County kids need patience to overcome Hawick PSA

Under-18 National Youth Cup holders stirling county made a successful start to the defence of their title by defeating a strong Hawick PSA side in the quarterfinals at Bridgehaugh.

County ran in four tries for a 24-7 win, with touchdowns for flanker Donald Mclaren, wing Aidan Adams, second row Finlay Macdonald and centre Calum Campbell, who also kicked two conversions.

Stirling coach Matt Mcgrandles said: “We expected a physical encounter from Hawick and they didn’t disappoint.

“Patience was the key in attack and defence for the win and we pretty much achieved that.”

At Dunfermline, the home side went down 31-8 to Ayr while, in Stonehaven, Highland had to dig deep against Mackie Academy, tries by Roddy Hume, Jack Docherty and Cammy Kent and two conversions from Tom Smith giving the Inverness side a 19-12 win.

The other cup match was a preliminary round tie between Ellon and Boroughmuir and the Edinburgh side overcame a spell with 13 men, after two yellow cards, to win 22-12 with tries from wingers Finlay Devine and Lennox Baselala and flanker Gavin Inkster(2). Muirplaygala Wanderers at Netherdale in the quarter-finals on Saturday, with the winner to face Stirling in the semis.

In schools rugby, Merchiston and Dollar used the Oriam indoor centre at Riccarton on Saturday for an-across-the-board set of matches. At U18 level Merchiston beat Dollar 57-5 with Matthew Currie and Tyler Thomas each scoring a brace of tries and further scores from Archie Spencer, Jamie Dobie, Finn Stewart, Dean Anderson and Rufus Mclean.

Merchiston take on Ayr this weekend in what could be a precursor to a more formal league arrangement between schools and clubs. Later this term Ayr play George Watson’s, 52-5 winners over Edinburgh Academy on Saturday.

This weekend, Watson’s face a Stewart’s-melville side buoyed by a 26-3 away win at Royal Grammar School, Newcastle.