McLaren’s seven tries simply magnificent
Blairgowrie welcomed Morgan FPs to the JJ Coupar Park for their Midlands League Division II rematch on Saturday.
They had secured a comfortable win against them in Dundee earlier in the season.
Despite a hard overnight frost the pitch was in perfect playing condition and it was the visitors who applied the early pressure and were unlucky not to score a try in the first few minutes.
This spurred the home side into action and, following some excellent rucking by the Blairgowrie front row of Peter Duncan, Paul Douglas and Al Guild, the ball was quickly passed along the line to Finn Ormiston.
He broke through a couple of tackles and off-loaded to winger John McLaren, who took the ball at pace to score in the corner, converted by Stephen Souter.
A second try quickly followed after Mark Reddin secured a ball in the middle of the park. It was quickly passed along the back line, with Finn Ormiston again drawing his opposite man before providing the final pass to John McLaren to score his second try, which was again converted by Stephen Souter.
The visitors responded with a successful penalty but from the restart Fraser Bissett gathered up a ball in midfield and it was quickly fed along the backs for McLaren to score his third try in the space of 20 minutes.
Blairgowrie were now playing some superb, expansive rugby and after another excellent break by John McLaren winger Michael Grant was on hand to score in the corner.
With the first half drawing to a close Blairgowrie captain Andy McOuat broke through a number of tackles and the ball was shipped out along the line for John McLaren to score his fourth try and make the half-time score Blairgowrie 31, Morgan FPs 3.
From the restart it was the home side who again took control of the game. Finn Ormiston made the initial break with John McLaren on hand once again to score his fifth try of the afternoon, which was again converted by Stephen Souter.
The visitors were next to score a try, against the run of play.
The home side responded with Murray Davidson making a great break from his own half then passing to centre Mathew Michie, who drew his opposite man superbly before being tackled to the ground on the 22 metre line.
Jordan Lynn got the ball out to Stephen Souter to score in the corner, which he then expertly converted from the touchline.
Within minutes John McLaren got his sixth try after an excellent pick-up by scrum half Russell Edwards. Edwards passed to Reagan Gordon, who evaded a number of tackles before giving the final pass for the try, which was converted by Stephen Souter.
At this point Blairgowrie coach Craig Ormiston made a number of changes and, following some impressive rucking and mauling by Alan Walsh and Euan Constable, the ball was handled by practically every team member before John McLaren gave a lovely back-handed pass to Tom Helyer to score in the corner.
Blairgowrie’s tenth try of the afternoon and John McLaren’s seventh of the day came after an excellent break by Neil MacRae, again converted by Stephen Souter.
With the game drawing to an end Blairgowrie continued to play some enterprising rugby and, following a break by stand-off Stephen Souter, the ball was fed to Murray Davidson, who offloaded for young Arron Todd to score his first try for the senior team, converted by Stephen Souter to make the final score Blairgowrie 71, Morgan FPs 8.
Team: Peter Duncan, Paul Douglas, Al Guild, Mark Reddin, Neil MacRae, Reagan Gordon, Andy McOuat, Finlay Ormiston, Russell Edwards, Stephen Souter, Fraser Bissett, Mathew Michie, Michael Grant, John McLarren, Murray Davidson, Tom Helyer, Jordan Lynn, Alan Walsh, Arron Todd, Euan Constable.
Man of the Match points: Peter Duncan, Reagan Gordon and Michael Grant (1), Finlay Ormiston (2), John McLaren (3).
The club thanked John Cunningam of Cunningham’s Carpets and Alistair Russell of Balmoral Garage for sponsoring the match, Ralph Donaldson and Sandy McCurdy for preparing the lunch and Stephen Grant for manning the bar.
This Saturday Blairgowrie are in cup semi-final action with an away tie at Stirling University.
Training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm at JJ Coupar Recreation Park.