Sport round-up
RUGBY
Perthshire Rugby has given a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to head coach Alan Clark.
Clark, after eight years with the club he has grown to love, took hold of the first team reins one final time on Saturday afternoon.
The curtain-closing result against Whitecraigs was not the desired outcome – Shire went down 49-34 in Newton Mearns – but what was most important was showing appreciation to a man who has given his all for the badge.
“Alan Clark now leaves the squad he has done so much to improve and build up over the last eight years,” said club captain Ewan Mackessack-leitch.
“Steering a team through Covid-19 and many close calls with relegation, it is a testament to the regard with which the players hold him in that numbers at training have continued to increase no matter what the results at the weekend.
“His successor will have a solid foundation upon which to build a team up to challenge for the National League 4 title in 2023/24.”
Shire had opened the scoring after just eight minutes on Saturday courtesy of Adrian Venter, with Jonny Armitt’s attempted conversion drifting to the left of the posts.
Dan Rae soon added another after gathering a bouncing ball and muscling over the line.
Armitt, making adjustments for the wind, was this time spot on with his kick.
With 18 minutes on the clock, Angus Walker received possession and powered over for a third visiting try to keep momentum flowing. The conversion slipped just wide.
Whitecraigs were patient going through the phases until they made the breakthrough just after the half hour mark. The conversion from close to the posts was successful.
Despite the setback, Shire soon extended their advantage when James Mair picked up from the base of the ruck and dived over untouched for an unconverted bonus point try.
As half-time approached, John Kelly used his pace to prevent what looked like a certain try.
His attempted tackle, however, was high and the referee showed no hesitation in awarding the penalty try and flashing a yellow card.
It meant Shire would need to spend the first 10 minutes of the second half with 14 men.
Whitecraigs capitalised and, four minutes after the break, added a converted try before moving on to secure another score under the posts. They now led 28-22.
With a determination to fight back in Clark’s final match, the Eagles spread their wings again.
Ben Marshall showed great composure to draw in the last defender and pop the ball to Simon Mcgarry, who raced the final 40 metres to score a fantastic try. The conversion was wide.
Shire were beginning to rack up injuries. Having already lost Venter and Tom Whamond to shoulder and knee issues, centre Dan Rae went down with a muscle injury.
Whitecraigs took advantage and their full-back made a clean break, showing pace to finish for another converted try.
Again, though, Shire showed great character and hit back through Calum Chalmers. He literally ran over the top of a would-be tackler to score.
Armitt was on target with the conversion and, once more, it was back to a one-point game.
Sadly that was to be the North Inch men’s last score of the day as Whitecraigs dominated the final 10 minutes to run out 49-34 winners.
Shire finished 10th in the National League 3 and, with the restructuring for next season, will now enter National League 4.
The final word, of course, was for Clark. The club said: “From all at Perthshire Rugby: Thank you Clarky for your leadership, your commitment and, above all, for your friendship.”
SAILING
Four races were held over the weekend at Perth Sailing Club.
A good sailing breeze from the east and bright sunshine greeted sailors on Saturday as they set off on four rounds of a triangular course.
James Curley took an early lead but, at the finish, only a minute-and-a-half separated the first and last in a race with few place changing.
The wind lightened a little for race two which followed a similar pattern but with Euan Macdonald finding the smaller sail on his Aero a little short of power.
Conditions were cloudy and noticeably cooler on Sunday but, with a similar breeze, a longer figure eight course was set.
The wind had other ideas and, when the start signal sounded, the fleet stayed lined-up ready to set off for half a minute until a faint zephyr appeared from the opposite direction.
As this arrived, went and shifted about from a variety of ways, the fleet edged round the course led by Sandy Rodger and Judy Thomson in the Albacore.
As they reappeared from the fourth mark, fortunes had changed and the boats had separated leaving Rodger trailing well behind the single-handers.
With the boats taking considerably longer than anticipated, the race was shortened to two rounds by which time Bob Watson had established a large lead.
The wind seemed to have steadied into the north-east for the second race and, with the most remote mark removed and more breeze again, it was considerably speedier.
Watson again proved unstoppable. Results: Saturday race 1 - 1 Bear (J Curley), 2 Bare Away (J Ferguson), 3 Aero 1263 (E Macdonald). Race 2 - 1 Bear, 2 Bare Away, 3 Blue Meanie (B Watson).
Sunday race 1 - 1 Blue Meanie, 2 Aero 1263, 3 Hyskeir (S Rodger and J Thomson). Race 2 - 1 Blue Meanie, 2 Aero 1263, 3 Hyskeir (S Rodger and J Thomson).
VOLLEYBALL
Kinross Volleyball Club has moved outdoors for the summer – and all are encouraged down to join in the free sessions.
The grass area behind Loch Leven Community Campus is where the club meets on Sunday afternoons between 4-5.30pm.
These free ‘pop up and play’ sessions are open to all ages. Just turn up and play.
Last Sunday was the fourth consecutive week that the outdoor sessions have, much to the delight of participants, taken place with no rain.
The first three Sundays were bathed in sunlight although the latest meet saw more challenging playing conditions with a strong cross court wind.
The Kinross club is using the outdoor sessions to prepare for this summer’s Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament, which will take place on Perth’s North Inch at the end of May.
Already there are 64 teams entered to the annual volleyball fest which started in 1985.
This weekend is the closing date for entries at the standard entry price, with late entries facing a surcharge.
With little more than a month until the tournament begins, there is every likelihood that there will be around 100 teams converging on Perth for the popular annual event.
Many of the tournament’s regulars will be attending, including teams from Belgium, the Faroe Islands along with a group from Canada.
The tournament, which will once again have seven divisions, is also well supported by local teams.
Upwards of 800 competitors will be staying, eating and socialising over the weekend of the competition, bringing a much-welcomed economic boost to the city.
DARTS
In-form Neil Macdougall won the Perth Pub Darts League’s Average Man Competition this week.
The Bankfoot BC arrow ace defeated Kevin Bloice of Ormonds 5-1 in the final.
Defeated semi-finalists were Glen Parsons (Scone Arms) and Ross Mcdougall (The Bee), who lost out 4-2 and 4-1 respectively.
Organisers thanked everyone who took part and The Bee Bar for hosting.
Stats: Best games - N Macdougall 14, 15 x3, 17, 18, 19 x2 (Bankfoot), K Bloice 18 x2, 19, 20 x2 (Ormonds), G Parsons 12, 15 x2, 16, 17 (Scone), R Mcdougall 20 x2 (The Bee). 180s - N Macdougall x6 (Bankfoot), G Parsons (Scone), R Mcdougall (The Bee). Checkouts - R Mcdougall 100 (The Bee), G Parsons 101 (Scone), K Bloice 141 (Ormonds).