Boroughmuir are reaping rewards of academy

B oroughmuir’s progress since setting up their academy at the beginning of last season culminated in the Meggetland club taking overall honours in the top tier Shogun Conference.

Boroughmuir finished top of both the under-18 table and the under-15 league to endorse the decision last season to set up a pathway for excellence.

“After being runnerup last season to Stirling County and only losing out by one point we had set ourselves goals to hopefully go one better.” said academy director Scott Anderson. “The investment into our programme has been paying dividends but it is still work in progress.”

Muir’s only loss at U18 level in the 12 rounds of Conference rugby was on Saturday when they were beaten 15-12 at Ayr.

Muir’s tries came from second row Derry Mcconnell and centre Stuart Dobson with a conversion by stand-off Calum Anderson. For Ayr, wing Chris Easton and centre Dylan Wilson crossed, with Murray Thomson kicking one conversion and the winning penalty. Ayr were third overall in the Shogun Conference, one place behind Stirling County, who topped the under-16 table. County were second at under-18 level, finishing their fixtures with a 43-20 win over a much-improved West of Scotland.

County academy manager Stewart Milne said: “We gave away a couple of sloppy tries but the flipside was that we played some of our best attacking rugby.”

Centre Cailean Lindsay scored a try and kicked four conversions. The other tries came from second row Roraigh Hughes, flanker Callum Hunter (3) and stand-off Keir Singleton (2).

Highland U18s produced a fine all-round display to defeat Hamilton 22-0 in Inverness. Their tries were scored by Louis Woods (2), Euan Card and Niall Doherty. Hamish Mcwilliam kicked a conversion.

Tomorrow, a Shogun Conference select XV play Australian Schools at The Oriam, a warm-up match for the tourists who face Scotland U19 at the same venue on Sunday.