Blair squad book their spot in final

Blairgowrie RFC booked a place in the BT Caledonia Regional Bowl final after a 52-5 away win over Stirling University on Saturday.

The club is now looking forward to the final, which will take place on February 11 against Dundee Medics.

Blair’s squad were in fine fettle ahead of last weekend’s encounter and the home side being late for kick-off did nothing to quash the spirit of the men from JJ Coupar Recreation Park.

Blair kicked-off and immediately put the home side under pressure, resulting in a penalty.

It was effortlessly coverted by Stephen Souter to make it 3-0.

Fraser Black collected the restart and Blair surged forward again.

The charge resulted in a penalty and a red card for the Stirling player.

Blair opted for a scrum, which saw Finn Ormiston pick up and score. Souter converted to make it 10-0.

After some pressure from Stirling, John McLaren kicked clear into the Stirling half.

Blair won a penalty, opted for a line out, and the ball was given to second row powerhouse Mark Reddin who scored under the posts.

Souter completed a hat-trick of conversions to make it 17-0 and counting to the visitors from east Perthshire.

Another pick up try by Finn Ormiston and a mazy solo try from Matty Michie meant it was 31-0 by the time the referee blew for the half-time whistle.

Stirling started stronger in the second half and a rare gap in the Blair defence allowed the home centre through for a try

Now 31-5, Blair immediately worked their way back up through the Stirling half.

Steven Knox won a turnover ball and fed Neil MacRae, who passed to Fraser Black to score.

At 38-5, two red cards for the Stirling side for violence and indiscipline towards the referee saw them reduced to 12 men for the remainder of the game.

This seemed to spur them on, however, and they enjoyed a 15-minute period of pressure in the Blair half.

This failed to bear fruit, though, thanks to sterling work from experienced Scott Wightman and others. With

Another try from Russell Edwards and a final try run in from 50 metres by Tom Helyer meant the game was over.

The full-time score was 52-5 in favour of Blairgowrie.

Team: E Constable, P Douglas, P Duncan, M Reddin, N MacRae, A McOuat, F Ormiston, F Black, R Edwards, M Davidson, R Grant, M Michie, F Maxwell, J McLaren, S Souter, T Helyer, G Knowles, M Ormiston, S Knox, S Wightman, K Brown, R Gordon.

Man of the match points: P Douglas, P Duncan,S Wightman,E Constable (1); F Ormiston (2); F.Black (3 and man of the match). Top tackler: F Maxwell.

Blairgowrie’s next match is on January 7 away to Hillfoots.