Rugby: Double celebration for North Berwick and Ross High

NB pipped county rugby rivals Ross High to the title, but the Tranent side will also be joining them as both earned promotion to Scottish Rugby’s new National Four division for next season.

North Berwick dominated the league season from start to finish, suffering only one loss in league action, to Ross High in March.

Their free-flowing and expansive rugby meant they were able to secure back-to-back league titles and promotions, reinvigorating the club both on and off the field.

Marc Teague, North Berwick head coach, spoke to Courier Sport and confirmed that the celebrations went long into the night.

North Berwick are celebrating after clinching promotion to the national leagues. Image: Gordon Bell

He said: “There were a few sore heads on Sunday and Monday for sure!

“The boys are delighted, over the moon, but there’s also a sense of relief.

“It was great: we hit a lull with the Ross High and East Kilbride [in the National Shield] defeats. We didn’t play well, or to our gameplan, and we lost games down to that.”

After the disappointment of the Shield semi-final exit and the league loss to Ross High, Teague stressed that the team had a point to prove to secure the league.

Main title competitors Ross High had a far better points difference but North Berwick were eager to “eat into that points difference”.

He said: “What we said was that we dominated games but took our foot off the gas when we got that bonus point.”

But North Berwick finished the season with two thumping victories, scoring more than 80 points against both Forrester and Broughton to seal the title.

📢📢FULL TIME!!!📢📢

The boys are crowned the East Division 1 title as we have defeated Broughton in style!

Everyone at NBRFC would like to thank the supporters for your continued support throughout the whole season which we're grateful!

Bring on the nationals next season! pic.twitter.com/xDaJTJlHWD

— North Berwick Rugby (@NorthBerwickRFC) April 29, 2023

Teague added: “The players had a few points to prove. In the last two games we had, we had to use a centre in the back-row with lots of players carrying injuries.

“The season also ran on a bit – it was difficult.”

Teague praised his fellow coaching staff for their role in getting the team over the line, stressing it was a “massive team effort” and “great to be involved with them”.

He said: “[At the start of the season] it was a bit of an unknown for us, a case of just seeing how it goes.

“When we had beaten everybody [in the league], we knew there was a lot more to come from us.

“The boys knew it was a chance to do something special; they all bought into it.”

This season saw success shining through at youth level as well, with four under-18s making their senior debuts late in the campaign.

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Teague said: “This season has been really successful, we have had four under-18s in the last three games break through. Seeing some of these young guys in the team is great.”

Teague also relished the battle that unfolded with Ross High right to the end of the season and was happy to see them join NB in the new National Four next year.

He said: “Ross High dominated the league along with us this year. It would have been harsh if they didn’t come up too.

“Plus it gives an added incentive with a local derby [next year].”

Teague admitted that next season would be something of a step into the dark for the club but was excited to take on the new challenge.

He said: “We are going into a bit of an unknown – going to new teams and playing all over the place.

“We will have to do a bit more research about the teams and the pitches.”

Teague hoped he could lean heavily on his contacts to help get the best preparation available for the new season.

He added: “It’s an exciting time for the team and exciting for all the guys.”

North Berwick (black and red) and Ross High (also pictured) can look forward to the national leagues next season

Ross High also gained promotion to the new National Four after a tremendous season which saw only two defeats, to North Berwick and Haddington.

Rob Brown, vice-president of Ross High, was delighted to see the club make the move up the divisions.

He said: “We are all quite excited, everyone’s looking forward to it.

“It was very well-earned. We were [also] runners-up last year and you could have argued we deserved to win it last year – it suggested we were well-equipped to go to the next level.”

Ross High lost their president John Tinlin last November following a battle with cancer.

Brown stressed that taking the club up was exactly what his late friend would have wanted.

He said: “It’s brilliant. We were under strict orders from John to get promotion and we kept our end of the bargain.”

Ross High managed to achieve promotion without a head coach, leaning on the help of captain Aiden Hoenigmann and his assistants.

Brown added: “Thanks to the captain Aiden and his assistants for their efforts in keeping everyone focused and motivated.”

The club is now preparing for life in the National Leagues and, while Brown said their preparations were still at a very early stage, he stressed that the club would be actively looking for a head coach.