The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Typhoon threat to Scots
After ecstasy of 61-0 win, Scotland’s final Rugby World Cup group game could be cancelled.
One Fife town was celebrating Scotland’s emphatic Rugby World Cup victory twice as hard yesterday morning thanks to the performances of two local lads.
Family, friends, old team-mates and former coaches were ecstatic as Cupar’s George Horne grabbed the headlines by scoring a hat-trick of tries in the national team’s 61-0 win over Russia in Shizuoka, Japan.
The 24-year-old is believed to be only the fifth Scot to grab a treble in a Rugby World Cup game, and the first scrumhalf from the country to score three times in a single Test match.
George, who took to the field alongside older brother Peter, put on an incredible display and was even denied a fourth try in the second half of the game after a pass from flanker Magnus Bradbury was deemed forward.
The Horne brothers, the sons of Garry and Hazel, hail from Cupar and started their rugby careers at Howe of Fife RFC. Both now play for Glasgow Warriors.
They were joined in the Scotland squad by fellow Fifer Jamie Ritchie, who played for both Madras and Howe in his youth, and by Zander Fagerson, a product of both Dundee High and Strathallan schools. Both George and Jamie also attended Strathallan.
The win left management at the Hornes’ former club in Cupar “delighted”.
Howe of Fife RFC club president Chris Reekie said: “We were all delighted to see George score a hat-trick and really he should have had a fourth.
“I think he just epitomised the way that he plays in terms of support runs and plays. Garry and Hazel will be delighted to see them starting like that. It was a great honour.
“Peter played well too and showed what he can do. We punch above our weight in terms of the quality of player that comes through the club.
“We play to be better people. I think George and Peter both epitomise that. They are both great people.”
Head of rugby at Strathallan Andy Henderson, who coached George from his teen years, said: “He played at 10 when he was here. I knew he would probably have to go further in at nine. He was excellent. Watching the game we were just screaming our heads off especially when George was scoring.
“Give him a job and he’ll just try his hardest. He is a ridiculously fit player. He’s fast and strong and is a very clever player as well. It was such a shame Mr Barnes (referee Wayne Barnes) robbed him of his fourth try.”
Mr Henderson said Strathallan was “massively proud” of all the former pupils players who have made the Scotland Rugby World Cup squad, along with others now making names for themselves in the professional game.
Mr Henderson added: “Whatever they achieve I am massively proud of what they have managed to do.”
It comes as Scotland’s Rugby World Cup campaign looks like it might be scuppered by Typhoon Hagibis, which is expected to batter the Tokyo-Yokohama area this weekend.
Give him a job and he’ll just try his hardest. Heisa ridiculously fit player. ANDY HENDERSON