Under 18s just pipped at post in Cup match

I saw a cracking game of rugby today in Perth, the National Cup quarterfinal between Perthshire from the Red Conference & EK, winners of the Brown Conference. Perthshire beat EK’s rivals Allan Glens to qualify and so a close match was expected.

It was a cold but dry day for rugby, on a dry pitch. The EK starting XV had eight Strathaven boys and seven EK players but they played as if they had been a team for years. Credit to both sets of coaches.

It did not start well for EK. They were 7-0 after four minutes when they let Perthshire attack up the left wing through some missed tackles conceding a softish try, which was converted by Murray Orminston.

But they weathered this shock and grew in confidence, aided by the host’s lock Calum MacPherson deservedly being yellow carded after nine minutes for consistently not rolling away in the contact area.

And scored their first try after 18 minutes with a superb drive from a line out near the Perthshire line, with Connor Wilson the man in possession when they went over the line. No conversion. 7-5.

Five minutes later Simon Mukulumani was held up over the line, earning EK a scrum. EK continued to probe and Kieran Noble got a great try, catching a high pass from Simon Mukulumani to dot it down in the right corner. Again no conversion, albeit both Ethan Aitken’s kicks went close. EK 7-10 ahead.

The referee, who had a good match, missed a high tackle on an EK player but it did not really matter as EK pressed hard to cross the try line. Good ball retention finally got its reward when another sharp pass allowed winger Ethan Aitken to dive over for an unconverted try in the right corner.

Excellent play by EK after their typically slow start brought a deserved half time lead of 7-15. Perthshire under pressure had conceded 8 penalties to EK’s two.

The second half was almost a reversal of the first, with Perthshire dominant for long parts of it, and winning the penalty count 4-8 (losing it 12-10 overall).

The ref was also dominant as he warned Gordon Dryburgh for too much mouth from the touchline. So a rarity – a quiet and respectful GD for 40 minutes, hee hee! Must check the Guinness Book of Records to see if this qualifies for a World Record……!

EK were living dangerously as they sought to repel Perthshire attacks, conceding lots of penalties & thus close to a man being sin binned. The EK bench was rotated regularly with folks coming on and off.

Perthshire kicked a penalty after 43 minutes (10-15) but resolute EK defence kept them away from the whitewash and after some 17 minutes in to the half, EK relieved the pressure by winning their first penalty since the half time oranges.

But the pressure was telling. EK stand off Craig Thomson came off injured after 56 minutes and two minutes later Perthshire’s Orminston kicked another penalty for 13-15.

But EK roused themselves again and fought their way in to the opposition half through excellent continuity. They were rewarded for their efforts with a second try for Connor Wilson, in the left corner. Once again Aitken’s conversion attempt was well struck but just off target. 13-20.

Perthshire struck back from the restart when EK conceded a softish penalty, and from the line out, Scotland U18 centre James McCaig crashed through the middle untouched for a well worked try. The conversion tied the score at 20-20 after 64 minutes.

So the final fifteen minutes was tense for both sides, with their respective support roaring them on. EK worked themselves back up the pitch to win a midfield scrum, but at the crucial moment, lost the ball.

Perthshire followed this up with a long clearance kick upfield which EK found hard to control and after a good old scramble, the end result was EK’s Ben McLean was yellow carded for a high tackle. Perthshire’s Ormiston kicked the penalty to regather the lead, last held 61 one minute previously. 23-20.

EK were sustaining knocks and bumps and further changes in personnel were needed to try to repulse the hosts. Connor Wilson finally had to concede defeat to his injury .

EK gave it another lash and worked their way up to the Perthshire 22 metre line, probing for the match winning try, but the ball went loose and was hacked back downfield. But back they came, and won a penalty at the death some 40 metres from goal, in front of the Perthshire posts.

Up stepped EK kicker Ethan Aitken – again he struck it really well: he had the distance but it just slipped outside the upright and sadly for EK that was it. The referee blew for full time almost immediately so Perthshire held on for the victory.

No disgrace in defeat. This was a great cup tie, it ebbed and flowed and there was considerable skill and effort on display from both sides. If only EK could play opposition like this every week. They played very well, showed great courage and resolve in the second half when injuries disrupted their rhythm, and never gave up.

Man of Match: Simon Mukulumani

Next match: this defeat means that EK drop down in to the West Regional Cup with a match at Ayr. It was good to listen to boys’ reflection on the match afterwards, including their determination to do well in the West cup. A credit to everyone involved