Perthshire Rugby

Last Sunday on a saturated windswept pitch in grey drizzle behind a Council skip site in bleak Westhills Perthshire U16s created a ray of sunshine with a magnificent 12 – 20 victory against Aberdeen Grammar in the quarter finals of the Caledonia Cup.

This was a hard fought game between 2 good teams full of self belief punching and counter punching in cold wet challenging conditions; the ball was a lump of soap and errors were aplenty. Aberdeen had the best of the early exchanges but Shire fought back and looked likely to score though, in an attacking game where defence proved crucial, it was Aberdeen who pushed down the pitch to score the first converted try of the game.

Aberdeen also had the best of the early scrums but as the game wore on the Shire pack gradually gained the ascendancy – the front row of Stuart MacGill, Connor Carter and David Hill were magnificent, Connor Carter in particular stood up and demonstrated real strength and power and pushed things on in both the set piece and the loose.

The back 3 heroes Richard Michalski, Andrew Williamson and Callum Coutts scrapped and tackled for all they were worth and Connor Sutherland playing in an unaccustomed forward position thought he was Kelly Brown; unfortunately though he had to go off with a serious wrist injury.

It wasn’t long before Shire grafted a riposte – a great break by Scott Alcorn resulting in Ben Vardi going over under the posts to give Peter Bruce Wooton an easy conversion. The teams went into half time 7 each and all to play for.

In the second half Pete kicked a penalty and Aberdeen scored a try. Shire heads though didn’t drop, the team were urging themselves on and a text book back move along the line saw Ben Taylor crash over in the corner for a key score which put Shire ahead once again.

The attritional and physical nature of the game resulted in Steven Mott sustaining a bang to the side of his knee which finished his game and left Shire with 14 players on the pitch. With Ewan White off it was 13 men but he bravely came on again, tackled like a hitman, abetted by David Peddie who put in a huge shift from full back and Ben Vardi, Kieron Cassidy and Ben Talyor who all attacked and defended with determination. Ruaridh Sutherland at scrum half was under constant pressure from an often off side Grammar but consistently managed to get the ball out and was key in the vocal encouragement stakes.

Mid way through the second half another hard fought Shire attack saw Pete going over for the visitors third try and that was to be the last score of the game.

Aberdeen Grammar are to be commended not only for finding a playable venue in this sodden and… er …. docious weather but also playing to their fine reputation and being magnificent hosts.

After the win against Madras 4 weeks ago, this one against Aberdeen ranks as highly – 2 great sides beaten by a Shire U16 team on an adventure that will live long in the memory. Its up to the boys to decide how this cup run will finish and they really do now have the talent, determination and team cohesion to go all the way. We do however need more players to turn up for these games and for those of you reading this who could not get there to celebrate this fantastic victory, please turn up for the next game.
Special mention to Kilmac energy who help power the team and Stephens the builders who contribute to our solid foundations.

Next up its either Deeside or Moray at the Inch. What a prospect!!