P6
Fixture
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Stirling Tourney16/4/04
Ellon 1 Stirling County Castle 0 Stirling is a strong team and the early stages were marked by a dour mid-field forward battle. Stout defence by both sides quickly showed that “up the middle” was not the way to go. The deadlock was eventually when Matthew Dalton got some space and that was all that was needed. Stirling then put everything into a series of counter attacks, but excellent up front tackling from the forward trio of Alick Ross, Callum Hay and George Oxley forced Stirling to try more extreme tactics. Good defensive shape by the backs and some last ditch tackles by Callum Cruickshank and Keith Esson kept them out. As they got more desperate Stirling lost their shape and Esson split the midfield and crossed the line for a second try only for it to be disallowed on the two passes rule. Ellon 0 Linlithgow 3 The well-organised hard tackling team that beat Stirling had gone AWOL in this game. The pitch was very wet and muddy and the opening salvoes were the usual up the middle strikes by both teams that got nowhere. Linlithgow were first to try going wide, took advantage of our defence getting sucked in and scored in the corner. We then tried the wide route with Cruickshank and Blake Will on the left making good ground on a couple of occasions before being hunted down by Linlithgow’s well organised defence. Meanwhile, having discovered a winning formula, Linlithgow twice more sucked in our defence and scored out wide. Ellon 4 Howe of Fife 0 A win against Howe was all that was needed to see Ellon into the semi-finals and stung by the previous defeat the lads were “up for it”. An early foray up the middle saw Ross break free for Ellon’s first try. Ellon’s next attack saw a planned move put Esson through on the right mid-field to score a comfortable try. At Scrum Half, Ben Stubbs was calling the shots well and Howe was reeling under a barrage of attacks. The next try came from a well-worked play, which gave Dalton the chance to romp home in the corner. Dalton scored again in the dying minutes of the game. Semi-Final Ellon 1 Stirling County Monument 7 The Ellon boys knew they would have their work cut out against another strong Stirling team. The size of the Stirling team was daunting but their giant forwards actually made little headway in the face of fierce tackling from Oxley, Hay and Ross but as they tired and the midfield got sucked in it was only a question of time before the pressure told and their speedy winger outflanked our left defence and scored. That opened a floodgate and four further tries followed before half time. The second half saw Ellon fired up and driving Stirling backwards. Ellon pushed hard and finally George Oxley was driven over the line and managed to get the ball down for his first try in competition. The effort had taken its toll and Stirling took advantage of the narrow defence to score once more before the final whistle. Primary 6 squad – Callum Cruickshank, Matthew Dalton, Keith Esson, Callum Hay, George Oxley, Alick Ross, Ben Stubbs (C), Blake Will.
Howe o Fife Tournament – 28.03.04
Ellon's Primary 4 rugby team was in the medals again at the weekend when they took runners-up place in their age group at the Howe of Fife Mini Tournament. Teams from the ERFC Junior Section's primaries 5, 6 and 7 age groups also took part in the event.
Ellon 1 Stirling County 3
The P6 team started fairly well against a team they are usually on a par with. After some early moves, Ben Stubbs passed to Alec Clayton who burst through two tackles to score. The game then became very even with both teams making breaks and gaining ground only to knock on. Stirling then put together a good series of moves which released their centre who scored. In the second half the Ellon team was continually making some good passes and breaking the defensive line only to lose the ball because of a lack of support. In defence the boys were hanging back too far, giving Stirling room to play their game, which allowed them to score twice.
Ellon 3 Madras 5
This team has always had very close games against Madras and this was to be no different. The P6 team started well and from an Alick Ross pass Callum Cruickshank broke through and passed to Keith Esson who ran in to score. From an excellent driving and passing move involving Stubbs, Ross and Cruickshank, Esson was released again to score. Madras then started to get a hold of the game and from a good driving maul burst over to score. This was to become a hard game as Ellon tried to compete for the ball rather than tackle low and stop the moves. Madras scored another two tries from drives. The P6s then balanced the scores when Ben Ellis passed to Esson and onto Matthew Dalton who ran into score. Unfortunately Esson was hurt in the move and had to go off. With this the P6s lost heart and allowed Madras score another twice.
Ellon 0 Stewart Melville 5
Stewart Melville is always a well-organised team and difficult to break down. The P6s went onto the field determined to try and play their own game. They started well with Callum Hay, Ross and Esson making good ground. Stew Mel began to gain the upper hand and with a very good set of backs had scored twice by half time. In the second half the Ellon team kept trying to make a decisive break but the support was not there in time, so the ball was lost. Stew Mel went onto to score three more times.
Ellon 2 Dunfermline 8
The P6s started very brightly and from a very good passing and supporting move almost made it to the line. It then became clear that Dunfermline was a well-drilled and streetwise side and soon were two in front. Again the P6s were trying to wrestle for the ball rather than tackle to opposition round the legs. In the second half the P6 team did come more into the game with some good breaks by Dalton, Clayton and Ross, but they could never put together enough passes and breaks to score. Dunfermline scored another four.
Ellon 3 Howe of Fife 2
These two teams had both lost all their games so far and so both were determined not to lose the last one as well. From the start Ellon took the game to Howe. Ross and Hay drove up the pitch, Stubbs then passed to Clayton who made ground and passed onto Greg Rodger who darted from the left wing to the right to score. Howe came back into the game and from some determined driving, broke through to score. The game was now finely balanced and went back and fore with neither team gaining the upper hand, until a Howe centre broke through some weak tackling to score. Ellon now had to dig in and from a drive by Cruickshank, Rodgers received the ball, darted across and passed to Dalton who used his speed to leave everyone standing and scored. Howe put the pressure on but from deep in the Ellon half Clayton ran forward committed the defender to the tackle and passed to Dalton who sped through the despairing Howe defence to go over in the corner.
Coach Andy Cruickshank said some of the Ellon boys have only been playing for four months and the team is doing well to be competing as well as it did. "Our first two games were really fairly close and Stew Mel and Dunfermline are very well drilled sides. They played some good rugby at times but would then make a silly mistake and give the ball away. The more games we play, the better the team will get," he said.
Primary 6 team: Alec Clayton, Callum Cruickshank, Matthew Dalton, Ben Ellis, Keith Esson, Callum Hay, Greg Rodger, Alick Ross, Ben Stubbs
Forresters Tournay – 14.03.04 THERE was medal success for Ellon's Primary 5 rugby team at the weekend after they took the runners' up place in their age group at the Forresters' Tournament in Edinburgh. Unfortunately the Primary 4 lost out on their chance to match their club mates when a refereeing counting error meant that they missed their place in the playoffs. By the time the mistake was corrected the play offs had taken place. Although the Primary 6 team didn't make it to the finals, the tournament was valuable experience for several new members of the squad who were taking part in their first competitive games.
Ellon 0 Linlithgow 2 Ellon began this game by trying to drive the ball up the park with the forward trio of Callum Hay, George Oxley and Alick Ross supporting one another, but the move broke down when the ball broke loose. Linlithgow immediately launched a strike down the wing which was stopped by good tackling from Alec Clayton and Keith Esson. Some very scrappy play followed with both teams probing for a gap in the other's defence. Linlithgow eventually found a gap in the Ellon defence and broke through to score. Ben Stubbs was tireless in his efforts in trying to free the ball from the rucks and Mauls. The second half saw Ben Ellis came onto the field. Ellon came close to scoring when Blake Will fed the ball to Clayton who made a good run from inside his own half then got the ball out to Greg Roger who was able to get within 5m of the line before getting tackled. Linlithgow then got through to score their second try and Ellon was unable to break through to score.
Ellon 1 Forresters 6 Forresters caught Ellon napping at the start of the game and an early push gave them their first try. Ellon lost the ball from the restart and Forresters broke through to score again. Ellon tried to come back into the game but were unable to break through and Forresters scored again just before half time. Ellon took to the field for the second half with a reorganised team and the changes made a difference when Clayton was able to break through andscore. Ellon kept up the pressure but Forresters were able to capitaliseon some of Ellon's mistakes to score another 3 tries. As this was just the second time a lot of the players had played in a competitive match, they did very well, showing great enthusiasm for the game and potential for the future. Primary 6 squad:- Alec Clayton, Ben Ellis, Keith Esson, Callum Hay, George Oxley, Greg Roger, Alick Ross, Ben Stubbs, Blake Will
Ellon's young rugby players took on the elements as well as the opposition when they travelled to Milngavie near Glasgow to compete against home club West of Scotland and visitors Helensburgh and Hillhead Jordanhill. Despite the appalling weather, the players from the P4 to P7 squads gave a good account of themselves despite not having played competitive rugby for almost two months. Ellon 2 Hillhead 1 This game was fairly scrappy to start with, not surprising since it was about two months since boys had played a competitive game, and it was cold and wet. Once the opening exchanges were past Ellon began to take a hold of the game.
Following three good drives and passes, Alick Ross broke through and scored. The P6s then made a number of good breaks and almost scored only be caught in the last five yards. Into the second half, Callum Hay broke through and thought he had scored, but there had only been one pass so it did not count. Alec Clayton went one better, collecting the ball from Jamie Cochrane, breaking through the defensive line to score. Right at end the Hillhead flyhalf managed to run round the defence to score.
Ellon 2 Hillhead B 3
Early in this game, Keith Esson picked up the ball in open play and ran half the pitch to score. The team thought they were in for an easy game but Hillhead had other ideas. After a period of rather scrappy play their winger got the ball and ran round to score. Ellon finished off the half with a score from a scrum. Cochrane passed to Callum Cruickshank, who passed onto Keith Esson. He committed the centre and winger to the tackle and then passed to Matthew Dalton, who sprinted half the length of the pitch to score. Cochrane made a good break from a Ross pass and almost scored but was caught with three metres to go. Hillhead were not going to sit back though and came back into the game and scored. It was very tight now with both teams looking for the winner. The Hillhead backs managed to make a break and score.
Ellon 1 West of Scotland 4
By now the P6 team very wet and cold with the relentless rain and wind. Ellon took the game to West but with cold hands on a wet ball it was not easy to make good passes. West were first to score from a break by their flyhalf. Alec Clayton made a good break but was pushed into touch. West came back again and scored. Ellon managed to get one back when Blake Will picked up a loose ball and used his speed to break though. The heavy pitch was beginning to take its toll on the legs and much as Ellon tried they found it hard to break through. West finished off by scoring another two tries.
Coach Andy Cruickshank said it was good to get back onto the pitch and play competitive games. The team was not quite up to match speed and was lacking fitness but that will soon be improved. There are a number of changes in the P6 team and was great that there were three new lads– Alec Clayton, Callum Hay and Blake Will who all played a big part in the games.
Primary 6 squad: Alec Clayton, Jamie Cochrane, Callum Cruickshank, Matthew Dalton, Keith Esson, Callum Hay, Alick Ross, Blake Will.
Heriots, Edinburgh – 4.11.03 Ellon RFC Junior Section's mini teams headed south once again last weekend to take part in a friendly tournament hosted by Heriots in Edinburgh. They found competition against the home team and also against teams from Boroughmuir and also took part in some mixed "Barbarian" games which gave them the chance to play with, and meet, new players.
As this was a friendly competition the Ellon P6 & P7 teams combined their players to form one team. Ellon 1 Heriots 1 In their first match against Heriots the Ellon Primary 6 players did very well to support the P7's in a very evenly balanced game which finished up as a draw . Ellon 1 Boroughmuir A 8 The Ellon players just had a few minutes rest before they were back on against the Bourghmuir A team. The first half of this game was all Boutrghmuir and they ran in a few unanswered tries. In the second half Ellon came back into the game and used their strong forwards to drive the Bourghmuir team back into their own half for quite long periods. Ellon/Boroughmuir 1 Heriots 6 For the next match players combined with some Bourghmuir P6's for a match against Heriots. The combined team played very well and went in at half time 1 - 0 up. Heriots fielded a stronger team for the second half and although the combined team never gave in, Heriots proved too strong and eventually ran out clear winners Ellon 7 Boroughmuir B 1 The P7's third game was against Bourghmuir B. The hard driving Ellon forwards proved too strong for their opponents and they opened up gaps for both the backs and forwards to run in some very good tries P6/P7 Team: Michael Copland, Callum Cruickshank, Keith Esson, David Evans, James Halmshaw, Shaun Marr, Andrew Ovenstone, Stephen Robinson, Greg Roger, Alick Ross and Keith Ross
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 6 team has done well in the past at this tournament, but unfortunately this time round there was a shortage of players. Thankfully, the team got some help from North Berwick and Whitecraigs.
Ellon 0 North Berwick 15North Berwick has always been one of Ellon’s bogie teams but recently we have getting closer to beating them. This time North Berwick were even fitter, faster and better organised than ever. The Ellon boys tried to break their way through but the Berwick defence was sound and as soon as they had the ball they would pass it out to their quick backs who would score. In the second half the P6 team play did improve and did make the Berwick team work harder but could not stop the flow of scores.
Ellon 1 Whitecraigs 5This is a team the P6s have done well against in the past and started well against them this time. The Ellon forwards, Alick Ross and Keith Esson, were linking well and making good progress but would then lose the ball once tackled. Whitecraigs had a big, very quick back, who managed to run round everybody to score. Ellon then worked their way back up the park, with the forwards and backs linking well to score in the corner. Callum Cruickshank made a good break up the wing but got caught before the line. At the start of the second half the P6s let in a soft try. They regrouped and started to look for the holes in the Whitecraigs line and made good breaks but could not get the support there in time to keep the move going. Whitecraigs then got the upper hand and managed to score 3 more times.
Ellon 7 Glasgow High Kelvinside 4 After a break, the P6 team was on against GHK, a team we have not played for some time. The Ellon team started very well with good drives and support play from Esson and Ross and were soon 3 - 0 ahead. GHK was not going to sit back though and broke through and scored. Ellon scored one more before half time. The P6s were gaining in confidence with Ben Stubbs disrupting the GHK attacks while Cruickshank and Hayden Millar were making good breaks and Ellon soon scored. GHK then got the bit between their teeth and came back and scored twice. The game was now quite frantic with both teams making good attacking moves and Ellon drove over to score twice more while GHK managed another one. Primary 6 team: Callum Cruickshank, Keith Esson, Hayden Millar, Alick Ross, Ben Stubbs.
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.
The Ellon P6 team travelled to Edinburgh with only five players but luckily was able to borrow some players from Stewart’s Melville. These were basically training games to help the boys get back up to speed. The boys all worked very hard and gave their all. Obviously these were the first games of the season so passing, tackling and support play were all a bit rusty at times. But there was also some very good play with Alick Ross and Keith Esson making good breaks and linking well, as well as well as putting in some great tackles. Callum Cruickshank made good bursts through the line and passed well. Jamie Cochrane organised his team well and was always there to lend a hand. Ben Stubbs worked hard on the wing trying to break through into space and also did some excellent tidying up work. It was a good afternoon’s work which gave the coaches the opportunity to see the areas they need to work on. The results of the four games were: Ellon 3 Marr 1; Ellon 0 Watsonians 4; Ellon 3 Heriots 5; Ellon 2 Stewart Melville 5
Primary 6 team: Jamie Cochrane, Callum Cruickshank, Keith Esson, Alick Ross, Ben Stubbs.
Stirling 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. The Ellon Primary 6 team just had five players available for the journey down to Stirling. However when they arrived at their destination, the Stirling coaches agreed to lend Ellon some players giving both teams the chance to use the day as some valuable match practice.
Ellon took the opportunity to change some of their players’ positions, as there was a certain amount of duplication with the borrowed players.
The Ellon team played against two different teams from Stirling and a team from McLaren. They showed that when they had the ball and they were going forward they were as good as any of the other three teams.
Jamie Cochrane varied his distribution well to set up some good moves down either side of the pitch. Ben Stubbs made some useful runs on the wing and put in some very timely tackles, Hayden Millar put in some very good jinking runs and backed up play well. Keith Esson used his speed to very good effect and his tackling was very effective and Alick Ross did some very good driving and his backing up was very good.
The players put in some very good work on the day and their individual strengths showed through, as did their ability to play out of position and to adjust to different teammates.
Primary 6 team: Jamie Cochrane, Keith Esson, Hayden Millar, Alick Ross, Ben Stubbs.
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