Sport round-up
RUGBY
Perthshire Rugby head coach Alan Clark will bid an emotional farewell to the club this weekend.
The final game of the National League 3 season also represents Clark’s last match in charge.
A popular figure, he and his players will head for Whitecraigs determined to finish on a high and return home with a well-earned victory.
“I had made the decision before Christmas,” Clark told the Perthshire Advertiser of his decision to step down.
“It is one of those where you are kind of looking forward to it, kind of not.
“I think it is time to move on but, on Saturday, I’m not sure if I will want to move on.
“So if I’m being honest I don’t know how I feel about it. I’m sure I’ll find out at the weekend.
“It’s our final game of the season and one against a team from around about us.
“We would expect to do pretty well on Saturday. It is a dead rubber but of course we want to finish the season on a high. I certainly want to finish on a high and I’m sure the boys do too.”
Shire were well-beaten in their last outing against Howe of Fife two weeks ago - not helped by player unavailability - but Clark is hopeful a strong squad will be free for the curtain-closer.
He said: “The Howe match was tough recently with it being on Easter weekend. There wasn’t supposed to be a game and we were struggling.
“But we’re looking at being reasonably strong this weekend.
“It is not only my last game, it is the last game of the season away from home and the boys want to get together for that.”
Kick-off on Saturday afternoon against Whitecraigs is pencilled in for 3pm and all supporters wishing to travel would be welcome.
SAILING
There was a great deal of activity at Lairwell last weekend as Perth Sailing Club welcomed 11 visiting St Ayles Skiffs for the second year since the pandemic.
This annual trip down the Tay to Wormit Boating Club sees teams of five gather from clubs around the coast, from Kinghorn to St Andrews and Broughty Ferry. This year, teams based on Loch Tay and Troon joined in the fun.
The course is around 20 miles but crews can change at Newburgh and Balmerino to keep the energy levels up.
With the local team lifting the number to 12, the fleet set off around 11.45am and arrived at Wormit around four hours later with no incident.
Albeit there were a few groundings on sandbanks along the way.
The Perth team sailed the final leg without their rudder which proved tricky to re-attach in the rougher water off the shallows at Balmerino, but had a great time. Thanks went to everyone who helped in the running of a “super event” in lovely weather.
By Sunday, club members were back to sailing boats in a very light breeze.
A simple course was laid but, even before the race got going, the wind had shifted right round necessitating a reversal of direction.
Three boats crept away from the start line and, after an hour, only one boat had completed a round. The wind then faded further preventing the others from reaching the line.
Result: Sunday - 1 Aero 1263 (E Macdonald).
DARTS
Congratulations this week went to Neil Macdougall of Bankfoot BC after winning the Perth Pub Darts League’s 180 Singles on Monday night.
He defeated Ross Macdougall, also Bankfoot BC, 5-1 in the final.
Beaten semi-finalists were Brian Macleod Snr (Ormonds) and Davie Ross (Scone Arms), who lost out 4-0 and 4-1 respectively.
Organisers thanked everyone who took part and also Bankfoot Bowling Club for playing hosts.
Stats: Best games - N Macdougall 13 x2, 14 x3, 15, 16, 18 x2, 20 (Bankfoot), R Macdougall 17, 18, 19 (Bankfoot), D Ross 17, 18, 20 (Scone), K Bloice 20 (Ormonds), J Fowler 18, 18, 19 (Ormonds), B Macleod Snr 16, 17, 19 (Ormonds).
180s - N Macdougall x5 (Bankfoot), K Bloice x2 (Ormonds), R Macdougall x2 (Bankfoot), A Macpherson (Luncarty FC), S Christie (Earn Hotel), C Ferguson (Sports), B Macleod Snr (Ormonds).
Checkouts - J Fowler 110 (Ormonds), D Duncan 103 (Ormonds).
TENNIS
Blairgowrie Tennis Club is holding an open weekend over Saturday and Sunday this week.
Organisers have said the two-day showcase has been planned to allow people to try their hand at the sport in a fun way. There will be coach-led sessions and the chance to use the ball machine on the east Perthshire club’s five allweather polymeric courts at JJ Coupar Recreation Park off Coupar Angus Road.
There will be an adult and a junior coaching session on Saturday, with play starting at 11am.
The ball machine will be deployed from 1pm. At 2pm there will be a walking tennis session for those who may not be as fleet of foot as they used to be. Play is with slower balls and two bounces are allowed.
At 3.30pm, the courts will be available for free play, although booking is advised.
On the Sunday, play is due to start at the later time of 1.30pm.
There will be fun games for children and adults alike, before the ball machine makes a return from 2.30pm and the courts open up for free play until 4pm.
Blairgowrie Tennis Club has said there will be a special offer of up to 20 per cent off the annual membership for those who decide to join the club over the weekend.
A club spokesperson said: “The club is fortunate to have five qualified coaches, and also has a number of young players who took their leaders’ course last year.”
More information can be found on the club’s website and Facebook page.
HOCKEY
Perthshire ladies were edged out in their National League fixture last Saturday.
A fast-paced game against fourthplaced Erskine Stewarts Melville Hockey Club was expected - and that is exactly what was offered up.
Goalkeepers were in good form in the opening quarter but Emma Mccormick would later put Perthshire ahead with a reverse stick finish.
While the hosts recovered to sneak into a 2-1 lead, youngster Riley Thomson - not long back from representing Scotland at a 4 Nations event in Nottingham - struck to level proceedings. With two minutes remaining, however, Erskine Stewarts Melville broke clear to net the winner.
On Wednesday night, Perthshire went down 4-0 against St Andrews Uni.
The men’s first team, meanwhile, were beaten 4-3 by Gordonians in the National League last Saturday. Mike Robertson netted a hat-trick.