P4
Fixture
List
PRIMARY
FOUR MATCH REPORTS
Whitecraigs Friendly Tournament – 15-9-2002
ELLON Rugby Club Junior Section’s mini teams kicked off their new season at the weekend when they travelled to Whitecraigs in Glasgow for a friendly tournament against some of the most notable teams in the Glasgow area.
Coaches
were anxious to see the results of the summer training programme and
with Ellon taking 10 wins from 12 matches they were not disappointed.
“This was
a good result for us,” said Convener Jim Millar. “We had a lot of
new players of all age groups on the field during this tournament and
the performances we saw gave us an excellent boost for the remainder of
the season.
“Once
again we were fortunate that our supporters chose to follow the team on
its four-hour journey to Whitecraigs and as ever, the section would like
to
thank them for their support and dedication; I can assure them their
presence makes a huge difference”.
Ellon 8
Glasgow Accies 1
Ellon Primary 4 first trip of the season saw it fielding a team where more than half of the players are newcomers who have either come in fresh or been brought up from the ever flourishing micro section.
This was Accies first airing for a completely new
squad and to be fair their lack of positional play and discipline was
evident as the Ellon front row made short work of their defensive line.
There were some good forward runs and coupled with good support, Blair
Fraser proved that all the hard work at training can pay dividends as he
put down 3 tries. Scott Tennant also put on a sprint down the left side
to touch in another and Hamish Dalgarno, a seasoned campaigner from last
year, showed his true potential and scored a total of 4 tries; a good
solid start which saw the Ellon boys in buoyant mood.
Ellon 2 Whitecraigs 1
The second game of the day was against the home team and this was evident by the amount of support they enjoyed. Whitecraigs proved to be a stiffer challenge than the first game with much better organisation and basic game play. New to the team, Stephen Halmshaw on the right wing made some very good tackles and showed promise for times ahead. Scrum Half Alistair Adie and his front row had to keep their wits about them and the pressure paid off as Dalgarno managed to break through and touch down the first score. Whitecraigs seemed to react and were quickly reorganised and took advantage of a gap and equalised before half time. The second half began with both teams keeping things tight so as not to give anything away. Whitecraigs were working their way up the field but Ellon managed to hold them out and a dropped ball was all the opportunity Ellon had been waiting for and good forward play with support to match from newcomer Gavin Reed, Tennant and Blair Fraser put Dalgarno through the defence to run in the second try for Ellon down the left wing. The final score stayed as it was and Ellon were happy with their second victory of the day.
Ellon 11 Dalziel 2
The last game of the day was against Dalziel from Lanark and Ellon made some changes to allow everyone a chance to play in a match situation. Bradley Fraser came on for the first time, as did Douglas Forbes. The boys were in confident mood now and played some very good rugby with good forward play coupled with strong support which led to a half time score 6 – 2. Hamish Dalgarno yet again was worth his weight in gold and scored three, Alistair Adie added another two fantastic efforts and David Taylor scored his maiden try on his debut.
The second half was just as busy and the opposition were by now flagging a little and Ellon pushed home their advantage. Another newcomer was James McCavanagh who worked the left wing and did a good job marking his man and providing good support. Bradley Fraser also put up a spirited fight and held several big tackles that belied his size. McCavanagh also scored his first try for Ellon and showed a good turn of speed when required. Scorers in the second half were Scott Tennant (2) Hamish Dalgarno (1) James McCavanagh (1) and Blair Fraser (1). The final score was 11 – 2 and that meant a clean sweep for the day.
The opposition coach said he was impressed by the level to which the boys performed and he thought there was possibly only one or two teams in Glasgow that would give us any trouble, a testament to all the hard work and commitment showed by players and coaches alike.
Primary 4 squad: Alistair Adie, Hamish Dalgarno, Douglas Forbes, Blair Fraser, Bradley Fraser, Stephen Halmshaw, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, David Taylor, Scott Tennant.
STIRLING COUNTY
ONCE again Ellon’s Mini Section found itself heading south at the weekend in order to develop its skills against the big central belt teams. This time it was a visit to the Section’s old friends and rivals, Stirling County. And, as is becoming customary, our following of supporters made the trip south to add their vocal support to those on the pitches.
This was Ellon’s second away trip this season and
this time we went to Stirling County for a friendly tournament .The
weather was kind and Stirling greeted us with brilliant sunshine. The
home squad is so big they had two teams for us to play against.
Ellon 2
Stirling Castle 0
The first encounter of the day was against Stirling Castle. The game started well and both teams looked pretty evenly matched, both displayed good positional and support play with neither side able to force their hand. Eventually a series of solid passes freed up Hooker Blair Fraser who touched down the first try of the day.
The second half turned out to be more of the same
with neither side having any clear advantage. Stirling was prevented
from scoring early on with a great tackle by Hamish Dalgarno. Again
Ellon’s pressure paid off and David Taylor playing in a forward
position held a strong pass from scrum half Alistair Addy and broke
through to touch down the second and winning try.
Ellon 9
Stirling Monument.1
This was Stirling’s second team – Monument. The Ellon pack got off to a flying start and caught Stirling out as Fraser scored twice in quick succession. Stirling managed to regroup, penetrate the defence and put a good try down the right hand side. This seemed to spur the Ellon boys on and scrum half Addy scored another just before half time with some great running rugby.
The second half began well as back Dalgarno
provided excellent support and ultimately received the pass that counted
from winger Stephen Halmshaw and scored his second for the day. The home
side seemed to wilt a little and the Ellon boys took full advantage with
Hamish putting down another two. Taylor’s confidence was building and
he also scored another two, shortly Fraser increased his tally and
scored in the corner again.
Ellon 9
Livingston 0.
After a welcome break Ellon faced Livingston. Ellon had the upper hand right from the whistle and Livingston’s defence were no match for the attack. Tries came thick and fast from Gavin Reed, Addy, Fraser and Dalgarno. Scott Tennant’s turn of speed also proved decisive and he scored another three.
Again the second half proved practice makes perfect and all the hard work at training brought results for Dalgarno who scored three more, and Addy another one. James McCavanagh came on and provided good cover on the wing until the end of the third game.
Ellon 9 West
of Scotland 0
By the time the boys faced West they were in no mood to slacken off now and were raring to go. Right from the start they outclassed a young team who suffered for their lack of organisation in the first half, both wingers Stephen Halmshaw and Bradley Fraser were given space to make ground and provide some good support to the backs that capitalised to the full. Addy put in three, Blair Fraser one and Dalgarno another and wee Bradley Fraser got his first try for his team down the left wing .Big brother Blair scored another and Tennant and Dalgarno added one each. This brought the day to a successful and happy end for the P4’s who deserved their victories through sheer hard work and determination, which only underpinned the performance. The boys have won every game so far this season and will be looking to continue their form at next week’s home tournament.
Primary
4 squad: Alistair Addy, Hamish Dalgarno, Blair Fraser, Bradley Fraser,
Stephen Halmshaw, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, David Taylor, Scott
Tennant
Ellon Friendly Tournament- 29-09-02
FOR once, Ellon RFC’s Mini Section found themselves on home ground last weekend when they hosted a friendly tournament which brought in around 200 young players from Ellon, Stirling, Howe of Fife, Aberdeen Wanderers and Aberdeen Grammar.
Great weather coupled with a high standard of play on the field produced a great day of sport at an event which proved that Rugby is alive and kicking in Ellon.
“The Ellon supporters were out in force as usual and proved no less vocal in their support on home ground. Many new voices swelled the ranks this week and our thanks go to everyone who came down to support us,” said Convener Jim Millar
Ellon 5 Howe of Fife 1
Ellon’s first game at the home tournament was against Howe whom we had not played this year so far. In bright sunshine the game began with the Fours keen to continue their current form. The new forwards for this season David Taylor and Gavin Reed soon showed that they were quickly absorbing the lessons learned in training and provided Hamish Dalgarno the pass he needed to score the first try. Scrum half Alistair Addy was also in good form and scored another two before half time. Early in the second half Ellon were caught offside and paid the penalty as Howe scored down the left side from 10metres out. The boys seemed to buck up after that and kept things a bit tighter in defence. Hamish (Hammy) Dalgarno capitalised on good support and used his strength and determination to score another two to bring the first game to a satisfactory conclusion.
Ellon 9 Wanderers 1
Wanderers were the next team on the programme again for the first meeting this year.
Some of the teams taking part said this was their first tournament, while for the Ellon boys this was their third and that was obvious. All the basics were evident and the scoring was plentiful. In the first half scorers were Addy, Blair Fraser, Scott Tennant and Bradley (Chunk) Fraser also showed his potential for the future as he scored twice. The second half began well with Addy again showing his speed and manoeuvrability to add two. Tennant and Dalgarno also worked well together and scored another one each.
Ellon 7 Grammar 0
James McCavanagh came on for Stephen Halmshaw and after watching his team mates was keen to get involved. Again scrum half Alistair Addy justified his place with some great running rugby and scored two excellent tries in quick succession. Some good forward support also allowed McCavanagh a gap and he took his opportunity to score down the left hand side. Grammar were one of the teams to beat last season but with a new squad the tide had turned and Ellon stepped on the gas with tries coming from Tennant, Blair Fraser, Addy and Dalgarno.
Ellon 5 Stirling 1
This game was to be Ellon’s toughest of the day as they won by only a narrow margin when they visited Stirling last Sunday and Stirling was sure to have brought their best squad north. From the whistle the Ellon boys raced forward in anticipation only to leave the wings exposed and Stirling didn’t need to be asked twice and scored. This only seemed to fire up the home side and within seconds of the restart Dalgarno barrelled through the defence and touched down. Stephen Halmshaw played well and received a pass from Blair Fraser right on the touch line and managed to keep possession and scored in the corner. Addy also again used his skill and speed to score against a tight defence. Dalgarno was in top form and shook off several tackles to score before half time. During half time Stirling regrouped and came back stronger, they were three down and were keen not to make any mistakes, both sides were in an aggressive mood and kept things very tight and nobody was being allowed any room to move, then a dropped pass scooped up by Ellon was all it took to allow Addy, Fraser and Taylor enough ground to release Hamish Dalgarno who again took no prisoners and score his eighth try of the day.
A fantastic effort by all involved which helped keep their unbeaten record this season. A big thank you to all the parents and supporters who came to cheer them on and witnessed a fine display of mini rugby which on current form and a little bit of luck will bode well when we get to the first proper tournament.
Primary 4 Squad: Alistair Addy, Scott Tennant, Hamish Dalgarno, Blair Fraser, Bradley Fraser, Stephen Halmshaw, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, David Taylor,
West Friendly- 03-11-02
YOUNG rugby players from Ellon swept the boards at the weekend when they took part in a friendly tournament at the West of Scotland ground in Glasgow.
In what was one of the most successful outings ever, four teams of mini players from the ERFC Junior Section won all 12 games in which they competed, scoring a total of 84 tries compared to only 10 tries scored against them.
Convener Jim Millar said players, coaches and supporters alike had been delighted with the outcome of the day which saw Ellon play against Helensburgh and Marr College as well as the host team West of Scotland.
“We went down with high hopes but this beat all expectations,” he said. “I would like to congratulate the boys on their performance; they did a great job, played really well throughout the day and thoroughly deserved their success.”
Ellon 2 Marr 0
The first game for Primary 4 was against Marr, a team they last met in the semi ñ final at Glasgow Accies tournament last month. Ellon won that encounter 3 ñ 1 so it would be interesting to see if Marr wanted to even the score.
The playing surface was very wet and made going tough and when the game started and it was evident they were keen to force their hand immediately with some overly enthusiastic challenges, but the Ellon pack kept their composure and let their rugby do the talking. Hamish Dalgarno again cemented his reputation as a strong support player and scored the first try of the day down the left side. The second half was equally hard fought but good running and passing from Alistair Addy, Gavin Reed and Scott Tennant allowed Dalgarno to be in the right position to collect from Scott Tennant and score the second try.
Ellon 6 Helensburgh 1
The second game of the day was against Helensburgh, a team the Primary 4s had not played before. The game started well and the boys were playing to their strengths. First try went to Addy. Tennant got the second with a good run down the left wing, and again leaving the left side a wee bit exposed proved too much of an invitation for Bradley (Chunk) Fraser to resist and he scored right in the corner before half time.
The Ellon front row were more disciplined than their opponents and the second half began well and a good swerving run from Addy and a pass to Dalgarno led to the fourth try. The opponents took advantage of a dropped ball after a slip in the mud and scored much to the delight of their supporters. Again Ellon’s front row provided the pressure that allowed the gaps to develop and scrum half Addy scored twice in quick succession with good support from Stephen Halmshaw and David Taylor.
Ellon 6 West of Scotland 0
The last game was against the home team and things got off to a flyer as Dalgarno quickly broke through from a set piece to score the first. Again Addy and Dalgarno proved a formidable pair up front and some good work brought Addy another two tries before half time. The second period got underway and Blair Fraser made his presence felt and charged a ball over the line from a scrum. Tennant showed a good turn of speed after collecting a pass from Taylor and scored in the right corner, and a few minutes later Tennant again collected a loose ball from the ground and found his way past the defence to score for the last time of the day.
Primary 4 team: Alistair Addy, Hamish Dalgarno, Blair Fraser, Bradley Fraser, Stephen Halmshaw, Gavin Reed, David Taylor, Scott Tennant.
Stewart Melville, Edinburgh Friendly Tournament – 02-03-03
After a long winter break enforced by weather conditions, players from the Primary 4 to Primary 7 squads of ERFC’s junior section took to the road again when they traveled to the Stewart Melville grounds in Edinburgh at the weekend to take part in a friendly tournament.
The teams had taken part in a successful friendly training tournament with local teams from Aberdeen Grammar, Moray and Mackie, at Ellon, the preceding weekend. Not only was the day good fun for the participants but it provided a chance to strengthen relationships with other clubs. It also provided Ellon’s first challenge since November and they were keen to continue their match play experience at Edinburgh prior to their all-important home tournament this weekend.
Ellon 4 Stirling County 1
Stirling had won the Stewart Melville tournament recently so we expected them to provide a stern test as an opener, thankfully we got there in good time and had a chance to warm up properly and blow out the cobwebs from the bus.
The Ellon boys were hungry for some match action and it was pleasing to see the lessons learned in training had not been forgotten. The Ellon backs Scott Tennant and Hamish Dalgarno were fed good ball by Scrum Half Alistair Addy and with good support from forwards David Taylor and Gavin Reed it wasn’t long before Dalgarno broke through to touch down the first try. The second score followed quickly as Addy used his speed to outpace the Stirling winger. In the second half good running support on the wing from James McCavanagh saw him freed up to score right in the corner. Stirling put up a fight and from a scrum in the Ellon half scored and pulled one back. In the last minute the Ellon pack surged forward supporting each other and Tennant driven by the pack bundled another try home.
Ellon 4 Stewart Melville (Barbarians) 0
This next game had been a long time coming as the last time the two teams had met was last year when Ellon managed a hard fought draw against a team coached by ex Scotland International Iwan Tukalo.
Scott Fraser made his debut on the wing and played well for his first game. Ellon’s training and routines clearly paid dividends this time as early on Blair Fraser scored his first of the day. Handling errors as much as defensive work thwarted several attempts. In the second half however things improved and the boys played to their strengths and the Edinburgh defence were no match and Fraser, Addy and Tennant all scored to take a well-deserved win.
Ellon 4 Biggar 0
A scout had been watching Biggar earlier and reckoned they would provide a stiff challenge for the Ellon team which changed out McCavangh for new lad Stewart Cruickshank.
Biggar did look disciplined and organised but, to their credit, Ellon upped their game and met them head on. Ellon’s front and back rows linked and supported well to allow two tries before half time, both from Scott Tennant. This seemed to ruffle the opposition and again Ellon kept up the pressure moving up quickly from the tap and closing down loose ball and again it paid off as a gap allowed Tennant to score his third. In the last minute Ellon hooker Blair Fraser got caught by two tacklers one was a bit high but due to the tackle not being completed Blair managed to carry his momentum forward and score a great try in the corner.
Ellon 4 Stewart Melville (Cavaliers ) 0
This last game was against the host’s second team. Ellon were again moving up quickly from the tap and giving the opposition no chance to move the ball around. This was the prime reason that Ellon were virtually camped out on the try line and eventually Scrum Half Addy switched direction passed the ball out to good support from Dalgarno, received the pass back again and scored in the corner. The boys were keen to finish on a high and Dalgarno used his speed with a great swerving run to score a second right on the stroke of half time.
In the second half Bradley Fraser’s efforts were rewarded. After receiving a pass out on the left wing, he darted through a gap and beat the defence to score. Late on Tennant added another with strong support from the pack to bring the day to a successful conclusion. A word of thanks must go to the supporters who travelled a long way to see their team perform at a level which sees them regarded as one of the best in their age group at the moment. Ellon play their home tournament next Sunday at the Meadows and are hoping to continue their current form in front of a large home support.
Primary 4 team: Alistair Addy, Stuart Cruickshank, Hamish Dalgarno, Blair Fraser, Bradley Fraser, Scott Fraser, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, David Taylor, Scott Tennant.
Ellon Tournament – 9-3-03
The Primary 4 and 6 teams from ERFC’s Junior Section emerged triumphant at the weekend after taking top placing in their Home Tournament at Ellon Meadows.
The Primary 5 and 7 teams also made their mark when both won through to the semi-finals in their age groups.
More than 350 young players from 10clubs took part in the Tournament, which is the highlight of the ERFC Junior Section calendar. The event attracted some of the best teams in Scotland with clubs from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Ayr, Fife, Livingston, Musselburgh and Aberdeen joining the home club.
The standard of rugby at all ages was outstanding with players aged from eight to 12 demonstrating the skills and talent which will undoubtedly see many of them called to join national teams in the future.
Tournament organiser, Derek Fraser said that the success of the event had been down to teamwork.
“I’d like to thank all the coaches, parents and supporters for their help both prior to the event and on the day itself. The reward for all their hard work was an event, which ran smoothly off the field and the chance to watch some top class rugby on the field.
“I’d particularly like to thank all our local players who took part in the tournament. They put heart and soul into what they were doing and two winners and two semi-finalists was an excellent result for Ellon. They faced some very tough opposition and they proved that they were up to the challenge and consolidated Ellon’s position as one of the best junior and mini sections in the North of Scotland.”
Ellon 5 Aberdeen Grammar 0
Grammar were out training at the Meadows two weeks ago so we had an idea of the level of play to expect.
Ellon stamped their authority on the visitors very quickly as Hamish Dalgarno got off to a flyer and scored in little over a minute and this was swiftly followed by a try from Scott Tennant.
The second half saw the boys keen to get going again and it didn’t take long for Dalgarno again to slip his tackler and race another over. Winger James McCavanagh also scored after his teammates moved the ball out quickly and allowed him room to nip through a gap. In the last moments Scrum Half Alistair Addy put another one down after some nifty footwork through the pack.
Ellon 8 Livingston 0
The second game of the day under an ever-greying sky was against Livingston whom we hadn’t played since last September. This game seemed to move quickly and the opposition couldn’t contain the Ellon pack with tries in the first half coming from Addy, McCavanagh, Dalgarno, Blair Fraser and Tennant.
In the second half the boys were told to back off a little and conserve their energy for the next game but this did little to rein them in and Gavin Reed opened his account with a fine effort in the left corner. Tennant scored another supported by his team and David Taylor also got his name on the score sheet with a great driving run.
Ellon 8 West of Scotland 0
Ellon substituted McCavanagh & Brad Fraser for Scott Fraser and Ben Shirron on both wings to give these new lads an opportunity to get involved in match play. Backs Tennant and Reed supported the new wingers by trying to create space for them to run into and give them as much ball as possible. Again the Ellon pack was too strong and tries came for Tennant (2), Dalgarno, and Taylor as well as from wee Scott Fraser who scored from the turnover before half time with a brave effort.
The second half still saw Ellon in good form as the visitors began to lose heart, and Dalgarno scored a great try after some fine running rugby with the forwards. Tennant put down another three, the last one of which came after a heroic run down the wing and then cut back inside and burst through the defenders.
Semi – final
Ellon 5 Musselburgh 1
As winners of group B we found ourselves in the semi-final against Musselburgh, a team we hadn’t played since the last home tournament. They were better organised than any of our previous encounters today and this showed in their game.
Ellon’s front row again showed why they have been so effective as Addy and Tennant worked together to score one each. The visitors struck back from a scrum five metres out resulting in the first try the Ellon boys had conceded all day. McCavanagh again was given room to work his way through the smallest of gaps to emerge with the ball still in hand and dived over the line.
The long day began to take its toll and both teams were feeling the pace, but Ellon managed to keep the momentum going and Tennant and Dalgarno again combined to score another one each.
Final
Ellon 2 Stirling County 1
After a 15-minute break the final was staged. Ellon won the toss and preferred to give the tap over and have the sun at their backs for the first half. Ellon substituted Shirron and Fraser for McCavanagh and Brad Fraser. This game was very physical from the off and both sides were taking and making some heavy but fair tackles. Stirling put a lot of pressure on the Ellon defence and had them pushed back deep into their own half. The pressure was immense and eventually Stirling broke through and scored. Ellon fought bravely and did not give up the push forward, constantly testing the defence. At last Dalgarno got the ball and made a mad dash through to equalise right on half time.
The second half was relentless with Stirling keeping up the pressure and Ellon doing all they could to keep them away from the touchline, at least twice Stirling were stopped just short by some great defending. And likewise in their brave attacks Tennant, Taylor and Blair Fraser all took heavy knocks but were determined to carry on. The whistle blew for full time level at one all.
The teams had to play five minutes extra time and Ellon looked a weary bunch, but they dug deep and found the courage and strength to keep Stirling at bay for the duration with both sides coming close but not managing to finish it off.
After a few minutes breather it was all down to a Golden Try. Both teams had to make one final effort to emerge the winners and they both put on a fantastic show as they battled to and fro with nobody seeming to have the upper hand. Then, Ellon seemed to string a few passes together and drove the pack closer when suddenly David Taylor broke free, ball in hand and cut right heading for a gap.
He was within three feet of the line and two Stirling players got to him but his momentum, aided by his team mates driving from behind, drove him over and down and the ball landed right on the line to score for Ellon.
The Ellon spectators went wild and so they should have; the boys played their hearts out and deserved the win.
Coaches Colin Tennant and John Addy said the boys were shattered but ecstatic.
The score doesn’t reflect how hard that game was, physically or mentally for those wee lads and they deserved that success. They fought so hard and took some hard knocks, but in the end they got the one that counted and we are very happy and very proud of what they have achieved. A huge thanks to all the parents and supporters who came and gave us plenty of vocal encouragement.”
Primary 4 team: Alistair Addy, Hamish Dalgarno, Blair Fraser, Bradley Fraser, Scott Fraser, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, Ben Shirron, David Taylor, Scott Tennant.
Forresters Tournament- 16-03-03
Edinburgh
Ellon’s young rugby players were among the silverware again last weekend after the Primary 4 and Primary 7 teams both picked up runners-up medals at the annual Forresters’ tournament in Edinburgh.
The Primary 5 and 6 teams also distinguished themselves by winning their leagues to gain places in the 3-4 playoffs.
Ellon 7 Boroughmuir B 0
The two teams met here last year with Ellon coming away on top. However a long bus trip and shortage of warm up time left the Ellon boys a bit sleepy and things got off to a pretty slow start. The B’Muir pack were a mix of P3 & P4 so lacked a wee bit in experience and this allowed even an off kilter Ellon pack to open their account.
David Taylor was first over, setting an example for his teammates to follow, and more tries came from Blair Fraser, Scott Tennant and Alistair Addy all before half time.
Ellon substituted James McCavanagh and Bradley Fraser and brought on Stephen Halmshaw and Ben Shirron. The second half was a little more fluent but Ellon were still making a few basic mistakes. Once they got going further scores came from Hamish Dalgarno, Blair Fraser and Scott Tennant.
Ellon 10 Linlithgow 0
These two teams drew last time they met but it was clear from watching Linlithgow in an earlier game that they were a less together side than we had seen previously. The break in between the matches had provided a chance to talk over a few points and rehearse a few moves quickly and this seemed to rejuvenate the Ellon pack. The game started and Ellon had new life and were working together as a team and Linlithgow had little to offer in the way of defence. Scores came quickly from Fraser, Taylor, Gavin Reed, Tennant and two from scrumhalf Addy.
At half time a couple of changes were made to try and give everyone a run out and the second half saw Ellon rule the roost - albeit with a few handling errors – and things went well. The boys worked well together and tried to feed the ball out the line and use less sideways running. Scores came in from Dalgarno, Bradley Fraser and two from Tennant.
Ellon 4 Currie 0
Ellon needed to win this to get through to the final and the boys were under no illusion it would be plain sailing. Currie proved more of a challenge and was strong on the attack, but the Ellon defence were fit for them and kept them at bay with some good tackling. Good play from the forwards let David Taylor use his power and momentum to drive over the line. A few minutes later Blair Fraser sprinted through a gap in their defence, scooped up a loose ball and ran in the second.
Again a couple of changes were made mainly on the wings for the second half. Ellon was playing well but the game was starting to get a bit more physical and a few knocks were sustained on both sides but eventually Ellon’s pressure paid off and Blair Fraser and Dalgarno scored to put us firmly into the final.
Final
Ellon 0 North Berwick 3
Ellon went into this game under no illusion it was probably the hardest so far this year. North Berwick is the only team to have beaten us this season so we knew it would be a stern test. Right from the whistle Ellon tried all they knew to break through but their defence held solid and Ellon kept being pushed back metre by metre by the Berwick forwards. They were a very good team and soon pushed through to go one up at half time.
In the second half McCavanagh came on for Shirron as Berwick were bigger and a bit more physical than Ellon. The game got underway but Ellon struggled to contain their opposition. Berwick scored again mid way through the period and later Tennant had to go off and was replaced by Halmshaw after taking a knock to the ankle. North Berwick scored again in the last minute to give them the win.
Ellon played well enough but were beaten by the better team on the day, and the boys were still pleased to collect the silver medal after a hard game.
Primary 4 team: Alistair Addy, Hamish Dalgarno, Blair Fraser, Bradley Fraser, Stephen Halmshaw, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, Ben Shirron, David Taylor, Scott Tennant.
Howe of Fife Tournament – 30/03/03
Ellon’s Primary 7 team was among the silverware for the second week in a row when they took the runners’ up awards at the Howe of Fife tournament last weekend. It was a well-deserved victory with each member of the team playing consistently well throughout the tournament and maintaining his determination to never give up.
Teams from Primaries 4 to 6 also performed well as they took on teams from Perthshire, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Dunfermline as well as the Cupar-based home club.
Ellon 7 Currie 0
Ellon met Currie in the first game of the day, two weeks after playing them at the Forresters tournament. From the start things were looking good with Ellon probing and testing their defences. Hooker Blair Fraser got his name on the score sheet first.
Currie tried hard to contain the Ellon pack but allowed some room which was capitalised on by scrumhalf Alistair Addy and back Scott Tennant who both used their speed and experience to outmanoeuvre their tacklers to score one each. David Taylor and Fraser powered in another two before half time.
In the second period some good running and support allowed Hamish Dalgarno to score his first of the day. Tennant added another after taking a pass out to the wing and working past the winger and down the line to score again.
We hadn’t played Dunfermline since last year, so an unchanged Ellon team faced them up. Ellon were using their heads and were keeping things pretty tight and fairly organised and good teamwork provided Dalgarno with the first score. Soon after that Blair Fraser intercepted a long pass and sprinted clear of the defence to score. Another two came before halftime from Dalgarno and Addy.
Ellon made two changes for the second half as James McCavanagh and Stuart Cruickshank came on for Scott Fraser and Gavin Reed. The opposition was unable to contain the Ellon pack in the second half and over enthusiasm was giving away some silly penalties but Ellon managed to score further tries via Fraser, Tennant (2), Dalgarno and Addy.
The boys were now in high spirits after two convincing wins and were keen to get onto the next game, which saw Bradley Fraser come onto the field. Things got off to a clean enough start and Addy made short work of their defence to score the first, this seemed to unsettle the opposition and thereafter allowed themselves to make too many errors, Ellon took full advantage and Addy scored another three and Blair Fraser another one.
In the second period Perthshire had regrouped and settled down but were still unable to contain the boys, scores came from Blair Fraser and again two from Alistair Addy.
This game was against the home team so was bound to be a bit tense. Howe was obviously keen to perform in front of the home crowd and started off in good form. They pressured from the start but Ellon gave them as good back. A penalty deep into the Ellon half allowed Howe to score first. This only spurred on the Ellon boys and sheer determination allowed Addy to equalise. Just before half time Addy again aided by his
Front row put Ellon ahead by one.
Good home support encouraged Howe to pick up their game and an unforced error by Ellon allowed them to equalise. The last minute of play saw the score still at 2 – 2; Howe made the attack and Ellon were defending bravely when back Tennant took a heavy blow and stayed down. The game was stopped to allow him to be moved from the park and the ref signalled the last play of the game and Howe drove for the line, the maul collapsed and a Howe lad popped out and scored.
The previous game had left the boys weary and they had to go virtually straight back on after a few minutes rest. Scott Tennant was unable to continue but Gavin Reed and Scott Fraser came on the field. Madras was more organised and put Ellon to the test and an under par side conceded the first try. The Ellon front row responded and Addy equalised with a great effort right on half time.
The second half was equally as tough with more than a few players taking tumbles. David Taylor took a heavy knock and Hamish Dalgarno nearly wiped himself and a Madras player off the park when they clashed heads. Thankfully no one was badly hurt and the game continued but the Ellon boys were too dented and disheartened to be able to hold them off and try as they might, another two tries in quick succession finished the game off.
Primary 4 team: Alistair Addy, Stuart Cruickshank, Hamish Dalgarno, Blair Fraser, Bradley Fraser, Scott Fraser, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, David Taylor, Scott Tennant.
Stewart’s Melville Friendly Tournament 13-9-2003
Ellon’s young rugby players kicked off their new season in good form at the weekend, when a bus load of youngsters from the Junior Section’s P4-P7 squads travelled to the Stewart’s Melville grounds in Edinburgh to compete against four other clubs.
It was a particular learning experience for the P4 and P5 teams who were playing for the first time to new SRU guidelines. The new format sees these younger squads now play six-a-side rather than eight-a-side teams in games which encourage players to make more use of available space and to pass out from tackles to keep the play flowing.
Ellon’s P4 players successfully defeated the home team, Stewart’s Melville, and went on to also see off the challenges of Watsonians, Heriots and Marr College.
This season’s team has brought together a new group of lads who were playing as a unit for the first time and they acquitted themselves very well, with the majority of them scoring at least once.
The scores of the four games were: Ellon 8 Stew Mel 5; Ellon 6 Watsonians 0; Ellon 1 Heriots 0; Ellon 6 Marr 3
Primary 4 team: Stuart Cruickshank, Craig Dalgarno, Bradley Fraser, Scott Fraser, Douglas Hitchcock, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, Ben Shirron.
Stirling Friendly Tournament- 28-09-03
ELLON’S young rugby players had their second set of encounters of the season when the Primary 4 to 7 squads travelled to Stirling to take part in a friendly tourney against three other clubs. Depleted numbers meant that some Ellon teams were short on numbers but the host side, which has a very strong junior section, lent out some of its players which gave all the sides the chance of some good mixed team training.
It was a particularly successful day for the Primary 4 team which won all of its games.
Ellon 6 McLaren 1
From the start of the game, Ellon looked stronger and more disciplined than their opponents did. This was proof indeed that an early start to the training season is time well spent and the younger less experienced lads were able to learn from the ones who played last year. In the first half, Douglas Hitchcock continued to build his confidence and opened the scoring for Ellon and good teamwork led to another two before half time from James McCavanagh and Bradley Fraser.
At half time Craig Dalgarno was substituted for new lad Robbie Couper and as soon as the whistle blew to start the second half McLaren seized on a sleepy defensive line to score one back. This abrupt wake up call was all that was needed for Ellon to force on and Gavin Reed well supported by his teammates scored three tries in quick succession. New lad Matthew Emmison came on for Ben Shirron and played well in his first game. Light rain had begun to fall by the end of the game but the boys were pleased with such a good start.
Ellon 5 Stirling B 3
This was Stirling’s B team and both teams seemed pretty evenly matched to begin with, but Ellon’s pressure paid off eventually with Bradley (Chunk) Fraser making a break down the left side to score the opener. New lad Aden Peck also made his debut and did well in his first competition. Stirling put up a spirited performance and capitalised on a gap which allowed them to equalise. The second half saw Peck and Couper rested and Shirron and Dalgarno back on.
The boys were working well together and were running forward and supporting well and tries came in steadily from Shirron, Dalgarno, Fraser and James McCavanagh. Ellon made the mistake of thinking they could relax and Stirling were quick to seize the chance to score two more before they were beaten by the clock.
This game was against Stirling’s A team but the Ellon lads were unconcerned. Dalgarno was substituted for Shirron.
The game began well for Ellon and McCavanagh used his speed to outrun his man and open the scoring. A second came from Fraser after some brilliant support play. Stirling dug in and broke through a gap to pull one back. Reed got a third after a fantastic effort, swerving through several tackles to stretch over the line. The boys seemed to get second wind and the spectators were treated to a veritable Fraser fest as he scored three on the trot with the team combining and supporting as good as has been seen to date. For the second half Hitchcock and Matthew Emmison were swapped out and rested for Couper and Peck. As the second half began, Stirling were clearly on the back foot and leaving too many gaps and McCavanagh shot through to score his second in this game. Stirling scored another after the lad slipped a defender and did well to avoid a Dalgarno tackle. New lad Couper showed his potential by being in the right place at the right time and scored his maiden try for Ellon late on in the game.
Ellon 7 Linlithgow 5
The final match saw Ellon facing an inexperienced Linlithgow side that had lost all their games so far, and for this reason Ellon decided to rest Fraser, Reed and Peck. Ellon started strongly and Shirron supporting well gave him the pass which
set him free to score in the right hand corner. This was swiftly followed by another from Hitchcock, before Shirron shortly added another.
Linlithgow had a young lad with a good turn of speed and he quickly spotted any gaps and made the most of them by scoring twice. Dalgarno’s confidence is growing steadily and up against boys more his own size this was more evident and he played well supporting and receiving which allowed him to score twice before half time.
The second half saw Hitchcock changed out for Peck. McCavanagh showed his pace again and scored two more in fine fashion. Perhaps tiredness and the ceaseless light rain began to tell and Ellon thought they could relax only to be punished by Linlithgow’s speedy winger three times before the final whistle, but still a good performance from this years new P4’s.
Primary 4 Team: Robbie Couper, Craig Dalgarno, Matthew Emmison, Bradley Fraser, Douglas Hitchcock, James McCavanagh, Aiden Peck, Gavin Reed, Ben Shirron.
Glasgow Accies Tournament 05.10.03
Ellon’s youngest rugby team have kickstarted their season in great style when they returned home from their first tournament of the season bearing the winner’s trophy.
This is the second year in succession that a Primary 4 team from Ellon has taken top place in the Glasgow Accies Tournament. This year it was presented by Glasgow Rugby's Rory Kerr. Last year’s P4 winners – the new Primary 5 – also racked up a success when they took the runners up placing in their age group this year.
And while the Primary 4 to 7 squads were playing in Glasgow, for the first time in recent history, the weekend saw all roads lead south as Ellon’s other young teams also headed to the Central Belt – the S1 and 2 to Edinburgh and the Under 16s to Dunfermline.
The Primary 4’s first match was against Marr, which is always a closely fought game, but as current holders of the trophy, the P4 team was keen to get off to a good start and was soon camped inside the opposition half. Gavin Reed and Brad Fraser both broke through but the referee pulled the game back both times for infringements.
Marr was true to form and contested hard and half-time saw the score still nil - nil.
The second half started with a well worked try by James McCavanagh within one minute of the restart. But the rest of the half was just as keenly contested as the first half, with Ellon only able to add another try from McCavanagh before full time.
This game saw Scott Fraser and Robbie Couper coming on in place of Craig Dalgarno and Ben Shirron. Ellon started strongly with McCavanagh taking the ball down the left-hand side before being tackled short. B.Fraser took it on from the tap and pass before releasing to Reed for the try. Reed followed this with another two tries before half time. Second half saw tries from McCavanagh and Scott Fraser before a good piece of continuity ended with B. Fraser going over to score.
Ellon 7 Glasgow Accies A 0
A win against the tournament hosts A side would see Ellon go through to the Semi Finals as Group A winners. Dalgarno and Shirron came on for Couper and Douglas Hitchcock. Straight away Dalgarno had a strong run, which setup a try for B. Fraser. From restart Reed and Dalgarno combined well to allow B. Fraser in for his second. Accies then started to push into the Ellon half before an infringement gave Ellon the penalty. From the tap Shirron was able to release McCavanagh who, with a superb solo effort, ran three quarters of the field to score. The second half saw Shirron break through down the right touchline to score in at the corner. Shirron was then in again, but the referee pulled the play back for an infringement. Reed and B. Fraser then put the game beyond doubt with a try each, with Shirron adding another before the final whistle.
Ellon 4 North Berwick 3
The Semi-finals saw Ellon up against their old foes with Hitchcock coming on for Dalgarno. McCavanagh got the team off to a flyer with two tries, but then Berwick began to get into the game. That saw a period of game played at full pace with Ellon unable to break through again, but glad to go into half-time 2-1 up.
Second half saw Dalgarno coming on for Scott Fraser. North Berwick put Ellon under extreme pressure and they came away with two tries. The Ellon team showed their mettle and pulled together, with tries from McCavanagh and Reed nudging Ellon ahead prior to the final whistle.
Ellon 3 West of Scotland 0
Ellon knew they were going to have a hard time on their hands as West had beaten the capable N. Berwick 5-4. True to form they pressured straight off and appeared to have scored but the try was disallowed on a technicality
The pressure continued with Ellon just managing to hold them up on the try line. McCavanagh then took it off down the right hand side of the field to relieve the pressure, he combined with Shirron who broke left, but was tackled just short of the West try line. Reed supporting well cut back inside and nearly made it over in the middle. McCavanagh finally managed to break the West line and scored at the right corner.
West put the pressure straight back on and Ellon were soon defending their own line again, but a supreme individual effort from Reed saw him turn the ball over and run the full length of the field to score. Again West put Ellon on the back foot and only a superb break from McCavanagh released the pressure, for him to be tackled just short of the West line.
The start of the second half saw West over the line again, only for this one also to be disallowed. McCavanagh had another two good breaks down the right, to be tackled short. B. Fraser broke through the West defence, only to see his effort disallowed. There followed a period of end-to-end play before McCavanagh settled matters with another try.
Primary 4 Team - Robbie Couper, Craig Dalgarno, Brad Fraser, Scott Fraser, Douglas Hitchcock, James McCavanagh, Gavin Reed, Ben Shirron