Blair RFC welcome champions
Blairgowrie RFC welcomed newly crowned BT Midlands League Division II Champions Grangemouth RFC to the JJ Coupar Recreation Park on Saturday.
The home side went into the match knowing it would be a real test of character as the visitors had already scored more than 800 points in the league this season.
Grangemouth kicked off the match with Fraser Black safely taking possession of the ball with the Blairgowrie forwards driving upfield to be awarded a penalty which they failed to convert.
The visitors quickly replied forcing the home side back into their own 22 and winning a penalty which was also unconverted.
It was obvious that both teams were up for the game with some excellent rugby being played by both sets of players. Grangemouth were unlucky not to score in the corner following a superb try-saving tackle by Fraser Bissett.
Having soaked up a lot of the early pressure Blairgowrie came more and more into the game with excellent runs by Fraser Bissett and Fraser Maxwell and some superb tackling by the Blairgowrie back row of Black, Ormiston and McOuat.
With the first half drawing to a close and no tries on the scoreboard Blairgowrie were encamped in the visitors’ 22-metre area and were awarded a penalty.
They appeared to have the edge at the earlier scrums and they opted to take the scrum rather than a kick at the posts, but the Grangemouth defence held out well and the half-time score remained 0-0.
From the restart, it was Blairgowrie who applied the early pressure but a break by the visitors saw them win a scrum inside the 22 metre area from which the ball was quickly shipped out along their back line for a converted try.
With both teams showing full commitment, Fin Ormiston took a superb lineout ball on his own 22 metre line allowing scrum half Russell Edwards to make a break to the halfway line.
From the ensuing scrum Fraser Black broke through the visitors’ defence.
The ball was then taken at pace firstly by Neil MacRae and Andy McOuat and then by Davie Grieve who was stopped just short of the try line.
However, the ball was quickly relayed back across the park for prop forward Euan Constable to dive over for an unconverted try in the corner.
With the game finely balanced it was the home side who threatened to add to their earlier try with a great drive and run by Finn Ormiston and then a good break by Fraser Maxwell but the Grangemouth defence held out well.
This period of play was then followed by more pressure by the visitors.
The Blairgowrie defence knocked the ball on inside their own 22 metre and the visitors won their own scrum, going on to score a converted try under the posts.
With about five minutes of the game remaining Blairgowrie went back into attack, with Fraser Black and Neil MacRae making the break only for Davie Grieve to be stopped short of the try line once again.
From the ensuing scrum the ball was quickly passed along the backs.
Following some superb defending by Grangemouth and at least seven or eight phases of play, young John McLaren forced his way over in the corner.
The try was ably converted by Stephen Souter.
Following the restart the referee blew his whistle with the final score 14-12 in favour of Grangemouth.
After the game and on behalf of Blairgowrie RFC, Russell Edwards thanked the referee and Grangemouth for a good game and congratulated them on their championship win.
Team: D Malloch, A Guild, E Constable, P Duncan, M Reddin, A Walsh, N MacRae, A McOuat (captain), F Black, F Ormiston, D Grieve, S Knox, R Edwards, M Davidson, S Souter, F Bissett, F Maxwell, A Todd, R Grant, M Grant, J McLaren, P Milne.
Man of the match points were awarded as follows: Rory Grant (1), Fraser Maxwell (2) and Murray Davidson (3) and the man of the match. The tackle award went to Mark Reddin.
There will be no game this Saturday (March 18) with the next game being the BT National Bowl semi-final against Strathendrick RFC at JJ Coupar Park on Saturday, March 25.
Training continues at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the JJ Coupar Recreation Park.
Blairgowrie ......... 12 Grangemouth ..... 14