Opening day loss for rugby squad in league
Saturday saw Blairgowrie seniors kick off the new rugby season with a home tie against Falkirk 2nds in Midlands League Division II.
With the pitch at the JJ Coupar Park in immaculate condition and bright sunshine overhead, conditions were perfect for free-flowing rugby.
Neither team was able to breach their opponents’defence for the first quarter of the game but midway through the half Blairgowrie took the lead through a Stephen Souter penalty.
The visitors quickly replied with a well-taken try, which was converted to take the lead.
Blairgowrie responded positively and, after some good work by forwards, Fraser Maxwell broke through the Falkirk defence and offloaded to Dave Malloch, who was stopped just short of the try line.
With the Blair forwards quickly on hand to secure possession, the ball was fed out to winger Liam McLaren who bounced his opposite man into touch before touching down in the corner.
Stephen Souter then kicked a superb conversion to make the half-time score 10-10.
From the restart, it was the visitors who appeared to up a gear – quickly scoring four converted tries following some fairly basic mistakes by the home team.
Blair coach Craig Ormiston then rang the changes with a number of substitutions and this seemed to spur on the home side.
Stephen Souter scored Blairgowrie’s second try after some excellent handling by both forwards and backs.
With five minutes of the match remaining, Blairgowrie were playing much better attacking rugby.
Capitalising on some sterling work by his side’s forwards, hooker Paul Douglas fended off at least three tackles to drive over the try line.
The final touch went to prop forward Peter Duncan.
With Blairgowrie on the up, the referee blew the final whistle to make the final score 35-22 in favour of the visitors.
With Blairgowrie fielding no less than seven 18-year-olds, this was a commendable effort against a well-organised team.
After the match, Blairgowrie captain Andy McQuat thanked the referee and the Falkirk squad for a good game.
Man of the match points: Fraser Maxwell (3), Stephen Souter (2), Neil MacRae (1). Top tackler: Neil MacRae.
Blairgowrie: Peter Duncan, Paul Douglas, Euan Constable, Mark Reddin, Neil MacRae, Andy McQuat, Finlay Ormiston, Fraser Black, Gregor Cunningham, Murray Davidson, John McLaren, Fraser Maxwell, Liam McLaren, Stephen Souter, Michael Grant, Dave Malloch, Josh Quay, Murray Ormiston, Finn Allan.
Blairgowrie travel to Dundee to play Morgan FP’s on Saturday this week. It’s a 3pm kick-off.
Team selection and travel arrangements will be announced at training, which takes place at JJ Coupar Recreation Park at 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. All welcome.