Clydesdale rugby side kick off season
Stonehouse side Clydesdale Rugby Club have taken part in their first competitive outing since reforming this summer.
The club are keen to get back to full-on, competitive, league action as quickly as possible, and will take part in the Reserve West League Three this coming season.
Clydesdale took part in the Moffat 10s with a squad of 15.
The first game against the hosts ended in a 14-0 defeat, despite Clydesdale putting in a strong performance.
Stewartry were next up and beat Clydesdale 21-0, and a shattered Lanarkshire side then lost to a heartbreaking last try by Oban, which saw them win 7-0.
This left Clydesdale up against local rivals Uddingston, and once again despite a terrific team effort, they lost 14-0.
Clydesdale are looking forward to the new season, which starts with a game against Dalziel 3rds at Alexander Hamilton Memorial Park in Stonehouse on September 7.
Clydesdale president Larry Walker said: “It was fun to be involved in a competition, and we’re all looking forward to the start of the season now.
“The players are all buzzing for it; we had 20 players who could have gone, but you’re only allowed 15 for a 10s tournament, so we actually had to leave people behind.
“In the first game we were caught short, but Stewartry and Oban were the best in our section, and we had Oban under pressure. The boys tried really hard and if it hadn’t been for that breakaway try, we would have got at least a draw.
“It’s just brilliant to get involved, and there were a lot of positives from the day.”
A committee has been put in place, and Clydesdale will be coached by Chris Thomson, as they look to rebuild the club, having been out of action for a season and a half.
Larry is delighted to be back involved, and said: “The whole thing is phenomenal. Chris is progressive, he’s young and enthusiastic, and is adopting a style of rugby that the players are really buying into in a very big way. It’s brilliant to watch.
“The committee guys put in a lot of work, it’s phenomenal that we’ve got to this stage and it really is some achievement, but a lot of people have put in a lot of hard work, like our fixture secretary Alan Bennett, Lindsay Greenock our secretary and captain Martin Tarditi, who was responsible for getting Chris Thomson to the club in the first place. “It’s all looking good.” Clydesdale have a core group of around 20 players, but are looking for at least five more.
If you’re interested in playing, contact them through their website, their Facebook page, call Larry on 07775 771331, or go along to training at Alexander Hamilton Memorial Park on Tuesdays from 7pm-9pm.