BLAIR VICTORY OVER CRIEFF
Local team’s hard fought victory against Strath rivals
Blairgowrie RFC travelled to Crieff on Saturday in a return to league duties that saw them continue their winning form with a 5-45 win over their Strathearn rivals.
However, the score did not reflect how hard the lads from east Perthshire had to work to beat Crieff, who are just one place below Blair in the league.
Blair won the toss and chose to take the slight wind advantage, and Crieff kicked off straight into the hands of Mark Reddin who was put under pressure from the homeside’s forwards who were determined to put on a show for the large turnout of supporters.
Blairgowrie held steady and rumbled the ball up a couple of times with Paul Douglas and Fraser Black taking the ball forward at pace.
The backs were quickly involved with the ever improving Murray Davidson passing out to his centres Fraser Bissett and Mattey Michie on numerous occasions, both of whom carried superbly and gained yards almost every time.
With the first scrum it was evident that Crieff had the upper hand but Fin Ormiston secured well, although was taken into touch in Blair’s 22. Crieff had the lineout but pressure from Blair saw the visitors win the subsequent scrum.
The first try came after a bit of brilliance from Stephen Souter, who took a pass from Davidson, stepped over a couple of Crieff forwards before offloading to a thundering Black who ran in from the half-way line with Reddin in support.
Blair were quickly back down in the Crieff 22 after another excellent clearance kick, this time from Mikey Grant who chased it down well and won a penalty for Blair. Great running from Dave Malloch, Davie Grieve and Ormiston got the ball back to Crieff ’s 22, Russell Edwards got a pass away to Bissett who ran directly at the posts and thought a try was scored. The referee didn’t see it however and it was Craig Thoms who scored in the corner. Souter, finding his kicking boots, converted.
With Crieff ’s lineout struggling, due to Ormiston making a nuisance of himself, a steal led to Bissett making another break through the defence and with Thoms in support it was looking like another try but it was knocked-on.
Following a turnover, Dave Malloch found himself in space with Ormiston supporting - a deft pass had Ormiston taking two Crieff defenders over the line with him to score the third try of the day, which Souter converted.
The fourth try came from disciplined play from Edwards and Davidson and some great interlinking between Thoms, Bissett and Jordan Lynn which saw Lynn go over the line for the bonus point try and his first senior try for the club.
As much as it seemed to be Blair’s day, Crieff were extremely stubborn and spent the next 10 minutes camped out in the Blair 22, winning numerous scrums and penalties.
Electing to ‘tap and go’ every time showed they were there to play rugby and only tremendous defending from Edwards, Michie, Thoms, Black, Grieve and McOuat kept the determined Crieff attack out.
The score was 0 - 26 at half time and after the break, Blair kicked off in to a slight breeze and quickly were on top once again, staying out of rucks and defending well.
Blair’s indiscipline led to Crieff eventually scoring a well-deserved but unconverted try which was answered by another try from Blair that Souter converted.
The game was opening up with fast rugby and strong defending from both sides. But Crieff were visibly tiring. Grieve scored a try for Blair and the visitors’ ball retention was far superior. Blair kept the pressure up before Crieff conceded a penalty 10 yards out which was quickly taken by Grieve and a pass out to Walsh saw him dive over and score beside the posts.
Souter converted taking the final score to 5-45.
Squad: Paul Douglas, Jordan Lynn, Dave Malloch, Peter Duncan, Neil MacRae, Mark Reddin, Alan Walsh, David Grieve, Andy McOuat, Fin Ormiston, Fraser Black, Stephen Souter, Rory Grant, Fraser Maxwell, Fraser Bissett, Murray Davidson, Russell Edwards, Michael Grant, Arran Todd, Craig Thoms, Mattey Michie, Peter Milne.
Points: 1 Craig Thoms, 2 Mattey Michie, 3 Man of the Match Davie Grieve. Tackler: Fraser Black.
Training continues at 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at JJ Coupar Recreation Park. The club’s next match is at home against table toppers Grangemouth on March 11. Kick off 3pm.