Eagles Soar as North Inch Crowd Cheers

Perthshire 60 – 10 Greenock Wanderers

Large home support boosts Perthshire to strong win.

Only 3 weeks ago Perthshire travelled to Greenock and were beaten 32-16. Today was a chance to exact revenge and for the squad to show coaches Alan Clark & Kenny Christie they have learnt and are up for the fight to stay in National League rugby. With a large crowd rallied to support the boys in this key fixture they did not disappoint.

The sunshine brought out running rugby and Perthshire brought a discipline and focus not seen for years in a team wearing Black & White. The enthralling first half saw tries from Kyle MacKinnon, Jonny Armitt, Aidan Watson, Angus Walker and Dan Rae; 3 converted by Calum Bruce. Greenock getting one in response.

It was more of the same in the second half with Kieran Ramsay x2, Calum Chalmers x2 and Mat Rae all crossing the whitewash, with 2 conversions added from the boot of Aidan Watson. Greenock pulled one back and continued in the fight but it was Perthshire’s day. The pack dominance really asserted itself and the bounce of the ball went the Eagle’s way.

It has been a long time coming, the hard dark winter training maybe now bearing fruit. Next week sees a derby with Strathmore visiting the North Inch. Perthshire need to back this performance up with another against the Forfar men to show they mean business and it was not a once off. All welcome to join the support for what promises to be an enthralling encounter. Kick-off is 3pm.

Working up the Learning Curve

Perthshire 2XV 19 – 44 Waid Academy FP

Team improves as the match progresses

By Thursday night Dave Lewis had a squad named with a full bench for the match on Saturday. A different sort of selection headache for “Big Dave” as he had to decide which players were left out such was the availability across the Senior Squad.

The 22 players that took to field had a range of experience, there were 5 players making their Perthshire debut, for some their first rugby match ever, and others who have played for regularly for the 1XV, even just last week. Waid only had 14 players and elected to use Game On rules so the sides were matched at 14 each and the game reduced to 60 minutes played over 3x 20 minute periods. As it was a hot day regular water breaks would be necessary.

Perthshire started brightly kicking off and some aggressive defence put Waid back. However, after a couple of phases the line speed dropped off and Waid’s big carriers in the midfield started taking generous chunks of territory before getting stopped. This momentum told soon after as they crashed over for the opening score.

The same pattern followed with Waid making easy yards following weak tackling, ‘Shire guilty of going too high and getting bounced. Scott Tarrant chased back to put in a magnificent cover tackle after a clean break, getting his man down, the support was there and the offload made the try. Unfortunately having put his all into the tackle Scott’s arm took the full force and suffered a nasty fracture. Everyone wishes him well for a quick recovery.

Perthshire hadn’t really had the ball and when they did often the support was a bit too slow and the speed went out of the play or Waid effected the turnover. The benefits of training together began to show as the men in Black & White hit back after some good phase play. Awarded a scrum the pack surged forward and scrumhalf Jack Mcintosh, a live wire all day, spotted the opportunity to take from the base, dummy and back himself to the line for a try converted by Rab Pittendreigh.

There was time for Waid to score once more before the opening 20 minute period was over. The hard ground claiming it’s second victim as debutant Lewis Moffat was forced off with a knee injury from the cover tackle. Dave Lewis asked his players to stay connected in attack and defence and keep low in the tackle. Then they were ready and rehydrated for the second period.

With some rejigging in the squad ‘Shire were caught a bit off guard and Waid ran in 2 quick tries, again the first up tackling letting down the home team. However, Perthshire’s set piece dominance really started to show through. In the scrums Cameron McGougan and Stevie Wilkie were solid providing more quality ball for Jack Mcintosh. Meanwhile Kieran Maclean and Ewan MacKessack-Leitch were in complete control of the lineout, winning all their own ball and making life difficult for the Waid pack.

Around half way through this period Simon McGarry made another break and was supported by Callum Coutts, as they formed formidable centre partnership. Waid infringed and this gave ‘Shire a chance for a lineout close to the line. It was secured and Jack Mcintosh found his men in the back line. However, the home team couldn’t find the breakthrough. Waid were offside and penalised for this. Mcintosh took the tap quickly sending the forwards on a foray between the posts but just short, then he spun it out to the backs. The after a series of interlinking passes and offloads Callum Coutts crossed the line to pull one back for Perthshire.

Perthshire attacked again but were thwarted by some good Waid defence and counter-rucking. On the turnover, Waid found the space to go the length of the pitch, despite the cover tackles of David Hutchison and Rabson Chipakupaku who both sprinted at least half the pitch to bring down their opposite man before the quick ruck and offloads took Waid over the line.

Going into the final period Perthshire knew that 2 more tries would earn the bonus point and then possibly the chance to win it. Debutants Mika Gratzke, Ryan Beaton and David Donovan were on the pitch and made their presence known, tackling and barging through Waid in close quarters. As they did all match Arran Sheach, Simon McGarry and Calum Coutts were winning numerous ruck penalties as Waid went onto the backfoot. Converting this pressure into points was difficult. Lineouts were won, rolling mauls set, solid scrum platforms and incisive backs runs all came but the final pass or support was not there.

Then following more devastating runs in the centres the ball went out to Colin Smith who turned on the pace. After 40m the cover brought him down. Waid earned a scrum but couldn’t clear far and ‘Shire had the opportunity to attack again. Multiple ruck & offside penalties built up as Perthshire reached the 5m line. Club Captain, Ewan MacKessack-Leitch took it quickly and squeezed under the defender to score with about 7 minutes remaining. Rab Pittendreigh made the conversion.

One more try would have earnt the bonus point but despite good efforts, especially powerful runs by David Donovan, it never came. Waid instead managed a score in the closing stages.

Dave Lewis and Campbell Watson were proud of the performance from each player. Everyone stuck in and worked hard for their teammates. The team gelled more as the match progressed and if availability stays this good there are much better days to come, such is the potential waiting to be unleashed. Grangemouth 2XV are the challenge next week, also on the North Inch with kick-off 3pm.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson.