Glenrothes off to a flyer as they almost post a sweet 60

Glenrothes were the day’s top scorers when Tennent’s Caledonia Division One kicked off on Saturday.

The Carleton Park men welcomed Aberdeen Wanderers and had a comfortable start to the league campaign, helped by the fact that the visitors started with only 14 players and suffered further injuries in the course of the game.

The Fifers had a touchdown by Russell Grieve and three tries from Shaun Gray, who also landed three conversions as they reached half-time with a 26-3 lead.

And the points kept coming in the second period as Ross Anderson crossed the whitewash and Cammy Goodall chalked up a double while there was also one apiece for Callum May and Gray, who took his personal tally to 34 points and completed a 59-16 win with four more conversions.

Hillfoots travelled to meet Harris and returned with a 49-7 win to their credit and it was also a successful opener for Alloa, who chalked up a 34-25 win at home to Ellon.

Meanwhile, Strathmore took all five league points from a hardfought 24-10 win at home to Grangemouth Stags, with the pick of the tries coming from Ian Reid after a breakout from the home 22.

Stirling Accies, County’s renamed third team, eased to a 77-17 win over Kirkcaldy seconds in Midlands Division Two, while Panmure were 57-19 winners at Madras. Blairgowrie recorded a 27-0 success at Kinross and Carnoustie got the better of Falkirk seconds 41-25.

Dundee Morgan made a winning start in Division Three. The team, created as part of the collaboration between teams in the city, travelled to face Crieff with only 12 available players, but despite that numerical handicap, posted a 24-22 win, with tries from Taylor Smith, Cameron Keir, Ross Pellow and Grant Thomson securing all five league points.

It was equally tight at Aberfeldy, where the hosts went down 40-38 against Rosyth Sharks, while the day’s other game saw Arbroath return from Anstruther with a 38-0 win over Waid Academy to their credit.

Dunfermline seconds are the early pacemakers in Division four after beating their Perthshire counterparts 74-5.

Bannockburn saw off Montrose 33-26 and the Glenrothes development side recorded a 45-12 win over Hillfoots seconds in Tillicoultry.