Published: Friday, 21st March, 2008 09:00
Dunbar kings of Scots
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Dunbar Grammar 22 v 12 Preston Lodge
THE future of county rugby looks to be in great shape if Monday’s under-15 Scottish schools final between Preston Lodge High School and Dunbar Grammar is anything to go by.
The Dunbar lads edged the Bell Lawrie Bowl in a competitive, fast-paced match at Neilsen Park, Haddington.
Scrappy play in midfield early in the match led to PL centre Jonathan Sked kicking the ball deep into the Dunbar half. But full-back Peebles kicked it back on the full and he had enough pace to collect the kind bounce and sprint over the PL line to score the opening try. Ross Charlton added the conversion to give Dunbar a deserved 7 –0 lead.
The next phase of play was highlighted by striking runs by the two opposing number 12s. First PL’s Liam White carried the ball through the defence and into the Dunbar 22. On regaining possession, Fraser Maddox broke forward before popping the ball to Luke Baker on the wing. The ruck that followed gave the Dunbar pack an opportunity to produce clean ball for Reid, who barged his way over for an unconverted try.
It was to be the PL boys who would finish the half in the ascendancy as the play opened out – their backs using their pace and handling skills to gain good ground. A scrum on the Dunbar 22 led to a back-row move before the ball was shipped to Glynn who proved too quick for the defence and he stormed through to score.
Before the half was over, Ryan Deighan and Jim McLean won good ball before setting it back to Galloway and Gordon, but the half backs were unable to get their back line moving quickly enough to break through the defence, leaving the score at the break 12–5 to Dunbar.
PL’s Glynn had a great run into the Dunbar 22 early in the second half but, when the ball was lost, it was Baker who collected it before sprinting 40m deep into PL territory.
The Dunbar pack were able to control the ball in the tight with tidy pick-and-go rugby.
Five minutes into the second period, captain Robbie Wilson took advantage of this efficient play to finish off a move with a fine try in the corner. The conversion was missed.
But PL fought back from this 12 point deficit and picked up the pace, keeping the ball moving and away from the big Dunbar pack.
Raymond Mackie was at the forefront as he took a quick tap penalty, but he was held up just short of the line. This was followed by a big push in the scrum that allowed Sam Stewart a strike against the head.
The game was being played out near the Dunbar try line and Glynn and White each had attempts to pierce the defence, but it was Mackie who made the breakthrough as he stormed over near the posts to score a try that he would convert himself.
At 17-12, PL piled on the pressure to try and find the try that would level the scores, but it was to prove difficult for them to obtain any quality possession for the remainder of the match.
The Dunbar boys were composed in the tense final stages and were able to control the ball while making inroads to the PL half.
Full back Peebles, later named the sponsors’ man of the match moved the ball into the 22 before Maddox was stopped short of the line.
PL looked to have won the ball from the scrum 5 but then dropped it, allowing Maddox to pounce and complete the scoring at 22 – 12.
Dunbar S3 Team:
Gary Peebles, Will Atkin, Sandy Thomson, Fraser Maddox, Luke Baker, Ross Charlton, Blair Mills,
Mark Reid, Chris Bryce, Liam Brown, RickyPrentice, Ruaridh Mitchell, Niall Spowart, Ciaran Burgess, Robbie Wilson.
Replacements used:
Rob Miller, Lewis Richardson & Nicholas Denholm
Preston Lodge S3 team:
Paul Glynn, Neil Kelly, Jonathan Sked, Liam White, Michael Simpson, Robbie Gordon, Ross Galloway,
Liam Mack, Sam Stewart, Raymond Mackie, Jim McLean, Callum Buchannan, Kieran Slater, Glen Muir, Ross Currie.
Replacement used:
Ryan Deighan.
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Students’ Friday night fun and frolics at PL