Flurry in a Hurry

/in /by

RVDC Ladies 26 – 98 Perthshire Women

Try heavy second half sees ‘Shire pull away and rack up a big score.

Due to a mixture of rest weeks and adverse weather conditions, Perthshire’s Women returned to competitive rugby after a 4 week break. This time playing away to Royal Dick Veterinary College Ladies RFC. The team was eager to continue their good run of form having only lost one fixture from six in their first season playing competitive league rugby. The weather in Edinburgh presenting good conditions for some flowing rugby, the Senior Women warmed up well before kick-off at 2pm.

From the get-go the ‘Shire played with structure. The forwards dominating and offloading well up the middle of the park. A back’s move was called which resulted in winger Emily Copas going through to get the first points on the board. Co-Captain Alex Ward cut through the enemy defence shortly with Sarah Blackwood successfully converting to make it 0-12.

Successive tries by fellow Co-Captain Heather McKenzie, as well as scrum half Anna Davies, took the ‘Shire Women to 0-27 after 20 minutes.

A young RDVC team, unable to penetrate the more physical Perthshire defence, managed to find space on the wing to get their first try of the match. Holes began to appear in the Perthshire line with RDVC scoring a further two tries which were all successfully converted bringing the score to 21-27 at half time.

At the break Coaches Arran Sheach and Rhys Darlington instructed the players that their defensive effort is where the game would be won. Once they could fix this issue, the rest would come.

Veteran Prop Fiona Gordon returning from injury, for the first time this season, joined the field as well as Zoe Fummey at openside flanker. Their presence was immediately felt with strong carries and hard tackling. Successive impactful carries from the base of the scrum lead to Co-Captain Heather McKenzie adding 3 more tries to her tally. With the defensive issues fixed, the backs were able to play a wider more open game resulting in a number of tries from Fly Half Chloe Bennett. All successfully converted to make it 21-44.

Due to injuries RDVC were reduced to 14 with Perthshire in good spirits, matching their numbers. Further strong carries from the forwards continued to allow Perthshire to advance up the pitch. Heather McKenzie not content with the 4 tries she already scored, decided to add an additional 4 tries to her tally in quick succession, to cement her place as the Player of the Match.

Strong carries by new winger Rhianna Lindridge and experienced centre Heather Kirkman created space which fullback Lydia McGinley took advantage of, putting Chloe Bennett into space on the wing for her 2nd and 3rd tries.

A 4th try by RDVC gave them a consolatory bonus point which for all their efforts felt deserved. After what felt like a long 80 minutes with each player leaving everything on the pitch, the ‘Shire women finished the day at 26-98 denied the tonne at the death.

The Women have their final league game away to Leith RFC this Sunday. After which the league will split in two with Perthshire already having secured their spot in the upper half.

Rugby at 100mph!

/in /by

Crieff & Strathearn 24 – 22 Perthshire Eagles

Late rally fails to overcome second half dip.

In total contrast to last weekend’s rain and flooding, Saturday was a windy yet bright sunny day. The newly christened Eagles (formerly 2XV) under Coach Craig Manson had a full squad of regular, new and returning players to pull on the Black & White of Perthshire. There was optimism following the last outing, a 36-22 victory against Waid Academy on the North Inch 2 weeks previously.

The opening plays were frantic. It was all Crieff, they took the ball hard to the line and asked difficult questions of the Perthshire defence. The Eagles held on, just, as Crieff hammered the line. Thomas Pounder seized his chance and intercepted on the goal-line, it was a sprint covering 95m he was just denied as an almighty cover tackle from the flying fullback bundled him into touch.

Perthshire used the field position to force a Crieff knock-on and from the base of the scrum Dane McGregor picked and went, his hulking frame just stopped short. The Eagles played a couple of phases but were illegally turned over. The penalty was tapped and taken back to the line, this time Alan Clark got the ball out to fly-half AJ Guthrie who’s dummy flummoxed the defence then a delayed pass found centre James Mair who dived over for the opening try. AJ duly converted, 0-7.

Keen to build the momentum from the restart, strong carries by Cameron Craig then Ross Goodison brought the Eagles right back into a solid attacking position. However, the support was missing and the ball lost. Defending, Perthshire swiftly regained the momentum courtesy of a Callum Coutts turnover but again impatience in attack lost possession.

Now it was Crieff’s turn to attack. They again worked the ball well but tackles from Alan Clark, James Mair and Ross Alexander kept them at bay. Winning the ball back, AJ Guthrie put in a sweet kick over the top to land a 50:22 and regain the upper hand.

A high tackle after the line out, gave ‘Shire a penalty which Alan Clark took quickly; Rab Pittendreigh nearly collected the floated pass with the try line beckoning. Instead ‘Shire with a few injuries and rejigging in the line settled down with AJ Guthrie kicking over for 3 points.

The tempo calmed for a few minutes and the Eagles switched off momentarily. The hosts took advantage and worked the ball out to the wing, where a sleepy defence did not respond, and crossed over in the corner for an unconverted try, 5-10.

This reenergised the match as both teams revved up again with play moving from end-to-end. James Mair won a crucial turnover defending on the 5m line, ‘Shire then crashed right up through the middle following a superb carry by James Whyte eating up the ground and swatting off defenders.

Crieff regained possession but a loose kick was gathered by Alan Clark who ran it back with added interest. The forwards ratcheted up the pressure as they barged their way to the line then Captain Ryan Beaton surged over to score. The conversion missed, the Eagles restored their 10 point lead.

It did not last to the end of the half. Missing first up tackles, ‘Shire were living dangerously and in their own half. Twice Perthshire won the ball back but could not escape their 22. The ball was held up over the line and Crieff came back again from the goal-line drop-out. The pressure told and on a switch of direction the Eagles were short and the home winger ran into the space to score in the corner.

Half time came and at 10-15, though ahead, the Eagles knew there was still a lot of work to be done.

The next 10 minutes were calamitous. The soft first up tackles continued and the scramble couldn’t compensate. Crieff crossed after gliding through the centre, despite Thomas Pounder covering and wrestling the scorer onto his back he was able to just ground the ball.

Minutes later, slicing through again Crieff ran over the dead ball, much to the home crowd’s consternation. This was amended soon after as the play broke up and Crieff ran it in under the posts, 24-15.

The second half tempo continued at a crazy pace. Both teams testing the limits of their skills in attack and not pulling it off. Despite Georgina Adams’ powerful shift repairing broken bodies the constant changes to the line up were affecting the Eagles’ ability to get into any rhythm or structure. Superb runs by Mikey Evans where he found the space dancing round defenders were not backed up and the forwards could not capitalise on barging carries by Ryan Beaton, James Marley & Kieran Maclean.

The momentum swung in Perthshire’s favour when, after one penalty too many, Crieff saw a player sent to the sin bin. The Eagles used the numerical advantage and sent the ball out to Thomas Pounder who again after covering most the distance was stopped short of the line and stretched to reach but was judged a double movement.

Camped in the 22, Perthshire struggled to get to the line. Eventually after multiple phases and repelled attacks Cameron Craig found the opening he needed. AJ Guthrie added the extras and it was a 2 point game with only minutes left on the clock.

The game ended as it had begun: high pace and chaotic. Perthshire were in the right position but a lack of composure allowed Crieff to win the ball back and boot it into touch to end an entertaining and breathless encounter.

The players knew they had let this one get away with lapses in concentration and weak tackles at times gifting Crieff the opportunities they needed. This was a performance to be proud of as the Perthshire Eagles seek to establish their identity and build into a force to be reckoned with. Huge credit to Connor Nicholls on his debut and to James Marley, Angus McGeoghie and James Whyte on their returns to Perthshire; all took their chance well and will be integral parts of the Eagles going forward.

That starts next week with a trip to top of the table Bannockburn. As the 1XV host Greenock Wanderers (location TBC after the North Inch flooding), Craig Manson needs as many players as possible to make themselves available so Perthshire can put out 2 full teams. Could YOU be one of them? All players of any ability are welcome to join, please e-mail senior@perthshire-rfc.co.uk for more information.

Photos taken by Mike Ryan.