Try, Try and Try Again, Eagles’ Lesson for Ardrossan

Perthshire 36 – 25 Ardrossan Academicals

Ramsay hattrick helps ‘Shire in second half fightback

The emotions of the Perthshire supporters swung from utter despair to sheer delight as the Eagles overturned a 12-22 deficit at half time into a 36 point try fest at the end. Shire were 5 points down within 2 minutes as Ardrossan’s strong runners forced a penalty and then ran in for an unconverted try. The weather conditions were atrocious and the swirling wind and driving rain made handling and kicking very difficult. Perthshire tried to keep the game tight and were rewarded after 10 minutes when Matt Jenns finished off several phases of play to batter over the line.

Ardrossan made several surging breaks from the back of the scrum and although the Perthshire defence was generally strong it eventually caved in and Ardrossan took full advantage to score two tries in quick succession. Perthshire looked rattled and they started to fall off tackles and concede penalties allowing Ardrossan to dominate this spell of play; although they managed to win a penalty which was kicked into touch and the forwards took the ball magnificently from the lineout. A well-controlled maul charged over the line and Kieran Ramsay claimed the touchdown to bring Shire right back into the game.

However, Shire’s penalty count was destroying their attempt to maintain any sort of control over the game and when they conceded their tenth penalty of the half, Ardrossan took it quickly and with a two man overlap they cantered in for another 7 points on the stroke of half time. Shire suffered a further blow when Ewen MacDonald, who was a huge influence in the scrum as well as carrying the ball, had to retire injured.

Another blow early in the 2nd half saw centre James Armstrong carried off and Mat Rae had to move to centre from the wing but whatever Alan Clark said to the boys at half time certainly had the desired effect. The forwards kept hold of the ball in the tricky conditions and every single one of them played their part in driving into and beyond the Ardrossan defence. They drove up to the Ardrossan line but a certain try was lost after they were penalised yet again but when they regained possession, Scott Alcorn was sent clear and 99 times out of a 100, he could be relied on to outpace his opposite number but on this occasion he was caught and tackled.

Shire didn’t give up though and after another series of pick and drives from the forwards that man Ramsay did it again as he dived under the posts. Shire were on fire now and although there might not have been any frills about their game plan it was very effective. After another series of forward drives, Aidan Watson elected to spread the ball wide and this time Jay Pettie’s strong running resulted in a try right at the corner flag and he did a good job to stay in play despite being tackled on the line.

Ardrossan hit back with a penalty to regain the lead after a high tackle but once again the Eagles’ forwards took control and although all eight forwards plus centre Mat Rae were involved it was Kieran Ramsay who delivered the killer try and with Calum Bruce’s conversion, Shire were back in the lead.

Dan Rae in his first match back since injury crowned a typical tenacious display with his try to seal Shire’s first victory of the season. All of Perthshire’s forwards deserve special mention for their efforts and if this can be repeated then we should look forward to many more victories.

This match will have done wonders for confidence in the 1XV, but the players will realise that conceding a penalty every 4 minutes on average in the first half was instrumental in their slow start. Next up is an away trip to the undefeated Hillhead Jordanhill which promises to be a real humdinger of a game. All supporters are most welcome to travel on the team bus which will leave the Clubhouse at 12:30pm.

The 2XV suffered a Deflating Defeat at Dundee, but Dave Lewis’ men will take inspiration from the 1s at training this week to put right the wrongs ahead of facing Grangemouth 2XV on the North Inch this Saturday 3pm, all supporters not going to Glasgow welcome to cheer on the 2s.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson