team: F.Gray, S.Lynsey, A.Stirling, V.Morfin, R.Edgar, J. Coe,
J. Ramsay Fraser, C.Boylan, J.Cockburn, M.Simpson, J.Neil, D.Thom,
T.Rattray, C. Thoms, M.Lawson, C.Boag, M.Robertson, A.Marshall,
L.Grozier.
See
pictures here...
