Eagles Land a Dazzling Dozen

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Perthshire 82 – 5 Panmure

A Watson quadruple and hattricks from Milne & Bayne light up the North Inch.

After 2 matches on the road, Perthshire held their first home match of Arnold Clark Caledonia Region League Division 1 welcoming Panmure to the North Inch. A small crowd assembled, that grew as the game progressed, witnessing the fine form ‘Shire have achieved as they sought to make it 3 wins from 3 outings.

The home team kicked off into wind and Panmure let it bounce. This stalled the rushing defence as the Broughty Ferry team spun it to the other side and ran clean through a gap, getting to the tryline only to be held up. Perthshire failed to adequately clear, gave a penalty away, which was taken quickly and Panmure crashed over in the corner. The conversion fell short but for the first time this season Perthshire were behind, 0-5.

The Eagles seemed stunned and struggled to get their rhythm, some good attacks came but were frustrated by loose handling or forced off-loads. One area of constant dominance was the scrum and this gave ‘Shire plenty of attacking ball. After striking one against the head, the home team made it up to the line. Opting for a scrum option from a 5m penalty the ball did the hard work getting out to Aedan Milne who, taking an offload from Rory Bayne, danced down the touchline to beat the cover and score. Calum Bruce slotted the conversion and Perthshire were in front, 7-5.

The match now got stuck in midfield as both teams playing at a frenetic pace could not keep a hold of the ball. Then it was Perthshire’s turn to defend within their 22 and they absorbed what seemed like a ton of pressure before forcing Panmure to knock on. From the scrum Simon McGarry at No. 8 picked and ran past the halfway before he was hauled down. On the front foot a series of quick carries from Dan Rae & Ross Goodison got in to the 22 where the Rhys Darlington was given the ball and charged the final 8m to smash over under the posts for a converted try, 14-5.

Again the gameplay settled into a lull as neither team could keep possession for more than 3 phases. Then a clean lineout take allowed Ian Kerr a run at the centres and he used his power to pull in multiple defenders. This opened the space for the backs and slick hands from AJ Guthrie found Rory Bayne who seared down the touchline then round under posts to give Calum Bruce the easiest of conversions, 21-5.

With momentum, another Rory Bayne inspired attack ended with a forward pass on 10m line. However, the pack had the upper hand and won the scrum against head, the ball spilling out. Aidan Watson reacted quickest and skipped through the broken defence and offloaded to Angus Wlaker as the cover caught them on the 22. Lewis Murrie was fast to the ruck and sent the ball to Aidan Watson, back in position, who sent a long wide pass out to the left wing, which was shifted once more to Aedan Milne who evaded the cover and dived over in the corner, 26-5.

Next Lewis Murrie was rewarded with a try. He looked sharp all match seeking the edge around the ruck and after sparking an attack from the back of a scrum, finished it a few minutes later as he found another gap on the fringe and darted over unopposed to dot down by the left post. Calum Bruce was back on target and within a few minutes halftime was called with Perthshire comfortably ahead 33-5.

The second half started as the first ended with scrum superiority, boosted yet further with Blair Twaddell back on following some ankle reinforcement. Panmure were pushed off their own ball then at the next scrum pushed back further conceding a penalty. Shaping up to kick for touch and despite being in their own half, Aidan Watson heard the call, tapped and passed wide where Rory Bayne got in behind a static defence then picked out Lewis Murrie who had only the fullback to beat; just held the sweetest of backhand offloads popped into Aidan Watson’s hands for a try under posts, 40-5.

The next try had a slower build up as Panmure absorbed lots pressure then took possession. However they could not escape their own half and a ferocious double tackle by Jonny Venter & Angus Walker dislodged the ball which, quick as a flash Andrew Sanderson, scooped up and shot out to Aidan Watson who in one side-step beat 4 defenders to sprint in between the posts.

Still the Broughty Ferry team could not get any territory and were held back in their own half. Under pressure a fluffed clearance kick gave ‘Shire a lineout 30m out. It wasn’t the tidiest but the ball was scrambled to Aidan Watson who taking advantage of the chaos, side-stepped again, this time to beat 5 on-rushing defenders then another 3 as he ran back through the lineout to dive over. A trickier angle, but Calum Bruce slotted the conversion, 54-5.

From the restart the ball was passed to Ross Goodison who ran, rolled and fended his way 10m taking in 6 tacklers. A quick ruck allowed Anderw Sanderson to find Rory Bayne at first receiver to ran 60m and cross the whitewash. Again not an easy kick but Calum Bruce split the posts, 61-5.

Straight off the restart Perthshire ran deep back into Panmure territory but an interception, then penalty, allowed a clearance kick out of their own half. However, Simon McGarry stole the lineout and the ball went through the hands in the backline to Rory Bayne who had the overlap and scored his hattrick.

Panmure had no answers to ‘Shire and despite a brief foray were soon backpedalling, another dominant scrum created the platform for fast passing along the backline to Aedan Milne who sprinted down the touchline to take his hattrick too. Calum Bruce was on target with this as well, 75-7.

The visitors had a promising attack and a kick chase just went out. Perthshire won the lineout then a series of carries by Laurence Knight & Jonny Venter with ambitious offloads stuck and the ball got to Aidan Watson in acres of space where he beat last defender to cruise in for his fourth try. Calum Bruce claiming the 2 points to make it 11 out of 12 from the boot, 82-5.

The match was nearly over and put to bed but there was still determination from ‘Shire. This was exemplified by the biggest cheer of the afternoon when, newly appointed Club Captain, Dan Rae put in a solid tackle knocking his opposite man back and into next week.

Full time came and Perthshire, despite a soft start, grew into and dominated for 75 minutes. Though the backs made the score there was no doubt the efforts of front rowers Rhys Darlington, Ross Goodison, Blair Twaddell, Cameron Craig and Will Campbell in controlling & overpowering the scrum made the result. Credit also to Angus Walker & Simon McGarry who’s support secured numerous quick rucks and delivered turnovers; and centres Calum Bruce & AJ Guthrie who used their nous & hands to get the ball to the players in space allowing the back 3 to make huge inroads. No quarter was given.

Coaches Dave Nowell-Cook and Sarah Hogwood were happy with the score but know sterner tests will follow; and now have some selection dilemmas with the likes of Jonny Venter, Will Campbell and Thomas Pounder making strong cases for regular inclusion in the 1XV.

Next week is a rest then the Perthshire derby will see ‘Shire travel to undefeated Blairgowrie for a fascinating encounter on 28th September. If you can, join the crowd and support the ‘Shire – it promises to be a cracker!

On the road to Dundee Medics a depleted Eagles (2XV) side were on the wrong end of a 153-0 scoreline, but Coach Dave Hutchison was proud of the effort his players put in for the full 80 minutes against a fit and dynamic student outfit. Numbers should be better next week (21st September) when Rosyth Sharks visit the North Inch for the Eagles’ first home match of the league. Come down to support at 3pm.

Photographs taken by Peter Wilkinson.

Dundee Decisively Dispatched

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Dundee Valkyries 12 – 72 Perthshire Women

Perthshire Women secured a decisive 72-12 victory over Dundee Valkyries in their opening match of the season. Despite the overcast conditions, it was a great day for rugby, and Perthshire made a strong start from the kick-off. Early touches from Claire Rae and Suzanne Rennie, both returning from injury, set the tone, and Perthshire’s scrum was dominant throughout.

Perthshire’s first try came from a breakaway by Alex Ward, with excellent support play from Paula Watson and an impressive finish by Lydia McGinley. Ward successfully converted, putting Perthshire up 7-0. They soon extended their lead with a try from Watson after a clever kick and chase, though the conversion was missed. Dundee answered back with their first try, but failed to convert, leaving the score at 12-5.

Perthshire continued to dominate with powerful runs and sharp passing. Alex Ward added another try, converting it herself to extend the lead to 19-5. Strong play from Paige Klinkman and teamwork led to another try by Sarah “Rocky” Blackwood, which Ward converted, pushing the score to 26-5.

Dundee fought back and scored their second try just before halftime, narrowing the gap to 26-12. The second half saw Perthshire maintain their momentum, with Lily Beaton scoring shortly after the restart. Sophie Buggins added to the scoreline with another try, and Beaton soon scored her second.

Perthshire’s relentless attack continued with contributions from Becca Carroll, whose strong run kept play in Dundee’s half, and Beaton completing her hat trick. Sophie Buggins scored again, and Heather McKenzie added another try after a clever dummy from Ward, who converted to make it 53-12.

As the game neared its conclusion, Lisa Hamilton-Martin powered through the Dundee defence to set up Buggins for her hat trick. Despite a yellow card for Alex Ward, Perthshire’s defence held firm, and they continued to push forward. Beaton scored again for her third try, and after returning from the sin bin, Ward capped off a dominant performance with a try under the posts, with Libby converting.

Perthshire’s commanding 72-12 win showcased their strength, depth, and skill, setting a high standard for the season ahead.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson.

Eagles Strike 11 Times

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Grangemouth 14 – 73 Perthshire

Perthshire delivered a commanding performance against Grangemouth, securing a decisive 73-14 victory in a match characterized by relentless attacking play and clinical finishing.

The visitors wasted no time in asserting their dominance, with Lewis Murrie scoring the opening try within the first five minutes. Callum Bruce, who had an outstanding game with the boot, successfully converted to make it 7-0. Perthshire continued to pile on the pressure, and Thomas Pounder crossed the line for their second try, with Callum Bruce adding the extras to extend their lead to 14-0.

Shaun Barton added another try at the 19th-minute mark, followed by a flurry of tries from Ross Goodson and Andrew Guthrie, further stretching the lead to 29-0. Callum Bruce converted Andrew Guthrie’s try, bringing the score to 31-0. Rory Bayne joined the scoresheet with a powerful run, and another conversion by Callum Bruce made it 38-0 at halftime.

After the break, Perthshire maintained their momentum. Andrew Guthrie quickly scored again just minutes into the second half, with Callum Bruce once again converting to make it 45-0. Rory Bayne added his second try of the day, followed by another conversion from Callum Bruce, pushing the score to 52-0.

Aidan Watson then took centre stage with a brace of tries in quick succession, both converted by Callum Bruce, to bring the score to 66-0. As the game drew to a close, Ian Kerr added another try at the 71st minute, and Callum Bruce’s final conversion sealed a 73-0 lead for Perthshire.

Grangemouth, however, showed resilience and managed to score two late tries and conversions when fatigue set in for Perthshire, bringing the final score to 73-14.

Perthshire’s dominance was clear throughout, with a well-rounded performance from both their forwards and backs. Callum Bruce’s exceptional kicking added 19 points to their total, while Andrew Guthrie, Rory Bayne, Aidan Watson, and others showcased the depth and talent within the squad. Despite the late points conceded, Perthshire’s commanding display will give them great confidence moving forward in the season.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson.

Up and Running Riot!

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Dundee 2XV 7 – 62 Perthshire

A Positive Start to the League for Perthshire.

Perthshire 1XV kicked off their Arnold Clark Caledonia Region League Division 1 campaign with a convincing 62-7 victory away against Dundee 2XV. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Dundee 2XV showed flashes of great play, but they were ultimately overwhelmed by a dominant Perthshire side.

Perthshire took control early, with Calum Bruce calmly slotting a penalty to put the visitors ahead 3-0. Aidan Watson, who would later be named Man of the Match, powered over for the opening try following a well-timed assist from Ollie Martins Da Silva, who was making his senior league debut. Calum Bruce added the conversion to extend the lead to 10-0.

Ollie Martins Da Silva continued to orchestrate the attack, setting up Aedan Milne for a try. Another accurate conversion from Calum Bruce pushed the score to 17-0. Aedan Milne soon added his second try, this time assisted by Rory Bayne, with Calum Bruce maintaining his perfect record from the tee, taking it to 24-0.

Dundee had a few moments of great play, attempting to disrupt Perthshire’s rhythm with strong defensive efforts and brief attacking forays. However, just before halftime, Ollie Martins Da Silva executed a brilliantly read interception, racing clear to score a try, and with Calum B’s perfect conversion streak continuing, Perthshire surged ahead to 31-0. Dundee struggled to break down Perthshire’s defence and failed to score any points in the first half.

Perthshire maintained their momentum into the second half. Rhys Darlington opened the scoring with a try that was converted by Calum Bruce to make it 38-0. Shortly after, Shaun Barton made a brilliant break, offloading to Aedan Milne, who completed his hat-trick. Another successful conversion from Calum Bruce extended the lead to 45-0.

Rory Bayne added another try, though Calum Bruce missed the conversion, bringing the score to 50-0. Simon McGarry then scored after receiving a well-timed pass from Ollie Martins Da Silva, and Calum Bruce added two more points to make it 57-0.

Dundee, to their credit, kept fighting and were rewarded with a well-deserved try after a period of sustained pressure. They converted successfully, bringing their tally to 7 points.

However, Perthshire continued to dominate the final stages, with their last try coming from Ollie Martins Da Silva, who finished off a slick passing sequence involving Lewis Murrie, Calum Bruce, AJ Guthrie, and Shaun Barton. Although the conversion was missed, the final scoreline was a commanding 62-7.

Despite the scoreline, Dundee 2XV had several moments of impressive play, particularly in defence and during their late attacking surge. However, Perthshire 1XV’s cohesive team performance, marked by strong attacking moves and defensive performance, was too much to handle.

Man of the Match: Aidan Watson – not just for his early try but for the way he controlled the game showing his leadership skills and experience to manage frustrations, guiding his team mates and demonstrating a different side to his game.

Notable Performance: Ollie Martins Da Silva had an outstanding senior league debut, contributing two tries and several assists, proving himself a key player in Perthshire’s commanding win.

Photographs taken by Peter Wilkinson.

Determined but Defeated

Kirkcaldy 2XV 69 – 0 Perthshire Eagles

It was a challenging afternoon for the Perthshire Eagles as they went down 69-0 to the newly reformed Kirkcaldy 2XV in a trip to Beveridge Park. The hosts were clearly out to make a statement as contenders for the league title but despite the one-sided scoreline, there were positives for the Eagles to take away from this encounter, particularly in terms of endurance and discipline against a team with superior numbers.

Kirkcaldy rushed to 2 quick scores before Perthshire, inspired by Jonny Venter, went on the attack. Working well with Lewis Gray at scrumhalf they found spaces and made yards. The support was not there to capitalise as Kirkcaldy were fast and accurate at every breakdown. A counterattack saw the Fife men fly back down the pitch to score their 3rd try.

Undeterred Perthshire went back again and this time solid carries from Gus MacFarlane & James Marley told as ‘Shire patiently worked up the pitch. Another attack by Jonny Venter sliced open the field his offload making it to Thomas Pounder who was caught and stopped inches from the line. Kirkcaldy turned over and cleared the line but were soon back under the cosh as from 70m out Perthshire worked the ball to the right and Thomas Pounder rounded the last winger and was off. Chased by 5 men he chipped and was taken out before he could regather. Jonny Venter scooped up the loose ball and sprinted to 5m out before offloading to Sam Hutchison, who couldn’t quite stretch across the whitewash. The forwards carried but couldn’t cross either. Despite Kirkcaldy seeing a yellow card for repeated infringements the Eagles were unable to capitalise and were punished as the home team engineered a counterattack before another 2 tries ended the half 31-0.

In the second half Captain Hector Inglis led by example never giving up and inspiring his team to keep working for every ball and tackle. This showed as centres Pete Cowen & Dave Hutchison used the space created skillfully by flyhalf Jonny Venter to get in behind and cause chaos in Kirkcaldy’s’ defence. When defending debutant Cameron Fisher and Calum Duncan repeatedly put their bodies on the line, while Jamie Yellowley was a nuisance at the breakdown frustrating Kirkcaldy’s quick ball.

The home team had a full bench and this told as their score grew. The Eagles managed to see out the full 80 minutes without any injuries or players leaving the pitch, showcasing resilience under pressure; exemplified by Sam Hutchison who chased back numerous runners stopping more scores. The ‘Shire discipline was notable, with only a few minor incidents in the closing stages of the game, while Kirkcaldy 2XV struggled to maintain their composure, accruing a significant number of penalties throughout the match.

From a team performance perspective, the Eagles’ scrum, anchored by Stevie Wilkie & Cameron Craig, stood out as a solid area, holding its own against a tough opposition pack. Endurance will be a key focus for future training sessions.

While the result was not what the Eagles were hoping for, they showed moments of grit and determination that will serve them well in the season to come. In the end the scoreline did not reflect the effort from the Eagles who were unlucky to not add their own points. Gus MacFarlane shone bright in a tough game and was deservedly named Player of the Match for his all-around performance, demonstrating skill and determination in every phase of play.

Onward to the next challenge, another trip to Fife, as the Eagles take on Dunfermline 2XV, a 3pm kick-off at McKane Park.