|
May 10th
Borders teams contested three
Finals at Murrayfield on Club Finals Day but
none of them managed to bring back the main
prize, but it wasn't for the want of trying as
all three - Melrose, Peebles and Duns - put up
big performances against very good opposition.
In the Plate Duns were big underdogs against the
physical and streetwise Aberdeen University who
had put out Hawick Linden two weeks ago on the
road. Linden had beaten Duns convincingly twice
this season so on paper it really was an uphill
task. They went down 33-10 but by no means
disgraced themselves. Turnover ball and
interceptions gave Aberdeen four tries before
half time but the second half from Duns was much
better and produced their only try of the game
from Kevin Aitcheson. Dale Robertson fired over
the conversion to add to his first half penalty.
For a team which had been relegated three years
running and were in freefall mode it was a
credit to coaches Peter Gallagher and Allan
Paterson for resurrecting the club from the
depths and a bright future for the club looks to
be on the cards.
May 2nd
Earlston's promotion hopes
are still alive after destroying RDVC 51-6 on
the road. They now have to beat Walkerburn at
home on Thursday (kick off 6.30pm at The Haugh)
to overtake St Boswells and grab promotion to
the first division as well as picking up the
award for "Best Borders team" in East League
Division 2. Highlights of that game will be
featured on Borders Rugby TV. Bottom team
Walkerburn did an amazing double over champions
Edinburgh Northern with a 19-17 win.
April 27th
Earlston's Sevens is being held on Sunday
3rd May 2009 and will be the Kings of the Sevens' penultimate
meeting.
The host club are please to announce for the 79th playing of their
tournament a new and exciting sponsorship venture. The main sponsor
for the event will be “Davidson Land Services”, a Borders-based
company who specialise in all types of Groundworks including water
and wastewater connections and maintenance and are main contractors
for Scottish Water in the Borders.
Malcolm Davidson, Managing Director of the company commented,
“Davidson Land Services are a local company committed to the Borders
and are proud to be associated with a Borders tournament that has
such a long and proud tradition”.
The importance of the weekend is highlighted by President, Hugh
Briggs, who says “I have great pleasure in welcoming Davidson Land
Services aboard as our main sponsor this year, I have hopes of them
establishing themselves at Earlston for a few years to come. For a
club such as Earlston to secure such a high quality sponsor is a
reflection upon the importance of our tournament within the Rugby
Calendar”.
The usual mix of clubs will be present including holders Watsonians
as well as all of Border League member clubs. Unfortunately Langholm
(due to National League commitments) have had to withdraw, however
Ellon have accepted a late invitation. Heriots, Haddington, Stewarts
Melville and Edinburgh Accies are among the guest sides.
In recent years spectators have enjoyed a fun filled day of rugby,
in the basking sunshine on the Bank Holiday weekend, and the club
are hoping that at this early stage in the sevens preparation it can
be repeated. Additionally during the afternoon Melrose Pipe Band
will be playing to add to the atmosphere. For further information on
hospitality contact Hospitality Convenor Martin Goodfellow on 07951
915401.
Once again Earlston RFC is conscience of sensible drinking and in
discussions with Lothian and Borders Police, taking their advice and
guidance the Club is to have restrictions on quantity of alcohol
being brought in by spectators, Earlston RFC encourage supporters to
drink sensibly and make the day enjoyable for all. The event will be
filmed for Borders Rugby Television, with coverage sponsored by
another Earlston company, Rutherford's.
For further information contact Shelagh Briggs on 07793580154.
April 25th
There will be three Borders clubs going to
Murrayfield for Finals Day on Sunday 10th May after Melrose, Duns
and Peebles got through their semi finals matches in the Cup, Plate
and Shield respectively. Sadly Jed-Forest lost 30-20 away at Glasgow
Hawks after leading 20-18 late on in their match while Hawick Linden
went down 34-19 at home to Aberdeen University. Linden scored three
tries from Graeme Anderson, Darrell Gray and Jamie Scott, with Barry
Sutherland landing two conversions.
Duns emphatically took their position in the
final of the Plate competition with a 66-3
trouncing of Dunbar, where they will face
Aberdeen University.
In East League 2 St Boswells got an impressive
68-17 victory at Edinburgh BATS in their final
game of the season while Walkerburn went down
77-0 at Inverleith. Earlston need to win their
remaining two matches getting a bonus point in
one of them to snatch the trophy for Best
Borders team in that division at the Borders
Rugby Awards.
April 18th
In the
Plate competition Hawick Linden beat Crieff & Strathearn 46-3 which
gives them a home Semi Final clash with Aberdeen University at the
weekend. A win in that could see them face local rivals Duns. Duns
beat Ross Sutherland 13-5 on the road to give themselves a home
match in the semi final against Dunbar next weekend.
IGala YM beat Walkerburn 53-11 in the East League
Division 2, while St Boswells overcame Liberton 41-3 to leapfrog
rivals Earlston.
April 16th
Hawick YM have had to make the heartbreaking
decision to pull out of this Saturday's Shield Quarter Final as they
have only 12 fit players available. They were due to play Premier
1's Glasgow Hawks after dumping Dalziel out of the competition.
Coach Jammy McFarlane was absolutely gutted but told Borders Rugby
TV that there was nothing the club could do to play the match. "With
players from other clubs cup-tied we could not get a team together
and it is a very sad day." Hawks will now progress to the Semi Final
where they will meet the winners of the Jed-Forest v Falkirk tie.
Apr 11th
In the National League 2 Hawick YM won at Stewartry
with a bonus point, with four tries scored by Glyn Desport, Lee Armstrong, Billy Lilly and Dean
McCracken. Gregor Welsh converted all of them.
Unfortunately Linlithgow won at Caithness 36-12 to
prevent YM from promotion to Division 1 of the
National League. In East League 1
there were wins for Hawick Linden against Dunbar
27-21 and Hawick Harlequins beat Penicuik 59-17. In
the East League 2 Earlston beat Moray House 38-7 on
the road.
|