The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Shire sweet renaissance
● Trophy final and promotion bid after low ebb of two years ago
Aberdeenshire take a break from league duty tomorrow to play in the final of the Caledonian Regional Bowl in which they meet Caley 3 North opponents Kinloss Eagles at Kinloss.
Shire, the oldest rugby club in the north-east, are on their way back two years after voluntarily withdrawing from the national leagues due to shortage of players.
They are now poised to gain promotion under their new coaching team of head coach Barny Henderson and coach Jeff Kilman.
Henderson, a former prop with the club, is pleased with the progress being made following a testing two years.
He said: “Since we stepped down from National League 2 we have been rebuilding with a great bunch of players who want the club to succeed.
“I have been looking after the forwards, while Jeff has been coaching the backs. So far it has been working well.
“We are nine points clear of Aberdeen University, although they have two games in hand, but have still to play us twice.
“The first of those games is next week and it is making for a great time at the club.
“In the meantime all our focus is on the final at Kinloss and, although we have beaten them twice in the league, anything can happen in a final.
“We’ll be taking a bus full of supporters.”
Bob Richmond, the SRU representative for the area who will be presenting the Bowl, welcomed the resurgence of Shire and is expecting a keenly contested final.
Richmond said: “It’s good for the Caley game to have them back as a force in the game, but they won’t get things all their own way against Kinloss.
“I watched them lose out in the recent final of the Brin Cup to a very good Highland 2nd side in Inverness.
“It promises to be a great occasion.’’
Ellon are the only northeast side in action in Caley Division 1 tomorrow but will have their work cut out to contain secondplaced Dunfermline at The Meadows, especially as the Aberdeenshire side are without their influential player-coach Nicki Fraser.
Fraser’s absence, however, gives head coach Craig Parslow the opportunity to blood one of their many teenagers coming through the ranks at the club and Parslow hopes to see Fraser’s replacement take his chance to show what he can do.
Parslow said: “It’s going to be a tough one, but it is a great chance for Jarred Whyte to show what he made of against a top side.”
In Caley 2 North, leaders Highland 2nds are at home to Moray. Ross Sutherland meet Aberdeen Grammar 2nds at Invergordon and Banff host RAF Lossiemouth.
Second-placed Dyce play Fraserburgh, who are fifth, in the only game in Caley 4 North.