The Scrum, Scottish Club Rugby Union Magazine, will keep you updated with all the latest news in Scottish Rugby. You can keep in touch with what is going on at all levels from mini’s and midi’s rugby to school rugby, universities and woman’s rugby and including news from all the Scottish Club leagues.
There is no amount of rugby news that we consider to be too small to feature on The SCRUM website. If you feel you have news, no matter how small, then get in touch and we'll make sure it’s on the website.
August ArchiveSeptember Archive
October Archive
November Archive
December Archive
January Archive
February Archive
March Archive
April Archive
Updated on: Tuesday, 13.05.08
Young Hawks swoop to conquer
Tuesday, 13-May-2008
Glasgow Hawks S2 won the Glasgow Midi Tournament on Sunday held at Cumbernauld Rugby Club.
In the group stages Glasgow Hawks beat Strathaven 50-0 and Garnock 55-0.
In the quarter-final Hawks then beat Cartha 44-0 and West of Scotland 12-0 in the last four.
In the final Hawks beat GHA 17-0.
Hawks’ Development Officer Grant Talbot said: “The boys played some great rugby over the five games and credit should go to the coaches for working hard with the boys over the season.”
Cumnock awards
Tuesday, 13-May-2008
Cumnock RFC held their annual player's night on Saturday when the awards for the season were presented by president elect Alec Dunsmuir.
A spokesman said: “It has been a real rollercoaster of a season for the club, but the most pleasing thing has been the way that the younger players have stepped up to the mark and performed. Not to be outdone, the senior members have raised their game when required.”
The awards were as follows:
Player of the Year - Jamie Hodge
Young Player of the Year - David Kerr
Most Improved Player - Andy McCrorie
Second XV player of the Year - Richie Roberts
Most Deserving Player - Kevin Brady
Top Try scorer - Gordon Laurie
Selkirk are the Kings
Monday, 12-May-2008
Selkirk have been crowned the Kings of the Sevens for the second year running.
The Borderers were beaten 19-12 in the quarter-finals of the Jed-Forest Sevens on Saturday, but it was enough to secure them the three points they needed from the final tournament to pip Watsonians to the title.
‘Sonians had come on strongly, winning the last three events, but just fell short. On Saturday, with Scotland Sevens’ cap Andrew Skeen at the helm, defeated Hawick 45-17 in the final.
Selkirk, who have also been promoted to Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division One this term, can also win the famous Border League if they see off Jed tonight at Kelso’s Poynder Park.
Bash at Huntly
Monday, 12-May-2008
Huntly had their end of season "Bash" on Saturday night in the Stewarts Hall.
The band "Illusion", who say they play anything from Ceilidh to AC/DC, played and it made for an interesting evening.
The Player of the Year and Most Improved Player was presented and everyone had a good night.
Kilmarnock 140th dinner tomorrow night
Thursday, 08-May-2008
Nearly all 400 tickets for the Kilmarnock 140th Sportsman’s Dinner have been sold ahead of the event on Friday night.
It takes place in the Park Hotel, Kuilmarnock, with guest speakers Willie Allan, Stewart Aitkinson, Jimmy Gibson, Willie Smith and Bill Barnaby.
For more details please contact Ali McCall on 07939281100, it promises to be a great night.
Fun day at Mackie
Thursday, 08-May-2008
The annual Mackie Mini Tournament takes place this Saturday, May 10 at the Academy Playing Fields on Slug Road, Stonehaven.
Up to 500 kids are expected to take to the field on the day with up to eight teams competing at each age group.
It will be a fun day out for all the family and the team of mini helpers will have their usual tea tent selling soup and sandwiches and cakes and bakes to keep the hunger pangs at bay.
King of the Sevens coming to an exciting end
Wednesday, 07-May-2008
The King of the Sevens circuit is set for a thrilling finale on Saturday when the Jed-Forest Sevens take place at Riverside Park.
Selkirk will win the tournament for the second year in succession if they can progress past the first round. That will mean they have accrued too many points for nearest challengers Watsonians to catch them.
It promises to be a thrilling afternoon, starting at 1.30pm, in the Borders and the draw is as follows;
Dundee HSFP v Peebles, Jed-Forest v Haddington, Edinburgh Academicals v Gala, Watsonians v Melrose, Berwick v Kelso, Selkirk v Boroughmuir, Heriot’s v Langholm, Hawick v Stewart’s Melville
Hawick Wanderers are just champion
Wednesday, 07-May-2008
Hawick Wanderers defeated Gala Wanderers 27-24 in a thrilling final at Riverside Park on Saturday in the Jed Thistle Sevens.
This was the Wanderers third consecutive win at Jed, and their fourth win in sixth successive finals at Jed. Their win meant that they have been crowned as semi-junior Kings of the Sevens, and the Wanderers now hold all the semi-junior sevens cups except Selkirk Youth Club.
Melrose and Garnock both clock up 31 to take silverware
Tuesday, 06-May-2008
Melrose won the Scottish Hydro Electric Scottish Cup on Saturday in a game of two halves against Heriot’s.
The Borderers have been the in-form team in Scotland since the turn of the year and came out of the blocks flying in the first half.
Tries came from Aussie Jordan Macey, young winger Callum Anderson, hooker Wayne Mitchell and other winger Dave Whiteford in the first 40 minutes. Man of the match Scott Wight converted all of them and they led 28-0.
Heriot’s fought back in the second half, but came up just short. Centres James Thompson and Cameron Goodall scored along with Innes Brown and Oliver Brown with scrum-half Graham Wilson kicking two conversions to scare Melrose, but a Wight penalty saw Craig Chalmers’ men home 31-24.
Meanwhile, Garnock caused an upset in the Scottish Hydro Electric Shield by seeing off Kirkcaldy 31-24 in a cracker.
Paul McCrorie was the hero for the victors with a hat-trick of tries to make up for last year’s final loss to Falkirk.
Scrum-half McCrorie first graced the Murrayfield turf 14 years ago when he was the Scotland mascot for a match against South Africa.
PL beat Dalziel
Tuesday, 06-May-2008
Preston Lodge got the better of league rivals Dalziel in a tight Scottish Hydro Electric National Bowl final on Saturday at Murrayfield.
The match between the two National League Division One sides was always going to be a close aware and it proved to be just that. The East Lothian men just had a bit more conviction about their play on the day to win 18-10.
Preston Lodge coach Gareth Davies said: “After the first ten minutes I thought we performed really well and got what we deserved.
“This is a huge thing or the club, it is all we have been talking about lately, and our game has been steadily improving recently with this big game in mind. Thankfully, we performed well and came away with victory.”
Preston Lodge started the stronger and built up a 10-0 lead within 30 minutes. Prop Cameron McLean scored a wonderful try after an intelligent break by centre Andrew Clark, converted by stand-off Graeme Patterson, with the latter also adding a penalty.
Dalziel never really got going prior to the break and the only chances they did have saw two penalties from full-back Robert Simpson drop short of the uprights.
In the second half Simpson was on target to make it 10-3, but Preston Lodge extended their lead to 18-3 soon after thanks to a try from centre Chris Dixon and a drop-goal by man of the match Patterson.
Dalziel did get a converted try through winger Victor Czarnocki, but it was too late.
Uni get top marks
Tuesday, 06-May-2008
Aberdeen University won the Scottish Hydro Electric National Plate final on Saturday after a superb opening period gave them the platform to see of a plucky Portobello side 27-21 at Murrayfield.
The students have now completed the double having already won Caledonia League Division Two (North) this term.
Aberdeen University president Chris Hunter, who came on as a replacement, said: “When they were coming back at us the last five minutes seemed like a lifetime, but we got there and it is a great achievement for the club.”
The star for the university side on Saturday was centre Fraser Lyle.
The 19-year-old scored two opportunist tries early on, the first after he blocked a drop goal and collected the ball before sprinting 70 metres to score, to give his side a 12-0 lead.
Stand-off Euan Kelly then grabbed the third soon after and at 19-0 down Portobello looked dead and buried.
However, the East League side woke up and their pack began to take control. By the half hour mark they had clawed it back to 19-13 thanks to good kicking by centre Chris Thomas and a try by second-row Chris Davis.
It was then 22-16 at the break to the men from the north but in the 66th minute Porty closed the gap to one after an unconverted try from replacement Graham Porteous.
Three minutes later Aberdeen University scored their fourth try through full-back Tom Rattray and then held on in a tense finale.
Wandies at the double on women’s finals day
Tuesday, 06-May-2008
Murrayfield Wanderers lifted the SWRU Cup on Saturday thanks to a last minute try by captain Lucy Millard.
The score, converted expertly under pressure by Sarah Gill, gave Wandies a 15-14 victory over rivals Royal High Corstorphine after a superb match on the back pitches at Murrayfield.
They have now clinched the double this season and full-back Millard, who also got her side’s other try on the day, said: “It was a really good match to play in and it was getting nervy towards the end. However, we managed to keep cool and keep the ball and it paid off.
“To win the double is amazing, we are all really pleased, and I would just like to thank all of my players for the hard work they have put in this season.”
Wandies other three points came from the boot of Gill while RHC scored tries through internationalists Veronica Fitzpatrick and Cara D’Silva.
Claire Ferguson had also converted those two scores to give RHC a 14-8 lead and they were heading for victory until Millard’s late heroics.
Meanwhile, Kirkcaldy won the SWRU plate with a 36-5 win over Glasgow University.
The students, whose try came from prop Arlene McConnell, could not match Kirkcaldy’s slick play as the Fifers controlled matters.
And in the SWRU Bowl final Melrose ran in eight tries to see off Morgan.
Flanker Megan McIver, second-row Jenny Ryall, hooker Hannah Rorrison, prop Steph McKenna, wing Luana Henderson, stand-off Nicola Halfpenny all scored and full-back Kirsty Cook notched two tries as they won 44-5.
Heriot’s and Melrose ready for big match
Friday, 02-May-2008
Heriot’s and Melrose will be squaring up in the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup final on Saturday at Murrayfield (4pm).
The former last won the cup in 2003 and looked good during their semi-final win over Jed last month.
Captain Marc Teague has continued to be a try scoring machine this term, while full-back/centre Colin Goudie has been in great form since arriving from Stewart’s Melville.
In the back-row experience and youth will mix as Scottish Club International captain Tam McVie and Scotland Sevens man Chris Fusaro, who is still just 18, look to gain the upper hand against the Borderers.
Their Premiership Division One counterparts have been the in-form top flight side in 2008 and in Australian full-back/wing Jordan Macey they have uncovered a real gem.
They will be hit by the loss of suspended duo Kieran Cooney and John Dalziel, but in players like hooker Wayne Mitchell they have a pack who will be up for the fight.
For full coverage of the finals day remember to see the May issue of The SCRUM magazine.
Garnock aim to topple Kirkcaldy
Friday, 02-May-2008
Garnock, who have been promoted from Scottish Hydro Electric National League Division One, will be looking to defeat Premiership opposition to lift the Shield final on Saturday.
The men from Lochshore in Ayrshire have had a great year so far. They are going up to Premiership Division Three with Falkirk, the team who beat them in the final of the shield last season 15-14, and now they are getting ready to take on Kirkcaldy.
The Fifers have also had a good season, but thy just missed out on promotion behind Gala and Peebles and will be looking to take some silverware from 2007/08 at Murrayfield.
Keep an eye out for Kirkcaldy No.8 Craig Wilson on Saturday, he was named in the Scottish Club International training squad earlier this year.
For full coverage of the finals day remember to see the May issue of The SCRUM magazine.
Dalziel and PL ready to Bowl Murrayfield over
Thursday, 01-May-2008
Preston Lodge will be on a high heading into Saturday’s Scottish Hydro Electric Bowl final after a superb 16-3 win away to Caithness in the last four.
In the final the men from East Lothian will take on Dalziel who also won away in the semis, 12-6 at Linlithgow.
The sides are also very evenly matched, given that they both finished the season on 47 points in National League Division One.
They have also won one encounter each this term, Dalziel winning at home 12-10 back in September and PL winning 19-14 at the Pennypit in December.
The match kicks-off at 12.15pm at Murrayfield.
For full coverage of the finals day remember to see the May issue of The SCRUM magazine.
Plate finalists ready
Thursday, 01-May-2008
Portobello and Aberdeen University will be the first ones to grace the national stadium at Murrayfield on Saturday when they compete for the Scottish Hydro Electric Plate (10.30am kick-off).
Porty have had a good year, consolidating their place in East League Division One after promotion and now having a great new clubhouse after the old one was ruined by fire 12 months ago.
They beat Clydebank 11-8 in the semis to get this far, while Aberdeen University saw off GHK in the last four.
The students have had a great season to date and were crowned Caledonia League Division Two (North) champions.
For full coverage of the finals day remember to see the May issue of The SCRUM magazine.