Home win in league
Fourth win from four games for Blair RFC
Last Saturday Blairgowrie RFC returned to Midlands League II duty with a home tie against Kirkcaldy 2nds and secured another victory, beating the Fife side 35-24.
From the kick-off Blair went straight into attack putting the Kirkcaldy defence under early pressure.
With ten minutes on the clock Blairgowrie was awarded a penalty for a high tackle which was quickly taken with stand-off Jackson Wallace scoring under the posts and then converting.
Blair then increased the score after good team work saw winger John McLaren score a try, which was converted by Wallace.
The visitors upped the tempo putting the Blair defence under pressure but some stout defending by back row player Mitchell Tuck - making his debut for Blairgowrie - and Matty Michie prevented them from scoring.
The pressure finally paid off for the visitors though when they were awarded a penalty try after the home side conceded a serious of penalties in their own half - and had a player sin-binned in the process.
Blair went straight back into attack and second rower Neil MacRae secured a loose ball but was stopped short of the try line. From the ensuing lineout the ball was fed out to young Murray Ormiston, playing this week at number 12, who darted through the Kirkcaldy defence for a fine individual try, converted by Wallace.
With the first half drawing to a close the visitors responded with some good driving rugby to score in the corner, taking the half time score to Blairgowrie 21 Kirkcaldy 2nds 12.
The visitors had the early impetus from the restart, scoring a quick try to reduce the deficit to two points.
It was short-lived however as young Fraser Black caught the kick-off ball, burst through the visitors’ defence, offloaded the ball to Murray Ormiston who scored under the posts. Wallace converted.
Kirkcaldy scored next despite having their scrum-half sinbinned. With only four points seperating the teams, it was Kirkcaldy who applied the pressure, but once again some excellent defensive play by the home side prevented a score.
Following some good work by Euan Constable who, along with the Blair forwards, prevented a maul going to ground – Murray Ormiston made another superb break from the scrum, only to be tackled just short of the try-line, but not before he had flicked the ball out to Black who dived over the line.
Wallace converted making the final score Blairgowrie 35 Kirkcaldy 2nds 24.
Team: Josh Quay, Liam McLaren, Peter Duncan, Aaron Todd, Neil MacRae, Mitchell Tuck, Fraser Black, Finn Ormiston, Russell Edwards, Jackson Wallace, John McLaren, Murray Ormiston, Matty Michie, Rory Grant, PJ Milne, Euan Constable, Liam Tweedie, Connor Keay, Mark Reddin, Tom Helyar, Kyle MacKinnon, Paul Douglas.
Following the match, captain Peter Duncan relayed his thanks to Kirkcaldy 2nds, the referee, Jock Turpie for preparing the pitch, Moira Crilley-Orr for the excellent post-match food and Trish and Josh for manning the bar.
Man of the Match points were awarded as follows: Neil MacRae – 1 point, Fraser Black – 2 points and Murray Ormiston – 3 points.
This Saturday, September 23, Blairgowrie travel to Dundee for a Midlands League II match against Morgan FPs. Kick-off 3pm.
Following last week’s win in the Midlands Shield competition Blairgowrie will now play Alloa RFC away from home in the next round on Saturday, November 4.
Training continues at the JJ Coupar Park at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
New players are always welcome.