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Updated on: Tuesday, 01.04.08
Whitecraigs win title
Monday, 31-Mar-2008Whitecraigs, who have just been named club of the month for February, won Scottish Hydro Electric National League Division Three at the weekend.
They won 32-3 at Helensburgh to make sure they are going up while who takes the second promotion spot is yet to be decided. If Hawick YM beat Marr this coming Saturday then they will pip Lenzie to second place.
Duns and Glenrothes are already down from that division, but the third relegation spot will be decided over the coming weeks with Lismore, Strathmore, Helensburgh and Madras College FP could all still drop.
In Division Two Howe of Fife beat Linlithgow 56-6 at home on the day they were presented with the trophy, while already promoted sides Falkirk and Garnock both won again at the weekend in Division One to keep the title race going for another week.
Meanwhile, Meggetland won the East League Division Two title in their first season in existence with a 26-5 win over fellow promoted side Dalkeith at Kings Park on Saturday.
And Waysiders Drumpellier are still on course to go the whole season unbeaten in West League Division One after a 46-0 win over Strathclyde Police on Saturday.
West and Selkirk promoted during weekend of high drama
Monday, 31-Mar-2008Selkirk will be playing top flight rugby next season after they beat promotion rivals Biggar in a mud bath at Hartreemill on Saturday.
The Borderers won 15-0 against the home side in the Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division Two match of the day, meaning they pipped them to the second promotion spot.
West of Scotland won the league after a 24-3 victory at home over Hillhead/Jordanhill, a result that puts the later down.
Hillhead still have three rescheduled matches still to play, but will finish in the bottom two after relegation candidates Cartha Queens Park and Musselburgh both pulled off superb wins over Haddington and Hamilton respectively.
Both teams have one match yet to play, but Musselburgh know that if they beat Hillhead this coming Saturday they will be safe.
Meanwhile, in Premiership Division One Edinburgh Accies performed great escape, fighting back in the second-half against Heriot’s to stay up.
They were 15-13 down at the break, but won 34-18 at Goldenacre while GHA were losing agonisingly 6-0 to Stirling County. It all means that GHA go down with Dundee HSFP on 39 points.
Gala won Premiership Division Three after a 34-5 home win over Ellon. Peebles join them on the way up while Berwick drop to the National Leagues despite a 7-6 home win over Morgan Academy.
Issues to be decided this weekend
Friday, 28-Mar-2008Edinburgh Accies head to Goldenacre tomorrow knowing a win over Edinburgh rivals Heriot’s is needed if they are to stay in Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division One in their 150th year.
The sides drew on the opening day of the season 10-10 at Raeburn Place. GHA are the other side who could go down if Accies win and they lose to Stirling County.
In Premiership Division Two West of Scotland will secure their second successive promotion if thy win at home over Hillhead/Jordanhil with Biggar and Selkirk fighting it out for the other promotion spot.
Cartha face Haddington and Musselburgh travel to Hamilton in matches which will have a big bearing on who is relegated, but their are still a number of rearranged matches to be played.
In Premiership Division Three Gala can win title if they beat Ellon at Netherdale.
Meanwhile, Berwick know they must secure a bonus point win over Morgan Academy and hope that Livingston lose at already promoted Peebles to have any chance of staying up.
Remember to check the website next week for all the news from the weekend and send information on your club's exploits to gary@scrummagazine.com
Under-18s beat France
Friday, 28-Mar-2008Scotland's under-18 team got off to a winning start in the under-18 Six Nations Festival by defeating France 10-8 at the Cork Institute of Technology yesterday.
Prop Craig Owenson scored a try from close range just before half-time to hand Grant McKelvey’s side the lead with stand-off Alex Blair adding the extras.
After the break, Blair then extended Scotland’s advantage with a well-taken penalty before France responded through a try from Kevin LeGuen and a penalty from Amany Geneste.
But Scotland clung on to secure a productive start; much to the delight of Assistant Coach Graham Marshall.
Marshall said: "We were pleased with our first half performance though we didn't convert as many chances as we had. However we were disappointed with the second half because we made a lot of mistakes and let France right back into it."
Date for Aberdeen Uni Sevens announced
Thursday, 27-Mar-2008This year’s Aberdeen University Sevens is on Sunday, April 27 at Kings Playing Fields and will start at around 9am.
There is a maximum of 24 teams and the format will consist of a league system with the winners going into the Cup and the second placed teams going into the Shield.
There will be a barbeque and a beer tent and the organisers hope to make it even bigger than last year.
Yusef Abubaker Memorial Trust holding fair
Thursday, 27-Mar-2008The Yusef Abubaker Memorial Trust - set up in memory of the Dundee Eagles youngster who passed away in September after heart problems – is holding a Spring Fair at Harris Academy from 10am to 4pm this coming Saturday to raise funds for the Trust.
The stalls and activities will include freshly cooked home-made exotic foods (pre-packed to take away), face painting, Asian henna drawing, children's tattoos, hair braiding, colours and extensions, nail treatment and beauty, International crafts, plant stalls, authentic Middle Eastern kaftans and clothing, hand-knitted fashion scarves, reflexology and massage, a treasure hunt, Beat the Goalie and many more stalls including refreshments.
For more on the trust, visit http://www.yusefabubaker.org.uk/
Big day in Haddington
Wednesday, 26-Mar-2008Saturday, April 5 will see Haddington play their Scottish Hydro Electric Cup quarter-final clash and host their annual sevens event on the same day at Neilson Park.
The cup clash against fellow Premiership Division Two side Jed-Forest kicks off at 1pm followed by the sevens starting at 3pm with the Edinburgh University-Watsonians first round tie.
Dundee girls looking for new coach
Wednesday, 26-Mar-2008Dundee University women’s rugby team are looking for a coach for next season.
Training sessions are held on a Monday from 7 until 8.30pm and Wednesday's from 2 to 4pm at Riverside sports grounds in Dundee commencing September 2008.
Anyone interested should contact clbaxter@dundee.ac.uk for more details or phone 07790132982.
Accies top flight life in the balance
Tuesday, 25-Mar-2008Edinburgh Accies must now beat Heriot’s this Saturday as they bid to stay in Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division One after a late defeat Boroughmuir at the weekend.
Ben Fishers try in the 77th minute gave ‘Muir a 18-14 win and leaves Accies in second bottom spot with one match to play in their 150th season.
The Raeburn Place men travel to Edinburgh rivals Heriot’s on Saturday on 37 points, while GHA are on 38 and Stirling County are on 40. The latter two sides meet on Saturday at Bridgehaugh. All three were promoted last season.
Meanwhile, Dundee HSFP’s relegation was confirmed at the weekend with a loss to GHA.
Falkirk open up nine point gap at the top of league
Tuesday, 25-Mar-2008Falkirk defeated title rivals Garnock 28-6 at the weekend as they moved a step closer to grabbing the silverware in National League Division One.
They are now nine points clear of the team they beat on Saturday with three matches to play. Garnock have four matches left and both will be in Premiership Division Three in 2008/09.
Meanwhile, Howe of Fife secured the Division Two title on Saturday with a win over third placed Forrester.
Draw made for Capital Sevens
Tuesday, 25-Mar-2008Holders Edinburgh Rugby will kick off the defence of the Boroughmuir Capital Sevens against a select side honouring the memory of the club's late internationalist Bruce Hay at Meggetland on Sunday, April 20.
Draw: Boroughmuir v Stewarts Melville; Edinburgh Accies v Preston Lodge; Biggar v Forrester; RHC v Lismore; Heriots v Watsonians; Lasswade v Edinburgh University; Musselburgh v Currie; Bruce Hay Chiefs v Edinburgh Rugby.
Selkirk ensure promotion race goes the whole way
Tuesday, 25-Mar-2008Selkirk defeated fellow promotion chasers West of Scotland at the weekend to set up a thrilling last day in Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division Two this Saturday.
The Borderers won 24-10 thanks in the main to two tries from David Cassidy and one from Gavin Craig at Philiphaugh. The result means that the two sides along with Biggar all still have a chance of filling the two promotion places.
If Selkirk beat Biggar at Hartreemill on Saturday they will be promoted as champions with West – who play Hillhead/Jordanhill at home - as runners-up irrespective of other results. However, there are plenty other permutations and it promises to be a very exciting afternoon.
Also, a word for young Musselburgh player Bryan Walls who, despite having played in the club’s under-18 John Lewis Youth League Cup final appearance just two months ago, put in an impressive performance as his side lost out 36-29 to Stewart’s Melville FP in the same division.
West can clinch title on Saturday
Thursday, 20-Mar-2008West of Scotland can secure their return to the top flight of Scottish club rugby this weekend with a win over Selkirk.
However, it will not be easy with the Borderers currently sitting in second place and chasing a place in Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division One themselves.
Meanwhile, in the top flight on Saturday, Dundee HSFP’s relegation will be confirmed if they lose at GHA, while the Glasgow side would boost their own hopes of avoiding the drop.
Other relegation candidates Hawick and Stirling County square up at Mansfield Park, while tenth placed Edinburgh Accies face a tough trip to champions Boroughmuir.
Remember to check the website next week for all leagues results and send information on your club's weekend exploits to gary@scrummagazine.com
Kirkcaldy tourists looking for players
Thursday, 20-Mar-2008Kirkcaldy over-35s are travelling on a tour of Prague from Thursday, May 1 to Monday 5 May.
Games have been arranged against Old Boys Prague and Montpellier. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the team finds itself short of a few players. Anyone who would like to join the tour should please contact Brian Dewar on 01592 591779 or email Kevin Murphy on kevin478@blueyonder.co.uk
Youth finals round-up
Wednesday, 19-Mar-2008Gary Peebles was the star of the show as Dunbar Grammar School defeated East Lothian rivals Preston Lodge in the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools under-15 Bowl final earlier this week.
The youngsters from Dunbar won 22-12 in the cracking match at Neilson Park in Haddington on Monday evening.
Peebles scored an early converted try to give Dunbar a 7-0 lead. Prop Mark Reid then made it 12-0 with a try of his own, but PL fought back before the break and got themselves on the scoreboard with a Paul Glynn try.
In the second half, Dunbar No.8 and captain Robbie Wilson took advantage of some fine work by his pack to extend the lead to 17-5, but Raymond Mackie got a converted score for PL and there was five points in it.
In a thrilling finale Fraser Maddox sealed the win for Dunbar with his side’s fourth try of the match.
Meanwhile, Boroughmuir’s under-16 side are celebrating after winning the National under-16 club championship with a 25-17 win over Perthshire on Sunday at Murrayfield.
Currie’s under-15 side could not match their Capital rivals though. They lost out 18-10 to Stirling County, despite tries from Joe Benassi and Max Johnson.
In the girls finals Murrayfield Wanderers lost to Gala in the under-15s, but beat Melrose in the under-18s.
Ayr through to round six
Wednesday, 19-Mar-2008Ayr defeated Cartha Queens Park 36-15 in the fifth round of the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup last night.
The win for the Millbrae men means they will face Currie in round six. This tie is due to be played on Saturday, April 5 on the same day as three quarter-finals will take place. The winners of the match will face Heriot’s in the last eight.
All Ayrshire clash in Shield
Tuesday, 18-Mar-2008Garnock and Kilmarnock are to face each other in an Ayrshire derby in the last eight of the Scottish Hydro Electric National Shield.
The former, on the way to the Premier Leagues, will be favourites, but it should be a cracking tie.
Meanwhile, Howe of Fife – buzzing after their win over Hillhead/Jordanhill – will welcome Ardrossan Accies to Cupar.
Scottish Hydro Electric Shield quarter-final draw (ties to be played on Saturday, April 5): Hawick YM v Ellon or Kirkcaldy, RHC v Irvine, Garnock v Kilmarnock, Howe of Fife v Ardrossan Academicals
Mouth watering Borders derby pick of ties.
Tuesday, 18-Mar-2008Hawick and Melrose will meet in the Scottish Hydro Electric National Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, April 5.
The draw was made by Watsonians captain Kyle Traynor and Heriot’s skipper Marc Teague on Tuesday morning at Murrayfield.
Watsonians will take on Premiership Division Two promotion chasers Biggar at Myreside. The latter knocked out Musselburgh 34-8 at the weekend.
Haddington have been rewarded for their fine 52-10 thumping of Selkirk in round six with a home match against their fellow Premiership Division Two side Jed-Forest.
Heriot’s will have to wait a further two matches before their opponents are confirmed. Bob McKillop’s men will be away to either Cartha Queens Park, Ayr or Currie. The Cartha-Ayr tie was again postponed at the weekend.
Scottish Hydro Electric Cup quarter-final draw (ties to be played on Saturday, April 5): Haddington v Jed-Forest, Watsonians v Biggar, Cartha Queens Park or Ayr or Currie v Heriot’s, Hawick v Melrose.
More knockout action in the National Shield round 2.
Monday, 17-Mar-2008Cumbernauld went crashing out of the Scottish Hydro Electric National Shield when they were well beaten by Garnock 60-0 in their second round tie. This was the only run-away result of the round, with the other fixtures of the ties proving a lot closer.
Premier 3 team Irvine managed a home win over Midlothian side Lasswade getting by 19-17. Kilmarnock managed a similarly close win against Marr, although they progressed to the next round with an away win.
Hillhead/Jordanhill went out at home to Howe of Fife, the men from Cupar recording a 15-10 victory on their travels to the West. RHC secured their place in the next round by beating Annan 23-10, and were joined by Hawick YM who defeated Highland 22-17 away.
Forrester went out of the Shield to Ardrossan Academicals, the Premier 3 team winning 20-10. Ellon travelled to East Kilbride in a re-scheduled round 1 game postponed from 1st March. Ellon will now face Kircaldy after charging to a 31-0 victory away from home.
Some big scores and close calls in Round 6 of the Cup.
Monday, 17-Mar-2008Round 6 of the Scottish Hydro Electric National Cup threw up some high scoring games where some teams found their way comfortably to the next stage, while others had to battle in some tight matches.
Haddington progressed with a comfortable win over Selkirk, putting 52 points on the board in a try-filled afternoon for them, to win 52-10 at home. They were joined by Watsonian’s who stormed to an equally emphatic 42-14 win over fellow Premier 1 side Dundee HSFP. Biggar travelled to Musselburgh to record a 34-8 victory in another match that was filled with tries to see them comfortably through to the next round.
Two former Cup winners met when Boroughmuir travelled to the borders to meet Melrose. But it was the Edinburgh side that stumbled out to a Melrose team that kept them from scoring, but who managed to get 16 points of their own at the Greenyards to go through 16-0.
The other fixtures played weren’t so clear cut, with some close results. The closest of the weekend’s games was Aberdeen Grammar against Hawick. The borders club looked to be going out of the competition until late in the game, when they managed to claw their way back with a last minute try to end the Premier 2 side’s hopes of progressing. Hawick finished 18-16 winners.
Gala looked to have vanquished another Premier 1 team in much the same manner, but Heriot’s had other ideas and fought back at Netherdale to a close 29-23 victory.
Premier 2 teams Jed-Forest and Hamilton battled out a close game in the borders. Hamilton couldn’t reproduce the same win as the last time the teams met in the league, and it was Jed-Forest that emulated their win in October and just edged in front, with the game finishing 24-17.
Round 5 game Ayr RFC v Cartha Queens Park RFC was due to be played, but was postponed again due to a waterlogged pitch. The winners are due to face Currie in the round 6 tie.
Hawks looking for a match
Wednesday, 05-Mar-2008Glasgow Hawks are looking for friendly fixtures over the next two weekends, March 8 and 15.
Anyone interested should contact Director of Rugby Hamish Fyfe by emailing Hamish.Fyfe@walkerlaird.co.uk or calling 07851790955.
Cartha and Ayr clash this Friday
Wednesday, 05-Mar-2008The rescheduled fifth round cup tie between Cartha Queens Park and Ayr will take place at Dumbreck this Friday, March 7
Kick-off is at 7.30pm.
A Cartha spokesman said:"Why not come along and enjoy a good game and warm yourself up for a feast of rugby over the weekend including the small matter of the Calcutta Cup?"
Quick return for Dalkeith
Wednesday, 05-Mar-2008Dalkeith sealed a quick return to Scottish Hydro Electric East League Division One at the weekend with a 22-10 win over Moray House.
The Midlothian men were relegated last term, but have bounced back using mainly the same squad in Division Two.
Club secretary Martin Ross believes Coach Jim Slight has played a big part in the renaissance, which had seen them win 13 out of 13 league matches by early March and concede just five tries.
Ross told The SCRUM:“Jim was previously the under-18 coach at the club, but our team at that level disbanded and we were looking around for a new first team coach. Jim stepped up to the mark and has really reinvigorated the squad under captain Stevie Halliday and they have all been enjoying their rugby.”
Dalkeith now hope to pip Meggetland to the title to crown their season off.
Jed see off Stirling in great day of cup action
Wednesday, 05-Mar-2008Richmond stand-off Erin Kerr has been called up to the Scotland Women’s team for Saturday’s (March 8) Women’s Six Nations clash against England at Meggetland (kick-off noon).
Her first game of this season’s championship is a vital one for the Scots as they chase their first win of the tournament and Scotland Women’s coach Lee Adamson is confident his side can impress in front of a home crowd.
“This weekend is massive for Scottish rugby as many of our representative teams are facing their English counterparts this weekend,” he said.
“Edinburgh will be buzzing come Saturday and so will we. We’ve got a great opportunity to get the day off to a good start with a result against England on and it would be a real boost to the players to see some of those in Edinburgh for the big game at Murrayfield, along at Meggetland getting behind the team.”In addition to Kerr’s inclusion, Adamson has made four changes, two of which are positional, to the team that faced Wales a fortnight ago.
Cara D’Silva has moved to the opposite wing to make room for Tanya Griffith who is promoted from the bench.
In the pack, Adamson has opted for consistency in his front row. His only changes see Lana Blyth move from the back-row to lock and welcome Sonia Cull back into the all-RHC back-row after outings against France and Wales so far in the campaign.
Scotland Women’s team to play England Women in the Women’s Six Nations at Meggetland, Edinburgh, on Saturday 8 March (kick-off 12 noon)
15 Lynsey Douglas (Richmond)
14 Cara D'Silva (RHC)
13 Veronica Fitzpatrick (RHC)
12 Suzi Newton (Blaydon/Team Northumbria)
11 Tanya Griffith (RHC)
10 Erin Kerr (Richmond)
9 Sarah Gill (Murrayfield Wanderers)
1 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
2 Sarah-Louise Walker (Watsonians)
3 Jilly McCord (RHC) CAPTAIN
4 Lana Blyth (Murrayfield Wanderers)
5 Lindsay Wheeler (Blaydon/Team Northumbria)
6 Louise Moffat (RHC)
7 Lynne Reid (RHC)
8 Sonia Cull (RHC)Substitutes
16 Joan Hutchison (Hillhead/Jordanhill)
17 Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers)
18 Mary Lafaiki (Watsonians)
19 Keri Holdsworth (Watsonians)
20 Louise Dalgliesh (RHC) 21 Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers)
22 Julie Sanaghan (Kirkcaldy)Jed see off Stirling in great day of cup action
Monday, 03-Mar-2008Melrose and Boroughmuir, both former winners of the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup, have been drawn together in the pick of the sixth round ties.
The draw was made at Murrayfield by Scotland front-row forwards Allan Jacobsen and Ross Ford.
There were contrasting fortunes for the two Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division Two clubs who usurped higher placed clubs in the fifth round at the weekend.
Biggar, conquerors of GHA, will face Musselburgh away at Stoneyhill; while Jed-Forest, who accounted for Stirling County, have another home draw, on this occasion against Hamilton.
The draws were also made today for the latest rounds of the Scottish Hydro Electric Shield, Bowl and Plate competitions.
Scottish Hydro Electric Cup
Sixth round draw Ties to be played on Saturday March 15Aberdeen GSFP v Hawick
Watsonians v Dundee HSFP
Jed-Forest v Hamilton
Musselburgh v Biggar
Haddington v Selkirk
Cartha Queens Park or Ayr v Currie
Melrose v Boroughmuir Gala v Heriot’sScottish Hydro Electric Shield
Second round draw
Ties to be played on Saturday March 15Irvine v Lasswade
Hillhead/Jordanhill v Howe of Fife
Forrester v Ardrossan Accies
Garnock or Hawick Harlequins v Cumbernauld
Highland v Hawick YM
Marr v Kilmarnock
RHC v Annan East Kilbride or Ellon v KirkcaldyScottish Hydro Electric Bowl
Quarter-final draw
Ties to be played Saturday April 5Dalziel v Allan Glen’s or Strathendrick
Linlithgow v Grangemouth
Preston Lodge v Loch Lomond or Wigtownshire Caithness v HelensburghScottish Hydro Electric Plate
Quarter-final draw Ties to be played Saturday April 5St Andrews University v Aberdeen University
GHK or Islay v Edinburgh Northern
Clydebank or Isle of Mull v Mackie Academy FP
Portobello v Cumnock or Oban LorneJed see off Stirling in great day of cup action
Sunday, 02-Mar-2008Premier Two side Jed-Forest saw off top flight Stirling County in the fifth round of the cup on Saturday.
Young talent Seb Trotter and veteran Billy Graham got the tries for the Borderers in an 18-14 win, but there was no shock at Burnbrae as Watsonians managed to come through a tough test against West of Scotland.
The Edinburgh side’s tries in a 24-14 win came from Jamie Rennie, Rohan Steyl, Torrie Callander and Scott Kennedy.
The side Watsonians beat in the 2006 final, Currie, are also through after a thumping 98-0 win at Berwick. They scored 16 tries with James Taggart one of four players to grab two.
Meanwhile, both last year’s finalists are out.
Holders Glasgow Hawks were thumped 42-8 at The Greenyards by a rampant Melrose side who scored six tries, while Edinburgh Accies lost away to league champions Boroughmuir 38-8.
Elsewhere in round five there were wins for Musselburgh, Dundee HSFP, Heriot’s, Biggar, Hawick, Hamilton, Selkirk, Aberdeen Grammar, Haddington and Gala.