Today the micros attended the largest P3 only tournament in Scotland at Stirling County. A total of 22 teams were present from across the country, with big name clubs such as Watsonians, Stew Mel, West of Scotland, Biggar to name a few.
 
However big names are not something that causes any problems for the Kinross micros boys, whom have played some of these teams previously this season and won. We were in Pool 1 with Ayr, Watsonians, Biggar, Stirling County and Dunfermline A. Ayr strangely did not field a team, so in our first match we played Dunfermline. As usual the boys started slowly, but managed to hang on until the last minute when a Ramsay Scott try managed to salvage a 1-1 draw. Next up was Biggar, whom we have not played previously and we were expecting a tough game, but Kinross totally dominated the match and ran out 6-1 winners.
 
In match three we played against Stirling County who in their first match has seen off Watsonians 4-3. Kinross were magnificent in this match, with great breakaway from Moray Sturgeon, Jamie Walker, Jamie Smith and others using the large pitch saw us win convincingly 8-1.
 
In our last group match we played Watsonians. In this game our defence was superb, we keep the line well, making excellent last minute tackles by all of the team and some key tries from Angus Hunter, and Adam Roberts kept us in the match and a 4-2 win.
 
This saw us top the group, not only as the undefeated team, but as top try scorers.
 
At this point, all players had their lunch, and then all players received their medals on the 1st XV pitch entering via the tunnel to applause from the stand.
 
The next stage was two pool winner matches where the top scorer from these two matches won the tournament. Kinross received the toughest draw, against Stewarts Melville, whilst the other match was Madras v Perthshire. Despite Stew Mel being a big size team, our boys were not overawed and with a workmanlike performance and excellent chasing from the full team but in particular Ciaran Shea and Struan Bennett pinned Stew Mel back and gave them little chances. Kinross running out 4-2 winners in a well-deserved win.
 
So to the big question, what was the score in the other match, well Madras ran out 4-0 winners. The Stirling County organisers had decided that the most tries scored by one of the teams represented in the two final pool games were the overall winners and took home the magnificent trophy. Unfortunately as Kinross had conceded two tries and Madras none, Madras were declared winners.
 
The boys were very disappointed, having yet again played and convincingly beaten all teams in front of them, kept up their magnificent winning streak, and despite playing the tougher pool winners match came away with nothing. Although Madras will come away as official winners, Kinross can be content to call themselves as first equal, as we were undefeated, and did not actually play the overall winners, with only the two tries conceded costing us.
 
At the end of the tournament in the huddle all the parents and coach made sure the boys all knew how very proud we were of them today, they have done themselves and the club proud and should look forward to a bright and promising rugby future. This is the second tournament in the last 6 weeks where Kinross have won all matches but due to the rules of the tournament came away with nothing – hopefully the next time!
 
Very well done to all who played today.