First-half blitz helps Strathie secure Caledonia Shield

Champagne corks were popping at Inchmacoble on Saturday night after Strathmore returned with the Caledonia Regional Shield following a 43-6 win over Grangemouth Stags at Glensburgh.

Strathie were well in control by halftime, which they reached with a 36-6 lead, and they added one further try in the second half. Ally Smith led the way with a hat-trick, and there was one apiece for Ronan Joy, Rory Mellis, Fergus Mitchell and Andrew Burgess, who kicked the other points.

The result preserves Strathie’s unbeaten record this season.

It also means they progress to the semi-finals of the national shield and moves them one step closer to securing a place at BT Murrayfield for finals day on April 20.

In Strathie’s absence, Dunfermline kept alive the race to become Tennent’s Caledonia Division One champions when they took all five league points from a 39-24 win away to Ellon.

The success means that the Fifers sit 11 points behind the Forfar men in the league table with both sides having three matches left to play.

In the day’s other rearranged fixture, Harris trailed 12-10 at half-time but bounced back to dominate for much of the second half and chalk up a 27-12 success over Alloa in the basement battle at Elliott Road.

The home side owed their second win of the season to tries from Jack Robertson, Joe Abbott, Ryan Gallagher and Mike McDonald, who was later sent off for a high tackle.

The other points for Harris came from the boot of Graham Hopkins.

Blairgowrie secured the Division Two (Midlands) title when they returned from St Andrews with a 41-22 victory over Madras to their credit.

Madras had inflicted a damaging defeat on second-placed Stirling Accies in their previous outing, and again played some entertaining rugby but Blair made sure there was no repeat.

With only two fixtures left to play, Blair can no longer be caught by Stirling.

Crieff & Strathearn signed off on a high note when they were 55-7 winners away to bottom side Arbroath in the final fixture of Division Three (Midlands).

Montrose & District were the day’s big winners in Division Four (Midlands), chalking up a 59-0 win at home to bottom side Bo’ness. Montrose will now finish second, regardless of the result in their remaining match.

Glenrothes Development side moved up to third place after beating Perthshire seconds 38-17 at Carleton Park.

The Fifers made a slow start and Perthshire led 17-5 at the interval. However, the hosts were transformed after the restart and bagged five second half tries.

Glens have now completed their fixtures for the season and sit two points ahead of Bannockburn whose game at home to Stobswell was postponed because the visitors were short of players.

That is one of three matches Bannockburn still have to play and a win in any one of them will be enough to see them move back up into third spot.

Strathmore are only one win away from a place at BT Murrayfield.