Sport round-up
RUGBY
PERTHSHIRE WOMEN ...........................31 STORNOWAY............................................17
Perthshire Women are now through to the National Bowl semi-finals.
The latest achievement in a growing success story was made possible thanks to a 31-17 win against Stornoway at the North Inch on Saturday.
It was very much hard-earned and the Islanders had started strongly, displaying strong carries and great movement of the ball. At this stage, defensive efforts from Claire Rae, Suzanne Rennie and Rebecca Bond kept them from scoring.
Shire’s patience paid off when Alex Ward intercepted at pace and ran down to within the 22.
After a few passes and recycling of the ball, Ward went over for the first try 14 minutes in and converted her own kick.
Both teams were putting in great efforts to gain the upper hand and soon Paula Watson’s passing put Ward over for her second of the afternoon. Again the try was successfully converted.
Ill-discipline would later allow for a few penalties to help Stornoway’s momentum and, just before half-time, they scored in the corner. The conversion was missed.
The second half saw some replacements from Shire, including Danni Henderson, who instantly made an impact. She went over to score a try three minutes after the break although this time the kick was not converted.
Stornoway, trailing 19-5, were not for throwing in the towel and earned their second try following interlinking play between wingers and full-back. The conversion was successful.
Shire were being forced to defend admirably and discipline had now improved. A clearing kick from Ward was chased expertly by Henderson and Katie Whelan put pressure on the guests, who knocked it on.
Watson took the ball from the back of the scrum and carved a beautiful pass to Ward. Her speed and weaving - along with a great support line from Heather Kirkman - meant it was near impossible to stop. Ward grabbed her hat-trick and the conversion was good.
With 12 minutes to go, tired bodies were evident on both sides and a few knock-ons saw the game slow just slightly.
But, in a sudden spark, strong carries from Sarah Blackwood, Becky Hunter and Fiona Gordon seemed to put Shire on the front foot.
This play brought the defensive effort from Stornoway to a central position and, seeing this, the backs shouted for the ball and got it wide. It led to Ward going over for her fourth try under the posts.
The visitors had made this a fantastic game and finished it off with a try in the very last minute.
Perthshire Women’s triumph sends them into the last four of the National Bowl, which will be played on April 23.
Saturday’s success went down as a “fantastic team effort”.
WEST OF SCOTLAND..............................36 PERTHSHIRE ............................................24
West of Scotland had most probably not expected such a stern test.
But the determination and effort on show from a patched-up Perthshire was particularly impressive in this National League 3 fixture.
Director of Rugby, Graham Smith, was tasked with taking the squad down to Milngavie and watched his players start on the front foot.
Calum Chalmers was quickly clean through and navigated close to the posts before getting stopped. The forward pack, however, piled in with carries leaving Rhys Darlington millimetres short before Simon Mcgarry used the momentum to squeeze over.
One try went to two when Adrian Venter applied pressure, then Andrew Sanderson received quick ball and passed it to standoff Mat Rae who crashed over.
The conversion was missed but an early 12-0 advantage was welcome.
Hard running from Dan Rae and James Mair ate deeper into West’s territory.
Darlington then burrowed through, pumping his legs to earn extra yards and suck in more panicked defenders.
This created space out wide and a beautifully weighted cross field kick sailed into the arms of Jack Mcintosh on the right wing where he dotted down.
West, now, were spurred into action and clinically created an overlap to reduce the deficit and would then add a second before the break.
The home crowd had been impatient but were soon won back when some fast hands whisked the ball out to the wing where it was raced to the corner for 17-17.
Burnbrae fans then cheered their favourites moving into the lead.
Still undeterred, Shire continued the hard press and John Kelly displayed determination in full before taking a nasty full boot to the ankle. Reset at a scrum, Mair picked and slipped the ball inside to flanker Chalmers who made it across. Adding the conversion, it was 24-24.
The pace of the match was unforgiving but West would score next off the back of a few penalties. Shire were firmly on the back foot defending their line and, try as they might, could not properly break the siege.
Suddenly, though, it looked to have ended. Will Campbell ripped the ball from West hands in a subsequent lineout maul and handed to Chalmers. He tore up the touchline before punting ahead but West got there first and the danger was gone.
Next, West again went to the corner, took the lineout, set the maul and eventually pulled it off. A converted try put the game beyond doubt.
Knowing one more try would secure a losing bonus point - on top of the try bonus already in the bag - Shire pushed one more time. It was, however, not to be.
This Saturday Howe of Fife make the short trip from Cupar to the North Inch.
The bowling club will be open from 1.30pm ahead of the 3pm kick-off.
SAILING
The sailing season was off to a gentle start at Lairwell at the weekend as light breezes greeted members taking to the water in an easterly.
Despite this, four races were held and the first two club trophies decided.
Two boats started on Saturday and they enjoyed close racing especially in race one when only two seconds separated James Curley’s Solo and Bob Watson’s Laser after handicaps were applied.
The fleet was up to four boats on Sunday, but the breeze remained stubbornly light - at times very light - but they set off for three rounds of a small triangular course. Once again Bob sailed consistently to claim a first from Euan Macdonald sailing his Aero.
The final race saw Euan finding his groove and pulling ahead of the pack while, at the back, John Ferguson was finding things tricky in the Waszp - hitting the windward mark and then capsizing in almost no wind while doing a penalty turn. This earned him the “Rubber Duck” for his efforts.
Results: Saturday race 1 - 1 Bear (J Curley), 2 Blue Meanie (B Watson). Race 2 - 1 Bear, 2 Blue Meanie.
Sunday race 1 - 1 Blue Meanie, 2 Aero 1263 (E Macdonald), 3 Hyskeir (S Rodger and J Thomson). Race 2 - 1 Aero 1263, 2 Blue Meanie, 3 Hyskeir. Kinnaird Medallion - B Watson.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Coastal Rowing Division enjoyed a bit of practice as guests of the Loch Tay group.
This was Silvery Pearl’s first away trip and all were made very welcome at Kenmore. Many thanks went to the crew of Nighean Ruadh for the hospitality.
DARTS
Congratulations went to Scone Arms this week on winning Perth Pub Darts League Division 1 and again to The Bee on winning promotion thanks to a Division 2 triumph.
Commiserations, meanwhile, went to the Ex Servicemen’s Club who finished bottom of Division 1 and will be relegated to Division 2 for next season.
The play-off this season will be between Strathord and Luncarty and will take place in the Letham Club next Monday. The format will be the same as the KO Cup.
Perth Pub Darts League Results from Monday, April 3 - Letham 7 Ex Servicemens 5, Bankfoot BC 5 Scone Arms 7, Earn Hotel 4 Strathord 8, Ormonds 8 Luncarty FC 4, Ballroom 7 Foundry 5, Sports Club 6 The Bee 6, Bee Bar 3 Luncarty 9. Best games – R Macdougall 16 and 19 (Bankfoot), F Mcgibbon 17 (Bankfoot), K Bloice 19 (Ormonds), B Macleod Snr 20 (Ormonds), J Fowler 19 (Ormonds), C Stewart 20 (Luncarty FC), N Walters 19 (The Bee), C Ferguson 20 (Sports), B Blair 18 (Earn Hotel).
180s – K Bloice (Ormonds), B Macleod Snr (Ormonds), C Ferguson (Sports), N
Thaw (Strathord), N Walters (The Bee). Checkouts - B Blair 106 (Earn Hotel).
BADMINTON
Thirty players from Glenearn and Crieff badminton clubs took part in the 2023 John Grant Memorial Tournament on Monday.
The tournament is held in memory of former Glenearn president, John Grant.
Frazer Robertson and Iain Scott performed strongly to defeat Andrew Campbell and Peter Donaldson in an entertaining final 21-10, 21-8.
Jim Gauld, Badminton Scotland president of umpires and retired Badminton Europe umpire, was on hand to umpire the final and ensure the rules were followed, ably assisted by four line judges from Glenearn Badminton Club.
The players were delighted to welcome John’s wife and son along to watch the action and present the prizes.