Deeside travelled south for a Sunday fixture in the rain. Kick off was delayed by ~40 minutes due to the referee being late - thought it was a 3pm kick off! Anyway, it probably helped the players with the rain stopping as the match progressed.

2'. Deeside had a early foray into the edges of the Dundee 22. However, under big pressure from the Deeside defence fouled at the ruck turning the ball over to the home team.

6'. Dundee drew first blood. Deeside were penalised for a high tackle 5m out from the try line. Dundee took the tap and passed it to the hooker who battered through the Deeside defence to get the ball over the line. Conversion made and an early 7-0 lead for the men in blue.

8'. From the kick off Deeside came forward with much better intent. Big carries across the team taking the ball right up to just short of the Dundee try line. However, excellent Deeside defence sees them get the turnover on the line before Deeside push the Dundee player into touch. Deeside line out 5m out. However ball knocked forward in the poor weather and Dundee get the scrum.

10'. Back on level terms! From the aforementioned scrum Dundee kick up the field but straight to Jack Mackenzie around 30m out. The ball to Owen Jones who played it out wide to the backs. Hamish recovered the ball from the deck before taking the ball up to the 22m line. Quick play by the backs sees Archie secure the ball and Rory McKeown does a quick pick and go. He plays it off to an onrushing Owen Jones who takes it to 10m before under pressure he offloads nicely into the hands of Archie who runs through some despairing Dundee defence to score under the posts. Mikey kicks the conversion and 7-7.

13'. Aggressive play from Dundee with big carries driving deep into the Deeside 22. Deeside defence under huge pressure as Dundee go for the line. However, a very timely turnover win by Alfie Wade see Deeside get the penalty on their try line. Not one to hang about Alfie proceeds with the quick tap and winds his way through the Dundee team and runs the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Incredible and one to catch on the Veo if you haven't already seen it. Another 2 off the tee from Mikey and 7-14 in the blink of an eye.

18'. Deeside's 3rd try was built from an initial good run to the edge of the 22 by Rory McKeown. In the previous phases of play Deeside go for the kick over the top but Dundee recover. Good Deeside defence keep Dundee pinned to their 22 before they kick upfield to {Number 15} on the half way line who catches then dances his way through to the 22. Nathan takes up the cause and bulldozes his way through the Dundee defence leaving players in his wake taking the ball to 10m out and the backs can smell blood. Quick ball to Owen who sucks in the Dundee defence before offloading to Archie running a hard line. Leaving one on the deck before being dragged down by a good Dundee tackle just 1m from the line - more quick ball by Deeside and Mikey is there to pick and go over the whitewash for 5. A tough conversion from wide right just drifts past. 7-19

22'. More Deeside pressure on the back of an upfield kick and a solid chase keeps Dundee under the cosh in their 22. Another clearance kick, this time Alfie collects over the shoulder 30m out, then turns to take the ball back towards the action. Taking the ball into the midfield he passes wide right to Archie who comes forward 5m and does just enough to pull the Dundee winger in from the sideline creating the space for Hamish to take the ball from Archie and switch on the pace to score in the right hand corner whilst being tackled. Unfortunately for Hamish his reward for clocking up another try this season was a dislocated shoulder which will see him out for several months. Another tough conversion for Mikey which again drifts by. 7-24.

29'. After sustaining some Dundee pressure in their half Deeside manage to boot the ball up the pitch into the Dundee 22. Dundee look to break but Deeside smother them in the midfield and as the home team look to play the ball into the backs the ball goes loose. Jack M recovers 10m out, makes it to the 5m but solid D from the home team wins the turnover.

33'. Deeside weather more Dundee pressure who spend a couple of minutes in the Deeside 22 pounding away with some big carries. The Deeside defence remains strong and they win the penalty for holding on (nice Fergus!).

35'. A loose ball from Dundee allows Josh to gather in the middle of the Dundee half. The ball is recycled into the backs who are quickly put under pressure by Dundee. A quick ruck by Cody gives Mikey the chance to pick and go. The ball secured 25m out Owen J goes in at scrum half and pops the ball to Josh Miller, Dundee are slow to react and Josh finds a gap and thunders through under the posts. Con Mikey 7-31.

Half time. 5 tries to 1 is a solid shift in tough conditions. Dundee made some good ground at times with the boys needing to get lower in the tackle to stop progress. Dundee scrum was on top in the first half.

38'. First blood to Deeside in the second half. A tentative line out from Dundee as they work in changes to their pack and Nathan manages to recover on the half way line before charging 25m up the pitch towards the Dundee try line leaving carnage in his wake. One phase in the backs before James W spots half a gap and darts forward before popping to Owen J who takes it into the 22. Good supporting line by Rowan who talks the ball 15m out and scores just left of the posts. Conversion goes right. 7-36

42'. Having just been unlucky to get the 50/22 down the right hand side, Deeside keep Dundee pinned back from the resultant lineout before Fergus comes up with another turnover. Max to Owen J to Nathan who has another good carry to 5m out. Cross field kick is called (!) and it falls into the hands of Rory McKeown who nips through the Dundee defence to add another try to his season count. Rory McKeown goes for the full 7 but the balls comes up short. 7-41

47'. Deeside turn the ball over in the midfield with James W coming away with the ball. Good D by Dundee in the middle of the pitch before Deeside get their back line set. Owen J passes out to Rowan who embarks on a lovely run down the left hand side from 5m inside his own half to 15m out from the Dundee try line. A quick pop off the floor to Alfie before James W and Owen J combine to create a small gap for the onrushing Jack Andrew to receive the ball and power in from 10m out for his first score of the day and season. Owen knocks over the 2. 7-48

58'. The next period was littered with handling errors with neither side really able to get any dominance and Deeside struggling to get time on the ball. Dundee kick through and Alfie gathers under huge pressure on his try line. Somehow in the ensuing stramash a Dundee hand appears and does enough to get a try for Dundee. Conversion missed. 12-48

70'. The game moved to a period where there was not a huge amount of structure with lots of kicks back and forth being made. Towards the end of the period Dundee had some sustained pressure in the Deeside 22 and despite giving away a few penalties Deeside held out. A massive maul came together and in the middle of it Deeside hands on ball pop it out the top and to Wallace 5m from his own line. He carries it to the 20m before Josh M takes it to the 30. Roan van der Starre in support takes it on another 10m before popping to Jack A who decides enough is enough, transforms into a winger, and motors his way up the left hand side of the pitch to score having the presence of mind to cut back inside and dot down under the posts. Dundee devastated. Deeside delirious. Jones with the 2 for a final tally (per Veo) of 12-55.

Full time. Referee scored it 12-53. Deeside managed the physical Dundee side pretty well and they took their chances when the got them.

NB: all times per Veo less half kick off times.

MOTM: Daniel Riach.
DOTD: Mikey Miller. Split his team mates head open with his well placed knee!

James Newman made his season debut. Great to see him back playing. The players also appeared very thankful to have the subs jackets...they looked cosy under their umbrella - pampered stars :-)

The team will be delighted to extend their unbeaten start to the season. Next week the boys move on to a tough fixture away to GHA in the 3rd round of the National Cup. And then the week after the initial league phase completes with Biggar coming to Woodend with all to play for - whoever wins is guaranteed a top 2 finish.

Leading Try Assists:
8 - Owen Jones
6 - Mikey Miller
5 - Archie Saunders
4 - Archie MacLeod
2 - Jamie Adams, Rory McKeown
1 - Daniel Riach, Fergus Robb, Hamish Shelmerdine, Roan van der Starre

Leading Try Scorers:
7- Alfie Wade
6 - Finn Rogerson
4 - Hamish Shelmerdine, Rory McKeown
3 - Owen Frost, Mikey Miller
2 - Callum Gray, Archie Saunders, Roan van der Starre, Jack Andrew, Rowan Smith
1 - Jamie Adams, Bryn Alford, Max Davidson, Owen Jones, Jack Mackenzie, Archie MacLeod, Josh Miller

Top Points Scorer:
41 - Mikey Miller
35 - Alfie Wade
32 - Hamish Shelmerdine
30 - Finn Rogerson
20 - Rory McKeown
15 - Owen Frost
14 - Archie Saunders
11 - Owen Jones
10 - Callum Gray, Roan van der Starre, Jack Andrew, Rowan Smith
7 - Jamie Adams
5 - Bryn Alford, Max Davidson, Jack Mackenzie, Archie MacLeod, Josh Miller
2 - Daniel Riach

Star Player:
2 - Owen Frost
1 - Fergus Robb, Nathan Tawse, Alfie Wade, Daniel Riach

And for those brave souls willing to kick for points, Kick Success:
78% - v Dunfermline
57% - Team Average, v Grammar
56% - v Dundee
50% - v Falkirk, v Huntly
44% - v Cambuslang