A Worthy Clash for the Capital as Perthshire Secure the Five Points

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Royal High 21 – 46 Perthshire

After a positive week of training Head Coach Alan Clark’s men were ready for the trip to the capital to take on Royal High. Confidence levels were high and the boys were well prepared. After a last minute decision to change pitch, the stage was set, nice surface and the sound of aeroplanes flying low overhead. It was time for kick off, with Perthshire opting to wear their red & black strips.

Royal High got the game under way with Perthshire gathering the kick off and stringing some early phases together. Progress was hindered with a slight lack of discipline and a few penalties were award against the men in red & black. James Mair had his forwards organised with lineout defence and were causing some real problems for Royal High, who could not get clean ball from the set piece. The first 10 minutes was awash with knock-ons and penalties which whilst frustrating didn’t stop both teams trying to execute their game plans.

Royal High struck first with a few successful crash balls, finally breaking through and getting their reward, a successful conversion and it was 7-0 to the hosts. Captain Mat Rae rallied his troops under the posts and urged calm heads and a reaction. After some more dominant phase play from Perthshire, the effect of his words becoming evident, and a great lineout steal from Simon McGarry gifted Perthshire an opportunity. A monstrous carry from Dan Rae had High on the back foot, quick ruck speed released the backs and with slick hands winger Ross Goodison broke down the line, with an inspired basketball ball off load, Jonny Armitt was free and clear under the posts. AJ Guthrie made a successful conversion and it was all square 7-7. Contender for try of the season for sure.

It carried on to be a bit messy with handling errors, however, it was clear Perthshire were in the driving seat. Royal High showed a strong maul defence, turning the Eagles over and opted to box kick, only to find the safe hands of Jonny Armitt. Spotting the space the experienced fullback sent a chip over and winger James Armstrong plucks the ball from the air and with some hard running bundles over in the corner. A tough kick to add the two points fell slightly short. Another potential try of the season nominee?

Some more controlled play and with lineout dominance it was only a matter of time before Perthshire struck again. Ewen MacDonald like a charging bull broke the line, with a perfect offload to Simon McGarry who was hauled down just short of the try line. A super quick ruck saw number nine Lewis Murrie feeding Calum Chalmers and nobody was stopping him. Another tricky kick which drifted slightly wide, 7-17 to Perthshire.

More dominant play for the team in red & black, a great driving run from the towering Matt Stevens provided Perthshire with an excellent platform. Again quick ruck speed and some slick offloads proved fruitful and Ewen MacDonald crashed over the line for Perthshire’s bonus point try. The conversion hit the post and the referee signalled for half time; the score 7-22.

The start of the second half was much the same as that of the first, errors from both sides made for a scrappy affair. Rory Bayne was at the receiving end of a yellow card for a swinging arm and this provided the hosts with a bit of drive. Moving the ball through the hands and splitting the ‘Shire defensive line, to take a converted try, 14-22.

A late shot on James Armstrong and the numbers were balanced once again as a Royal High received their own yellow card. At this stage ‘Shire really began to take control of the game, albeit still a bit of a scrappy affair. A penalty awarded for diving over and AJ Guthrie slotted it over to extend the lead to 14-25.

Perthshire would strike again, this time with Rhys Darlington making a superb break , trundling towards the Royal High line, only to ground it on the five metre line thinking it was the white wash. Captain Mat Rae continued the charge with a sharp offload he sent, Man of the Match, Simon McGarry over. AJ Guthrie adding the extras, 14-32.

Strong carries and some good handling work was the theme for the Perth outfit. A piercing run from Simon McGarry, covering around 30 metres, to finish under the posts put the game out of reach of the hosts. Successful conversion and it was 14-39.

‘Shire were not done yet and a scintillating dummy pass from AJ Guthrie provided Lee Graham with the easiest of finishes between the posts. Successfully converted, the score was 14-46.

The hosts would have the final say in the match. After some strong runs, they approached Shire’s line, a great turnover from the visitors proved costly in the end as the clearing kick was charged down in-goal and grounded by Royal High. Conversion made and the referee blew for full time, 21-46.

Thank you to Royal High and the referee for providing an excellent afternoon of rugby. Supporters encouraged to come down to the North Inch next weekend as it is a double header with the 1XV playing Hillhead and the 2XV going up against Strathmore 2XV, both kick-off at 3pm. The Bowling Club will be open from 1:30pm.

Photos by Jazmine Tomlinson.

Fractious, Frustrated and Furious

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Perthshire 7 – 17 Strathmore

Unedifying spectacle on the North Inch in ill-tempered defeat.

Local derbies can be keenly contested affairs and the largish crowd that came to the North Inch were not short-changed on drama. Just as kick-off loomed the drizzle came down to wet the pitch & ball and would make handling difficult for both teams.

Strathmore kicked off and Perthshire made little headway with the first few carries before clearing to touch. The initial exchanges were tight and short, punctuated by knock-ons or successful ruck turnovers.

An early penalty allowed Strathmore to break out of the midfield deadlock and gain a lineout in the ‘Shire 22. The following maul was stopped but Perthshire had edged offside. Quickly tapped, after a couple of phases Strathmore burst over the line, the referee judging the ball grazed the grass before Dan Rae held the carrier up. Strathmore added the conversion.

The game soon returned to a war of attrition in between the 10m lines. Both teams could only put 2 or 3 plays together before dropping, spilling or turning over the ball, killing dead any momentum. Centre pairing, brothers Mat & Dan Rae, were highly effective as a solid wall; no Strathmore player could get a millimetre through them.

Eventually ‘Shire got a break spearheaded by strong carries from Calum Chalmers and James Armstrong. Numerous short phases got the North Inch team close but the play ended when the referee blew to penalise a blatant tip tackle. No advantage nor yellow card given Perthshire, somewhat aggrieved, elected to take the 5m scrum.

The pack heaved and got the nudge on, James Mair picked from the base and came close. More short picks by the forwards eked ever closer until James Mair finished what he started and squeezed over the line. Aidan Watson added the conversion to level the score, 7-7.

Strathmore immediately pushed back wining a penalty and kicking for a lineout 10m out. This was stolen & successfully cleared. Simon McGarry and Tom Colvin in the line asserting their claim to the ball which would be a feature throughout the match.

A stalemate followed for most of the rest of the half. Neither team able to make any meaningful headway. Handling errors, ill-discipline and ferocious defence ending any attacks.

A needless late tackle on the kicker gifted Strathmore a double penalty taking them deep into the Perthshire 22 for the first time in ages. Perthshire were up to defend and stopped the attack but had crept offside. The Forfar men took a short tap and then switched direction hitting a narrow tight line down the blindside to score in the corner. A well kicked touchline conversion added the extras, 7-14.

Immediately Strathmore turned over Perthshire from the restart and pushed forward into the 22. Working up to the line they looked on for another score but knocked on and the referee called for halftime.

Coaches Alan Clark and Kenny Christie asked their players to stay calm and play rugby. The conditions were brightening up and with patience opportunities would arise. There were frustrations with the officiating but antagonising the referee further would not yield fruit.

The mood on the pitch only got worse in the second half. It was a fairly even start but niggles from both teams crept in as the referee failed to control the play. Adrian Venter made immediate impact with some solid tackles and big hits, to the obvious displeasure of Strathmore who singled him out regularly for “extra attention” on the deck.

Running back a loose kick Aidan Watson had one defender left to beat, he was stopped by a shoulder rammed into his face. A minor altercation ensued and the referee decided that no card was warranted for the dangerous tackle and to reverse the penalty.

Perthshire stole the lineout back then once the play stopped, maybe realising the heightened emotions from the earlier injustice, the referee called both captains and asked for improved discipline and calm heads.

A positive spell from Perthshire followed as they pressurised Strathmore. Carries backed up with offloads or quick picks had the visitors backpedalling. Rhys Darlington and Ewen MacDonald especially effective in their support and barging runs.

Perthshire came close after Simon McGarry charged down a clearance kick in the Strathmore 22 but the ball bounced out before Rory Bayne could reach it. Minutes later James Armstrong took the ball on the wing, turned on the pace and chipped over the defence. He was taken late off the ball, but unlike the double penalty from the first half, play continued without sanction. The referee then penalising Perthshire for offside in the next phase.

Sadly, the remaining positivity ended there. Indiscipline, off-the-ball incidents and flagrant high-tackles occurred every phase of play, both teams guilty but the referee unable to assert any authority.

The lineout continued to be a highlight for Perthshire and, as they were now in the receiving end of many penalties for backchat, this saved them from further pressure. It was clear the referee was not going to take any advice from players but still the Eagles could not help themselves and continued to hamper any chance of escaping their half.

Eventually things got out-of-hand. A melee in the centre of the pitch saw players from all directions running in. Incompetent and enfeebled, having directly facilitated this scenario, the referee judged that Perthshire were the aggressor and showed a yellow card to James Armstrong as an additional insult to the punch in the face he received. Strathmore elected to kick for goal and extended their lead, 7-17.

Nothing of note happened in the remaining 15 minutes. For the 10 minutes down to 14 men Perthshire matched Strathmore and the turgid trench warfare in muddy no-man’s land continued. The lineout dominance and Rory Bayne’s probing attacks the limited highlights.

Discipline did not improve and it was a relief when the fulltime whistle sounded. Much longer and further unpleasant incidents could have occurred. Not a good day for rugby, both teams and the referee need to look back with cooler heads and consider what they did wrong and how they can improve their game in the future.

Head Coach Alan Clark will want to see a positive reaction from his squad in training over the week as next up, the 1XV travel to Edinburgh to face struggling Royal High. Kick-off will be 3pm and supporters are welcome on the team bus departing from Bell’s Sports Centre.

 

Damp, Cold, Muddy a game for the Purist……Not a Chance

Perthshire 2XV 15 – 8 Bannockburn

With conditions overcast and drizzle, the crowd expected a forward heavy game, however this was not the case. There was plenty of running rugby by Perthshire 2s and Bannockburn on display in this thrilling encounter.

The match began with Bannockburn taking an early try, the signs were it was going to be a long afternoon for Perthshire. However, Perth dug deep and defended for a long spell on their own try line, yet Bannockburn could not break through the line again.

Big power runs and tackles by Garry Coull on his return, defying his youthfulness, supported by his back row colleagues Shaun Barton & Matt Jenns made the hard yards and moved Perth up the field. Aided by the front five: father and son Stevie & Konner Willke, Mike Ryan, Lee Graham and Ryan Beaton; quality attacking ball was secured in the rucks and from their scrum domination all afternoon. However, after many pick up and drives near the posts, it took the power house scrumhalf Andy Sanderson to show the forwards how to drive over from close range to put Perthshire in the lead.

The game turned into arm wrestle, not only in the forwards, but the back line as well which consisted of John Kelly and Mikey Evans, pushing hard through the middle, tackling anything that came within a metre of them. This led to one of the biggest cheers of the game, when Mikey Evans decided to test his metal and run into three forwards hanging about on the wing, with only the young winger Blake Laidlaw for support. The three forwards licked their lips at what they thought was going to be an easy turn over. Young Blake had other ideas, and clamped on to the ruck and ensured “none shall pass”, until support arrived and the ball was recycled cleanly.

By this point, Perth had already accessed the bench, with Hector Inglis coming on as a blood sub twice, and the front row being swapped to maximise their “energy” for the match; with Calum Robertson (his newborn baby watching on), Allan Guild and Tom Sinclair slotting in and continuing Perthshire’s scrum dominance.

The half time score was 7-5. Campbell Watson and Dave Lewis, the Perthshire coaches, urged their team to stay focused and trust each other – this was game that would require them to fall back on their fitness and training. With a rejig of James Marley into second Row and Lee Graham moving to inside centre, the 2nd half started.

By this time Calum Bruce, Rab Pittendreigh and Angus MacPherson had been eyeing space behind, and kept Bannockburn pinned back in their own half. Bannockburn eventually managed to escape and received two penalties, missing one then scoring the other, to take the lead 7-8.

Once again an end-to-end affair, with Perth appearing to have the better chances throughout the match. Finally Perth responded with a well-executed move that was honed in training. Starting with No. 8 pick up from Garry Coull, it ended with Rab Pittendreigh romping home into the corner to extend their lead to 12-8.

A few minutes later, with Perth thinking they could put the game to bed, Calum Bruce put in a lovely cross-field kick which was grounded, but the referee deemed it out of bounds. However, the play was brought back for a penalty under the posts, which was successfully converted. With the score 15-8 in Perthshire’s favour Bannockburn, would need a try and conversion just to draw.

Bannockburn put heavy pressure on the Perth line for the final stages of the game, but the defence held strong. After repeated waves of big runners, Matt Jenns finally broke the siege by securing a valuable turnover in the dying minutes of the game allowing Perthshire to clear their lines.

The final act of the game was a scrum and a misplaced kick which ended the match; Perthshire 2s emerging as the victors.

Overall, it was an intense match that showcased both teams’ determination and skill. It was Perth’s well-executed moves and solid defence that ultimately secured them the win with all 20 players playing to the whistle and digging deep. The 2s now await the league split for the next list of fixtures to complete Caledonia Midlands 3. They take this victory as stepping stone for a strong finish to the season.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson.

Draw as Perthshire Entertain Pontarddulais

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Perthshire 26 – 26 Pontarddulais

Classic Tour fixture returns after 3 decade absence.

Not since 1993 had Pontarddulais RFC and Perthshire met. Previously there were regular matches between the 2 Clubs over a 25 year period starting on 31st January 1969. Most years the Clubs would visit one another while following the Five Nations Championship’s, Scotland v Wales matches.

Pontarddulais, or Bont as they are also known, took a 50+ strong touring party up with them from South Wales. Well lubricated and energised they took to the warm-up first before the Perthshire players had arrived and assembled. After a brief warm up the teams were marched onto the North Inch behind piper Arran Sheach, a welcome that was greatly appreciated by the Bont players and supporters who were cajoled out of the Bowling Club Bar by the skirl of the pipes.

The match was played in the spirit of friendship and free flowing exciting rugby over 3 periods of 20 minutes. The early exchanges were even, with both teams testing each other out. Perthshire scored first after an Aidan Watson break with support readily there John Kelly took the final pass to touchdown, the conversion scored by Calum Bruce.

Bont hit back within a few minutes. Perthshire were guilty of giving away penalties and the Welshmen took up the field, won a lineout and the forwards did the rest for an unconverted score. Perthshire were hit with early injuries and, with players yet to arrive, regular linesman Niall Menzies put down his flag stepping up for the first time in a Perthshire shirt since he played in the Tilburg Tour 2018, acquitting himself admirably until new substitutes came on.

Meanwhile Perthshire had survived after Bont came close and following an intercept & break by Calum Chalmers, the home team built the momentum; Jack High burst over from close range for ‘Shire’s second try before the end of the period, Calum Bruce again adding the extras.

Pontarddulais came out transformed in the second period. The mistakes and miscommunications corrected they put in quality phases. Strong running in the centres had the Eagles backpedalling on numerous occasions. Only some desperate last ditch tackles by Mikey Evans and Ross Goodison helped to keep them out. Further forays from the Welshmen were successful and Bont scored 2 tries to take the lead, 14-19.

Perthshire had gained some reinforcements and started to play more cohesively. Bont scored one more try before Rory Bayne finished off a flowing move & some deft passing to score a try converted by Calum Bruce, 21-26.

In the final period Perthshire continued to grow into the match as Pontarddulais tired. An unconverted Aidan Watson solo effort levelled the scores with 5 minutes left. Perthshire continued to pile on the pressure, the forwards taking on the ball and winning the hard yards.

In the final play Perthshire breached the Bont wall on the try line, however referee Craig Halley judged the ball held up and blew for fulltime. It was a draw 26-26, somewhat fitting for a friendly match played at pace and in good nature between two equally matched teams.

Rugby is about more than the sport, and friendships were made in the Bowling Club afterwards as players and supporters joined each other for a drink. The Welsh sang loudly and proudly the songs of their homeland. In a token of friendship Perthshire Club Captain, Ewan MacKessack-Leitch, presented the Pontarddulais Man of the Match, Josh Goss, and President, Darryll Howells, with Perthshire ties to take back to Wales with them. All being well, they will be wearing them next year when Perthshire look to the return fixture.

Then it was time for the Bont tour to depart, with a rousing rendition “Land of my Fathers” all 50+ shook hands and thanked their Perthshire hosts before stepping onto the bus.

League action returns to the North Inch this Saturday, with both Senior Men’s teams in action. The 1XV face local rivals Strathmore while the 2XV take on Bannockburn, both kick off at 2pm. These teams are close in the league tables, so it’s set up to be an enthralling afternoon. It will be a triple header on the North Inch as at 1pm the Colts will face Glenrothes U18s in the Saltire Energy Caledonia Youth Cup. Come on down and support all 3 teams.

Notice – James Yule

Perthshire Rugby is saddened to announce the death, on 1st February, of former President James Yule.

Jim was President during a golden period for the club during the seasons 1976-1977 and 1977-1978 which was shortly after the unofficial championship ended and Perthshire entered the new National Leagues. Adrian Dissell and Harry Lynch captained the club during Jimmy’s presidency and under his leadership the club fielded an impressive 5 senior teams.

Ably supported by his wife, Frances who predeceased him 2 years ago, Jim was a constant supporter at the North Inch and could be seen cajoling and encouraging the 1st XV from the touch line at every home match until ill health prevented him from attending.

His funeral will take place at Perth Crematorium on Wednesday 22nd February at 10:30am.