Shire Colts came away with a tremendous win at Dunfermlines McKane Park last Saturday in this first round of the Caledonia Cup.
On a heavy pitch Shire adapted well and after only 9 minutes good forward phases created pressure in the Dunfermline 22, the ball ending up with Scott Alcorn on the wing who with work to do galloped 25 metres to score Shires first try, Peter Bruce Wooton duly converting.
Dunfermline came back strongly with their powerful forwards but the visitors matched them, won the ball and more multiple forward phases, pods and all, eventually saw Callum Coutts slamming the ball down for Shires second try after 24 minutes.
The home side came back again and looked set to score but a good defence steal and working the ball to Pete who relieved pressure with a great clearance kick.
On 33 minutes Scott got the ball, fizzed down the wing only to be brought down but from a move across the park then saw Seitaro Usuda bludgeon over for Shires third try which Pete again converted.
Just before half time Pete converted a Shire penalty and going into the break it was 0 – 22.
In the second half the same pattern of relentless Perth pressure continued - a great catch and run down the wing by Scott , more aggressive forward phases and Pete battled over for Shires fourth try.
10 minutes later Coutts at his buccaneering best picked up the ball 30 metres out and forged down the wing bouncing off 3 tackles to crash down in the corner. Petes conversion was a masterpiece.
Into the last quarter with excellent scrapping from Seitaro to go over for his second, Shires sixth and another superb Pete conversion this time from the other touchline to make the final score 0 – 41.
Dunfermline fought hard throughout the game but had no answer to a re energised Perthshire side which has clearly built on its performance against Stirling 3 weeks ago. Coaches Ormieston and Taylor were pleased with the aggression and work ethic of all the forwards along with the line out execution with Ewan MacKenzie and Lawrence Smith dominating, and also the pods working off attacking breakdowns.
MOM was Aaron Sheach who lead well, fought for everything and had a belter of a game abetted by his partners in crime Coutts and Seitaro who each scored a brace aswell as being compelling in open play.
Amongst the backs Ben Taylors scrum half passing was excellent, Peter Bruce Wooton, Tom Galbraith and Ruaridih Davidson were a formidable attacking and defending triumvirate and Scott Alcorn displayed his winged boots once again.
We travelled with 20 players, all 5 subs came on, did themselves proud and showed the huge benefit of strength in depth – well done.
Distinctions of Diabolo were richly earned by Coutts for various unspeakable crimes and Max Renouf for a serious lapse of unspeakability.
Great game lads. You have created a real opportunity to progress in this competition so please get down to training in numbers. C’mon the Shire!!
1 Seitaro Usuda
2 Brodie Rivers
3 Euan MacFarlane
4 Ewan MacKenzie
5 Lawrence Smith
6 Jamie Robertson
7 Callum Coutts
8 Aaron Sheach
9 Ben Taylor
10 Peter Bruce Wooton
11 Scott Alcorn
12 Tom Galbraith
13 Ruaridih Davidson
14 Ciaran Cassidy
15 Max Renouf
16 David Hill
17 Declan O Brien
18 Ruaridih Marnoch
19 Ben McGrogan
20 Matthew McCrory

Tries; Alcorn, Bruce Wooton, Coutts 2, Seitaro 2
Cons; Bruce Wooton 4
Pen; Bruce Wooton