Caledonia claim U17 regional title after hard-fought clash

Caledonia claimed the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy U17 regional championship title final by securing a 26-17 win over Borders and East Lothian on the artificial pitch in the final round at Netherdale yesterday.

The north side had to battle hard for their win after trailing 17-7 early in the second half.

A clever kicking game directed by Madras stand-off Harry Mercer and effective use of a strong bench changed the course of the match, allowing Caledonia to score three unanswered tries in the final 20 minutes.

Aside from Mercer, Caledonia had influential players in their Queen Victoria School number 8 Josh King, Granite City wing Greg McRae and Dunfermline second-row Niall Dowds.

Borders and East Lothian looked the more likely winners after scoring tries by Melrose back-row Trystan Andrews, Dunbar prop Struan Lugton and Loretto centre Nathan Sweeney, who converted his own score.

But in a strong finish Caledonia, who had scored through King, added secondhalf touchdowns by Dollar Academy replacement Jamie Cruickshank, McRae, and Dunfermline replacement Oliver Kirk.

Sweeney converted two of the second-half scores.

Caledonia U17: A Watson (Perthshire); M Sommerville (Madras), K Singleton (Stirling County), R Fraser (Madras), G McRae (Granite City); H Mercer (Madras), F McIllwraith (Dollar); B Mace (Stirling County), G Clunas (Strathallan/Howe of Fife), T Ryan (Granite City), G Brown (Robert Gordons College), N Dowds (Dunfermline), J Minty (Granite City), L Dreelan (Mackie) J King captain (Queen Victoria School/Helensburgh RFC). Replacements: F McCarthy (Glenalmond), G Brough (Orkney), G Breese (Glenalmond), J Cruickshanks (Dollar), R McCrostie (Madras), O Kirk (Dunfermline), A Stephen (Granite City), B Wightman (Perthshire).