Perthshire take the fight to Gordonians

Perthshire 21 – 38 Gordonians

Captains lead the scoring as ‘Shire stress the league leaders

Recent weather has frustrated Perthshire with matches called off. For this match, the conditions were perfect and the North Inch welcomed a healthy crowd to watch an enthralling and quality display of rugby. At the away fixture, Gordonians swatted away a depleted injury-riddled Perthshire 104-5 at Countesswells. Head Coach Alan Clark, with a near full squad to select from this time around, put out a much stronger team and asked his players to believe in themselves and take the game to the high-flying league leaders.

The opening minutes saw ‘Shire defending; conceding a scrum in the 22 after failing to clear. Gordonians took their first real chance and hit up before the ball was spun out to wing to outrun the defence and score a converted try.

The Eagles hit back with multiple phases of quick attacks. Aidan Watson at scrumhalf varying the attacking lines from shorter to longer balls keeping Gordonians on their toes. Strong picks and carries from Calum Chalmers and Rhys Darlington earned hard yards and good field position. With momentum building the ball was passed wider but the Gordonians line-speed forced Shire to drop it, then the defence hacked the ball downfield. Winning the foot race the Aberdeen men were under the posts for their second try, 0-14.

Undeterred Perthshire rebuilt their attack. More quick phases, with Tom Colvin and Angus Walker key in creating ruck speed, forced Gordonians into conceding a penalty. From the lineout, a driving maul started, once stopped, the forwards continued the hard work edging closer to the line. Rory Bayne added dynamism by bringing the backline into the attacks at a wider position. Gordonians successfully defended the line but conceded a penalty in the process. Perthshire took a quick tap on the 5m and after a quick recycle of the ball Vice-captain James Mair squeezed over for the well deserved try. Jonny Armitt made the conversion from a difficult angle, 7-14.

An even affair followed with the momentum ebbing & flowing between the teams. Neither able to break down the other, despite some hard running lines and slick hands, both defences held firm. Dan Rae was determined & unbreakable in defence while Ewen MacDonald carried & battered forward remorselessly. A faltering Perthshire lineout was the breakthrough Gordonians needed earning cheap possession deep in the home team’s half. Hammering up the middle they came very close, before a looping run to the left flank outmanoeuvred the ‘Shire defence to get a try in the corner. The conversion fell short.

There was still more action to come before halftime. A sweetly weighted kick from AJ Guthrie was collected by John Kelly who got in behind to create front foot ball. The whole team then seemed to get a carry as the Black & White shirts bludgeoned their way up to the try line. The excitement was too much and Perthshire were penalised for sealing off the ball from an intense defensive jackaling effort.

Perthshire immediately stole the lineout and were back on the line within a minute. This time Gordonians were penalised at the ruck. From the short penalty, the pack punched through and then created the space for James Mair to claim his second try in the corner. Jonny Armitt had his kicking boots with him as he slotted the ball from wide. The referee blew then for halftime with the score 14-19.

The second half started but now it was Perthshire who were guilty of giving penalties away. Gordonians took their chance to score an early try out wide, in the process Tom Whamond came off injured in another blow as he had been very influential on the breakdowns up to that point.

Penalties continued to hurt Perthshire and they swiftly returned to defending their line. The referee’s patience then wore out and Arran Sheach, freshly on the pitch, was sent back to the touchline for 10 minutes in the Sin Bin. It was a harsh call and lit a fire in the North Inch team. Immediately they turned the ball over and winning 3 penalties in a row were soon stressing the Gordonians defence.

Now in the 22, a lineout maul formed and shoved Gordonians over the line, the referee judged neither Angus Walker nor James Mair had grounded the ball, believing it to be held up instead. Gordonians were penalised for collapsing this maul and reduced to 14 men as well. Perthshire hit up again, inches short on the forward carries, Angus Walker coming close again. Having sucked the defence in the ball was handed out across to the wing but the final pass was dropped and the opportunity lost.

Despite their best efforts Gordonians could not escape from their own half. Repeated & relentless Perthshire attacks were all repelled but only ever to the halfway where they would begin again.

Simon McGarry took a carry that broke the deadlock. Staying big and earning extra metres in contact, Gordonians were sent reeling backwards; Lewis Murrie at scrumhalf saw space in behind and boxed kicked over. Perthshire chased and were quicker to it, the bounce going into the arms of Rory Bayne who, skilful as he was all day, immediately stepped a player then passed to the onrushing Captain Mat Rae, who dashed the final few metres to score by the posts, despite the best efforts of the scramble defence, for a converted try, 21-24.

In the final 15 minute Perthshire tried to go again. The momentum swung back to Gordonians who showed their resilience and started to take control of the ball. Penalties from ‘Shire sent them back and a striking run through the midfield allowed space out wide for the Gordonians winger to run in and restore their 10 point led.

Aiming for at least one more try to get a bonus point ‘Shire continued to press. Uncharacteristically, they lost a scrum against the head and taking advantage of a misaligned defence, Gordonians secured their final try, 21-38.

The final minutes came, Aidan Watson found space and made a break from his own half. The support players were there and the try was on, however, Gordonians managed to intercept the offload pass and within a few phases the ball was kicked out to end the match.

This was a performance from the 1XV that has been coming, a loss, yes, but huge progress compared to earlier in the season. Alan Clark knows he has the players and the mentality to compete with any team in the league. This could be the turning point as Perthshire look to work up the table. There is a 2 week break now for the 1s until they welcome Strathmore on 18th February.

The 2s had no fixture but return to action next week with an away trip to Dunfermline 2XV to eventually get their first match of 2023. Then on Friday 10th February, Perthshire are pleased to welcome Welsh touring side Pontarddulais for an afternoon match to restart an old Touring friendship between the 2 clubs.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson.