Bonus Point the Reward in Last Game of 2023

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Whitecraigs 40 – 27 Perthshire

Wind and penalties hamper ‘Shire on the road.

Although Whitecraigs sat third in the table before Saturdays match, Perthshire travelled down with confidence after a convincing win against Ross High and were looking to avenge a tight defeat against Whitecraigs earlier in the season. Despite leaving Perthshire in relative calm, they were met in Newton Mearns by a wind which was howling at an angle across the pitch and a light smirr of wind driven rain which would undoubtedly play its part in how the game was played.

Whitecraigs kicked to Perthshire and had quickly stripped possession to set up a good attacking opportunity within the first couple of minutes of the game. A kick through saw Rory Bayne scampering to gain possession a couple of metres from his own line, however Black and White jerseys managed to retain the ball and win a reprieve when Whitecraigs were penalised at the following ruck which allowed a clearance kick to touch. Although the game ebbed & flowed in the early exchanges, Perthshire were looking good with ball in hand. Powerful carries by James Mair and Calum Chalmers were providing excellent go forward and despite the challenging conditions the backs were looking to attack wide with John Kelly twice being snared by cover defence to prevent a clean break.

Perthshire were playing with advantage however and from the resulting penalty the ball was kicked into the left corner. The forwards then beautifully executed a lineout move straight from the training ground. As the ball was brought down it was fed to a looping Ross Goodison who interested the defence before firing a perfect pass to James Mair who still had work to do but powered through soft shoulders to make it over the line. Calum Bruce’s conversion was almost taken by the wind but glanced the right hand upright on its way through.
Whitecraigs 0 – 7 Perthshire

It was becoming apparent that the referee was prone to favouring the attacking side and with Whitecraigs making some powerful carries Perthshire’s penalty count began to rise. After a series of penalties lead to a Perthshire team warning, Whitecraigs opted to take a scrum on the Perthshire 5m line. Although the initial surge was repelled, a couple of phases later Whitecraigs worked the ball round the corner and were able to power over and score their first try of the afternoon. The successful conversion tying up the scores.
Whitecraigs 7 – 7 Perthshire

The resulting restart was allowed to bounce into touch by the home side and they were almost made to pay for this error after the lineout was stolen and Ross Goodison made a barnstorming run up the touchline to within a couple of metres of the line. Unfortunately, the ball was lost forward in the tackle and Whitecraigs broke out from the scrum attacking wide and making good yards. Again, Perthshire were on the wrong side of the referee and a series of penalties put them under pressure within their own half and on a second team warning from the referee. Almost inevitably a yellow card followed and Calum Bruce was the man sent to the sin bin following a seemingly harsh high tackle penalty. Whitecraigs didn’t take long to make the man advantage count, powering over in the left corner following a lineout. The tricky conversion into the wind was unsuccessful.
Whitecraigs 12 – 7 Perthshire

Perthshire defended the next 5 minutes bravely and some excellent rugby then took them deep into the Whitecraigs 22. Time and again they tried but failed to get over the line, until eventually they kicked a penalty to touch and lost the resultant lineout. Whitecraigs however could not clear their lines and James Mair was able to latch onto the ball on the floor and win a penalty. Having returned to the field, Calum Bruce split the uprights and reduced the deficit to 2 points.
Whitecraigs 12 – 10 Perthshire

After a spell of back and forth, Whitecraigs were next to put together a prolonged period of possession, moving the ball from side to side with powerful carries through the middle they eventually broke down a dogged Perthshire defence to score their third try of the day shortly before halftime. It could have been worse for Perthshire as there was still time before the half for another attack by the home side, however despite knocking on the door for multiple phases Perthshire’s defence held firm and eventually a dropped ball brought about the reprieve of the half time whistle.
Half Time: Whitecraigs 19 – 10 Perthshire

Although the first 10 minutes of the second half were relatively even, Whitecraigs then struck to extend their advantage. It was set up after a free-flowing break down the right wing. Although the initial break was stopped short of the line, a few phases later an offload out of a tackle in the middle of the field allowed a converted try to be scored under the posts.
Whitecraigs 26 – 10 Perthshire

Whitecraigs now had their tails up but despite a period of territorial dominance, Perthshire defended gamely and then from nowhere struck back with a try of their own. As Whitecraigs moved the ball to the left, defensive pressure forced the error and Rory Bayne was fastest to react and hack the ball forward. Despite some awkward bounces his footballing skills allowed him to twice kick the ball forward at full pace and with the ball eventually evading Rory and the cover defence, Rabson Chipakupaku was on hand to scoop up and sprint the final 30 meters to score the try. Calum Bruce was on target with the conversion.
Whitecraigs 26 – 17 Perthshire

Perthshire were hoping to build on this try, however a dropped ball in their own 22 provided Whitecraigs dominant scrum an excellent attacking platform. The backs put it to good use, pulling the ball wide and breaking through down the right side. The conversion took the score to;
Whitecraigs 33 – 17 Perthshire

Undeterred Perthshire continued to try and play free flowing rugby. Some excellent attacking play brought them deep into the Whitecraigs half but again they struggled to capitalise and get the ball over from short range. On this occasion after a number of phases and penalty advantage, a miscommunication in the lineout allowed Whitecraig’s the chance to clear.

Thankfully it proved to be only a temporary reprieve for the home side as Perthshire spun the ball wide from 30m out and Aedan Milne sliced through the defensive line, drew the last defender and passed to John Kelly who had the pace to score in the corner. Calum Bruce was unsuccessful with the touchline conversion into the wind.
Whitecraigs 33 – 22 Perthshire

With the clock ticking down Perthshire were now throwing the ball about in an effort to get a bonus point try and reduce the deficit. Unfortunately, this backfired after a dropped ball on their own 22 provided Whitecraigs the scrum platform to once again cross the Perthshire line. This time it was the Whitecraigs inside centre who stepped inside the sliding defence to score underneath the posts.
Whitecraigs 40 – 22 Perthshire

Desperate to get something from the game, Perthshire turned Whitecraigs over in their own half and began playing expansive rugby in the search for the 4th try. At one stage Perthshire thought they had scored when Aedan Milne chased a kick through however, he was just beaten to the ball and the goal line drop out allowed Whitecraigs to clear.

Despite a monopoly on territory and possession for the last 5 minutes of the game, and numerous penalties and attacking platforms, it took until the 79th minute before Lewis Murrie slipped over in the left corner to secure the bonus point which Perthshire’s efforts deserved. Calum Bruce’s touchline conversion never stood a chance into the gale and the game ended.
Full Time: Whitecraigs 40 – 27 Perthshire

Perthshire’s next match will be at home on January 13th when we will host a double header on the North Inch. The Eagles will play Bannockburn while the 1XV face local rivals Strathmore in what is sure to be an entertaining encounter. Both games kick off at 2pm.

As there are no further games in 2023 it just leaves us to wish all of our members and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Wind, Rain and Tries

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Perthshire 51 – 22 Ross High

Despite the dark & wet, ‘Shire shine with 8 try victory.

The frost had thawed but the weather was wet. Not appealing conditions for the players nor the few hardy souls who came to watch. However, these spectators were rewarded with the best performance of the season from Perthshire.

In did not start too well for the Eagles, running back the kick-off Kieran Ramsay, on his return from injury, made good inroads but the tackle that brought him down also broke his nose and he was off within a minute. Cameron Craig entering the match much earlier than anticipated.

This did not deter ‘Shire who looked eager and dangerous with ball in hand. After a couple of phases Rory Bayne found the gap to go through. Chipping the ball on, it was a foot race which the covering fullback just won to save a try. Ross High cleared but it this was only a temporary reprieve.

Big hits in defence, led by Dan Rae forced a turnover. At the scrum ‘Shire exploited holes in the defence to push forward. The visitors slowed it down illegally, penalised by the referee, Lewis Murrie took it quickly and made a 40m dash before he was caught and offloaded to Dan Rae who carried & shipped it to Angus Walker. He was just denied, but recycling the ball a short pick & pass gave Ben Marshall the momentum to stretch over for an unconverted try.

Ross High now took the ball on but to no avail through the ‘Shire defence. A turnover by James Mair ending their attack. However they soon returned, ratcheting up the pressure and some hard direct carries by the men from Tranent worked into the ‘Shire 22. They were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts which they converted, 5-3.

At the restart Cameron Craig took a nasty twist to end his match hobbling off with a knee injury so Dan Rae moved to the forwards with AJ Guthrie coming in to the centre. The match restarted with a scrum, seizing a massive blindside, Lewis Murrie took the ball and sprinted past the halfway line to before offloading to Thomas Pounder who went deep into the 22 before being brought down. The support was there and few carries worked the ball infield before getting sent out to Ross Goodison who used his footwork to better the defender, then with a burst of pace crossed the try line. Calum Bruce adding the extras from in front of the posts.

The momentum swung back to Ross High who after a series of short carries worked up the pitch to the try line before ‘Shire pinched the ball. The referee judged this illegal and awarded Ross High a penalty; they tapped and went one way then back towards the touchline, the last man crossing the whitewash in the corner for an unconverted try, 12-8.

With such poor conditions and a heavier pack Ross High tried to use the high ball to put ‘Shire under pressure. They had not counted on fullback Rory Bayne who repeatedly took possession in acres of space and then picked his line to run it back with interest throughout the match.

Perthshire’s third try came from this set-up, as Rory Bayne caught then ran back the ball before offloading to John Kelly, who tried to grubber through. Ross High secured the ball only to kick it back into Rory Bayne’s arms again, and this time he did all the work to run round and through 5 defenders on his way to the line. It was a tough angle from out wide, but Calum Bruce struck it well to convert, 19-8.

Ross High missed a shot at goal after a high tackle and tempers began to fray in the forwards. This added a bit of mettle to ‘Shire who channelled the aggression as exemplified by a Lewis Murrie tackle on his opposite scrum half at the back of a scrum, the ‘Shire forwards surging over to win the penalty.

Now in the opposition half ‘Shire were trying too hard in the conditions and lost the ball, Ross High kicked it away, but Rory Bayne was waiting and ran it right back again. Having sucked the defence in there was a space in the midfield and at first receiver Ben Marshall tipped on to Club Captain Rhys Darlington who suddenly found clear grass in front of him. The prop ran, and kept running right into the 22, before finally getting caught. A cross field kick attempt missed but returning for the penalty the pack took charge, within 2 phases of taking it short, James Mair scored in the corner.

The conversion was missed but almost immediately from the restart Angus Walker jackaled to win a penalty and Calum Bruce was on target. The referee called half-time with ‘Shire ahead 27-8.

The second half started with a bang. Combining in defence Tom Colvin followed by Simon McGarry forced a knock-on and ‘Shire scooped up the ball. From the middle a wide pass went out to Rory Bayne who seared into the 22, drawing all the defenders to him before releasing John Kelly who injected more pace to blitz down the touchline before running in between the sticks. Calum Bruce converted, 34-8.

Minutes later Rory Bayne again broke free and was stopped 5m out. The ball went to the right then was whipped out to the left, the passing not quite crisp enough stalling the pace so Simon McGarry was just denied in the corner and ‘Shire were then penalised at the ruck. Ross High missed touch and rued it as Tom Colvin was on the end of a flowing move with multiple offloads to score a try under the posts, 41-8.

The game turned on its head for the next 20 minutes. Gone was the attack and flair that started the half. It was turgid, brutal forward plays or direct runs and all Ross High. Try as they might the Eagles could not get out of their own half. The penalty count crept up but the resolve did not, demonstrated by solid tackles from Ben Marshall and Laurence Knight, then Simon McGarry stripping the ball to save a try over the line.

The visitors came back again, even with the fresh legs of Kieran Maclean and Aedan Milne on for Thomas Pounder and Angus Walker, the siege was not lifted. Eventually Ross High bludgeoned their way over after some hard runs getting the better of a softened Back & White line, 41-15.

More needless penalties, compounded the pressure, Perthshire fortunate the referee’s patience was saintly as it must have been close to a yellow card such was the penalty count.

Ross High looked good to score having worked an overlap but a forward pass saved ‘Shire. From the scrum deep in the 22, AJ Guthrie dummied and found a gap, he was stopped but, quickly recycled, the ball went out wide to Rory Bayne who jinked his way in behind Ross High, before offloading to Aedan Milne. With 60m to go and not much space the winger showed all his pace, poise & power to outfox the defenders and cover the whole distance to score in the corner, a stunning try!

Minutes later a scrum on the left touchline at halfway was set, the ball came cleanly out to the back line who running different lines confounded Ross High who could not live with Aedan Milne as he crossed again, though this time not from as far out. Calum Bruce just missed the conversion, 51-15.

The game ended 2 minutes later after Ross High scored their third try following a quick tap taking advantage of an disorganised and tired ‘Shire defence.

Plenty of positives for ‘Shire to build on, at times things just worked and the rugby looked good. A solid shift from the forwards allowed the space and time for the backline, superbly marshalled by halfbacks Lewis Murrie & Calum Bruce, to show their quality. Head Coach Smudge will have some selection conundrums with all players putting in a shift. The final game of 2023, will see Perthshire travel to Newton Mearns to face Whitecraigs and aim put right the 5 point loss when the sides met at the North Inch earlier on this season.

Meanwhile the Eagles lost 0-52 to the league leaders Crieff. A tough game where the players never really felt they got going. However, on the positive side there were Perthshire debuts for David Wakefield, Kieran Cruden and Jim Leishman; and brothers Jonny and Andrew Venter made their first senior rugby starts. Special mention must also go to Mark Morgan, who put in a Man-of-the-Match performance in his first game since collecting his bus pass! The Eagles will keep training over winter to be prepared for the next fixture on 13th January.

Photographs taken by Peter Wilkinson.