The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Resurgent Pannie set to face tougher challenge
TOMORROW SEES the relaunch of a new, extended regional league structure in Scottish Rugby which presents big challenges for clubs, but there’s a wave of optimism according to one of the Midlands’best-known faces in the game, writes Steve Scott.
Jim Michie, affectionately known to all as “the Pig”, has seen time as player and coach across the region and is head coach at a resurgent Panmure, one of Caledonia’s oldest established clubs.
After some years struggling in the lowest division of the structure, Pannie won all their games going through Caledonia Division Three Midlands last year and the club are very much on the move.
“It was a great run and, although I think we face a much tougher test this season, it’s one the club are looking forward to,” said Jim, who as a coach over the past four seasons with Panmure and the Dundee HSFP 2nd XV has seen his teams lose only four times.
“The best thing is the number of younger guys who are coming into the club.
“Pannie used to survive on veteran guys who’d been around for a long time but the average age of the squad has come down to the mid-twenties now.”
So much so that Panmure will run a 2nd XV in the Division they just left last season, and several clubs have also entered twos in Caley Division T h re e this season, which has also attracted Dundee University back into league rugby.
That now means we’re back to six clubs playing league rugby from Dundee, from a point when it was just three only a few years ago.
“Harris have come back into the league in the last few years and are doing really well, Stobswell are celebrating their 50th anniversary and we’re making big moves as well,” added Jim.
“The best thing is that we all have a great relationship with each other and an understanding about players. There’s plenty of talent to go round in the city for all the clubs to thrive and be successful.”
Pannie’s Division Two Midlands opener tomorrow will be played at Mayfield rather than Forthill as the cricket club are still finishing off their season. Harris, Glenrothes and Madras are the probable frontrunners from what looks a very competitive division.
Caledonia has two big promotion challengers in Caley Division One in Strathmore and St Andrews University, although Strathie have a tough test up in Orkney tomorrow.