Perthshire 22 – 52 Strathmore

‘Shire exit the National Leagues after a tough season.

Perthshire took to the North Inch for the final 15s match of the season. It has been tough and, in many ways, ‘Shire have been the architect of their own problems. However, those considerations were for another day, the visitors were riding high and up for this Tayside derby after 3 prior postponements.

Strathmore took possession at the kick-off, but a knock-on led to a turnover to Perthshire. John Kelly made a notable jackal for Perthshire, but a high tackle penalty for Strathmore was shortly worked into a converted try, 0-7.

Calum Bruce retaliated for Perthshire with a penalty kick for an offside, narrowing the gap to 3-7. Despite defending on the line for several minutes, Perthshire conceded another penalty. Angus Walker made a crucial turnover on the try line, but the subsequent lineout was overthrown allowing Strathmore the space & positions to score their second try, 3-14.

The Forfar team continued to dominate with a quick break leading to a converted try. Despite a chop tackle from Rhys Darlington and Angus Walker holding the ball up on the line, Strathmore managed to score an unconverted try on the wing, 3-26.

A strong carry from James Mair, followed by a few pick-and-goes, was turned over when Perthshire attacked wide. Strathmore managed scored an unconverted try, to make it 3-31 at the halftime whistle.

The second half saw substitutions for both teams, with James Whyte and Rabson Chipakupaku coming on for Cammy Craig and Lewis Gray. Perthshire kicked off the second half, and Strathmore quickly scored a converted try after moving the ball left to right to then under the posts, 3-38.

A line break from Strathmore saw them pressing the ‘Shire try line, but a knock-on gave possession back to the home team. A draw and pass from Rabson Chipakupaku to Aidan Watson sparked a 50m run, where Watson stepped 3 defenders before diving under the sticks. The conversion taken quickly by Calum Bruce, 10-38.

Lewis Murrie was shown a yellow card for a high tackle but numbers were evened soon after as a late hit on Calum Bruce took Strathmore down to 14 men for 10 minutes.

Aidan Watson was on the attack again, after fielding a kick he was taken high. Opting for the penalty scrum Perthshire failed to capitalise and a knock on sent them backwards and ultimately led to a Strathmore try.

The match was getting to it’s conclusion but there was still time for more action. A driving maul from a ‘Shire lineout allowed Kieran Maclean to force his way over for an unconverted try. Minutes later after outmanoeuvring the opposition scrumhalf at the base of a scrum, Aidan Watson was right in behind and only stopped by a high tackle. The penalty was taken quickly and a try by Angus Walker followed 2 phases later. Calum Bruce adding the 2 points, 22-45.

Strathmore got the final say as they scored in the final play to end the game at 22-52 in the visitors’ favour.

Pride was played for by both teams and Perthshire conclude the season in 8th out of 10 teams in National 4. As 3 teams go down, the North Inch club leave the National Leagues and return to the Caledonia Regional Leagues for the first time since 2014. The players have worked hard, been unlucky but ultimately didn’t get the results when they were needed. A review in the off-season and ‘Shire will be back looking to rebuild and return to the National Leagues.

Before that there is the 7s season. Perthshire have entered Crieff next week, Howe of Fife the following Saturday, then there’s the big home tournament & the Perth Beer Festival 11th May; before finishing with a trip West & “overseas” to the Mull 7s.

Photographs taken & available from Strathmore Rugby Club Facebook page.

Perthshire 47 – 25 Greenock Wanderers

Perthshire play with positivity to give President a birthday to remember.

Spring came to the North Inch on Saturday creating excellent conditions for an exciting display of rugby. Despite confirmation of relegation, Perthshire had a point to prove and pride to play for. It was President Jon McLaughlin’s 70th birthday and his surprise party at the lunch beforehand ensured there was a large enthusiastic crowd there to support the Eagles.

Before the excitement both teams joined a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off to remember former Club President Watt Gray.

The home team started very brightly, receiving the kick-off and running it back with purpose. Soon the ball was moved to Aidan Watson who opened up the defence, and offloaded to Rory Bayne who carved his way down the pitch and sent the ball out to Thomas Pounder on the wing. Stopped 10m short, a quick recycle allowed the ball back to the centre where Rory Bayne found the space to round his opposite man and score a try within the first 2 minutes. Calum Bruce added the extras, 7-0.

Greenock hit back immediately, defensive penalties had ‘Shire in all sorts of trouble in their own half. It was only a matter of time before Greenock made good the pressure and scored in the corner.

They were back again minutes later, as the discipline failed to improve. Sterling defence by Dan Rae at the maul gave Perthshire a brief reprieve but Wanderers were soon knocking on the door. Defence continued to hold with Ross Goodison & Simon McGarry chief amongst the tacklers, however the sustained attacks eventually told as Wanderers burst over the whitewash from short range after a tap penalty, unconverted they took the lead, 7-10

Perthshire were struggling to keep the ball in hand with knock-ons frustrating their play. Greenock seized the opportunity of a turnover to hit right up to the line. Only a last minute tackle from Aidan Watson & Ben Marshall held the ball up. Greenock made no mistake at the next opportunity, running the drop-out back they created a hole midfield and ran in under the posts for a converted try, 7-17.

Perthshire now took the initiative and some slick offloads and hard carries took them up to the line. A cynical foul in the danger zone gave the referee no option but to reduce the visitors to 14 men with a yellow card. Taking a short penalty, ‘Shire made good in 2 phases, Angus Walker surging over to claim the try, converted by Calum Bruce, 14-17.

In defence ‘Shire were holding their own but a penalty allowed Greenock to extend their lead once more, 14-20.

Perthshire immediately struck back, or at least thought they had. Ben Marshall rose high to claim the restart and offloaded to Simon McGarry who rampaged deep into the 22. The ball was then sent out to the left where Aidan Watson came in to the line and after a flowing move Jonathan Venter touched down in the corner. The referee saw it differently, judging the ball held up and awarded a goal-line drop-out. Perthshire took receipt and bashed up the field again, then fired it out to the opposite wing where Thomas Pounder dived over in the corner for an unconverted try at the halftime whistle, 19-20.

The second half started with Greenock firing on all cylinders. After a few forays and Perthshire penalties they claimed their fourth try in corner following a move off the back of the lineout, 19-25.

It was Perthshire’s turn to attack now and, though stuck on the 22, as the pressure ratcheted up it became too much, with Greenock infringing one too may times, and they were again reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes. Capitalising on the advantage Lewis Murrie found & exploited a gap round the ruck to canter in from 22m out. Calum Bruce’s conversion returning ‘Shire to the lead 26-25.

The match got stuck in the midfield for the next 10-15 minutes. Neither team able to break through with dropped balls and miscommunication frustrating both in the wall of unrelenting defences, Tom Colvin fresh on the pitch and AJ Guthrie in the centre making sure no-one got past them.

Eventually after setting it up from the lineout the forwards hammered the line. It took a number of phases in & out to the backs and returned to the forwards until Captain Calum Chalmers, on his birthday, squeezed over for a try. Calum Bruce was having a good day from the tee and added the 2 points, 33-25.

With only an 8 point lead the match still had all to play for: Perthshire determined to give themselves more breathing room; as Greenock came back with ambition to close the scores. The intensity was there and knocks started to take their toll as the benches were emptied of replacements, Arran Sheach and Rabson Chipakupaku making an impact.

The clock ran down and with 5 minutes left there was still time for the match to go either way. Perthshire just edged the exchanges and from a scrum in the Greenock 22 a delayed pass by AJ Guthrie and deceptive line from Rory Bayne saw the centre run cleanly under the posts not bothered by any Wanderers player for a converted try.

Moments later the restart kick was taken and worked to the right wing. Tom Colvin sucked in the last defenders and released Rabson Chipakupaku who saw an open pitch in front of him and turned on the pace to scorch the ground as he ran in the final try, converted by Calum Bruce, 47-25.

The win and positivity from the men in Black & White was enjoyed by the crowd, but tempered by some frustration that performances like that would have avoided the relegation the team now face. That’s for another day, next week Perthshire are on the road for a derby fixture in Dunfermline. Due to the 6 Nations, the kick off is earlier at 12pm at McKane Park.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson.