Perthshire XV 41 – 15 Dundee Rugby 2XV

Perthshire start slow before overcoming Dundee.

The lines were painted, railings reinstated and rain softened the pitch; the North Inch was ready for the return of rugby for the 2022-23 season. After a Tour match against Fylde RFC and the Lochside 10s last weekend this was the first opportunity the Senior Men had to play a full match (4x 20min periods) and put into practice the preseason training.

In fine conditions on the North Inch, Dundee kicked off and immediately had possession as ‘Shire failed to take the ball. The defensive press was good and within a few phases Jonny Armitt intercepted and sped down the pitch. Under pressure Dundee infringed and Perthshire kicked to the corner. The rolling maul was taken down illegally and the 5m scrum option chosen. No mistake this time, the forward pack heaved giving No. 8 Calum Chalmers the momentum to pick from the base and batter his way to the line for the opening score.

Perthshire again failed to take the restart giving cheap ball to Dundee. The defence this time was slow giving Dundee time and space. Within a few phases they sucked all the Black & White shirts in and spun it out for a 3-on-1 and pulled a try back to level the scores.

The match was stop-start both teams forcing plays with knock-ons, blind passes and penalties conceded at the breakdown or high tackles. Neither team really got into a rhythm. On one attack Dundee dropped ball in the Perthshire half. Mat Rae scooped it up, ran round the first defender and fended off two more as he completed a 60m dash to score in the corner.

The first period ended with both teams still failing to assert any control. Head Coach Alan Clark asked his players to up the urgency and consider their accuracy in the 2nd period. It started better, Perthshire really making the most of their scrum dominance, Ewen MacDonald and Rhys Darlington more than a match for the opposition props. The lineouts weren’t delivering and this was frustrating any attacking momentum. Jonny Armitt at 10 was playing aggressively and making it hard for Dundee, he was rewarded with a try after exploiting a gap in the defensive line. Scoring the conversion he made it 17-5.

Still there was too much panic in attack with neither team able to make convincing gains. It remained level pegging to the end of the first half.

Rejigging the backline Ben Cameron was in at scrumhalf and Alan Clark put on the Black & White to try and direct the play from flyhalf. The new half-back pairing proved their worth almost instantly. With a bit more control ‘Shire worked the Dundee defence left to right then a gap opened up for Alan Clark; Mat Rae took the ball in support worked further into space and offloaded to Ben Cameron who finished the move.

The restart was still hurting Perthshire and Dundee claimed it again. A cheap penalty allowed them deep into Perthshire territory and then they again sucked in the Black & White players, created a mismatch and scored in the corner.

Captain Mat Rae demanded more from his players and they delivered. Pressure from Perthshire won a penalty and the lineout provided the ball but it was stopped illegally. The 5m penalty was taken short to Ewen MacDonald who barged through, no-one could stop him as he crossed the whitewash to ground the ball.

Moments later back in the ‘Shire half, a solid scrum allowed Calum Chalmers to pick blind. Evading the first defender he was caught by the second but able to offload to Ben Cameron who turned on the afterburners and ran the 50m or so to score under the posts.

The final period began with tired bodies feeling the effects of 60 minutes. Dundee had run out of players so were loaned a few of the Perthshire bench to keep it 15-a-side. The spaces were opening up and in the centre Dan Rae burst through the midfield around halfway. Three men hauled him down but he squeezed the ball to Ben Cameron looping round and running along the touchline. With nowhere to go he kicked infield and it was a foot race. The Dundee fullback got there first but took the ball over the line. Trying to escape he was caught and the ball stripped from him by Ewan MacKessack-Leitch who fell backwards to claim the try.

As the game drew to an end both teams kept trying to go forward and there was time for one more consolation try by Dundee to make it 41-15. This was a mixed Perthshire team who showed some flashes of the work from preseason, but definitely not the finished article. The skills and match composure need to be honed over the next 2 weeks before the season begins.

No better test for this than the final preseason match against Kirkcaldy this coming weekend who will bring both their 1XV and 2XV. These teams present a real step up and chance for Perthshire to measure themselves against teams who compete in the leagues above the Perthshire 1s & 2s respectively. Kick-offs will be 1:30pm, supporters welcome to the North Inch.

Match photos available on Dundee Rugby Website.