Snow bother for Ross Sutherland as they reach coveted semi slot
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ROSS Sutherland U18s progressed to the semi-final of the National Bowl competition, and a dream tie against Melrose Wasps, after beating Cumnock by five points to nil at Invergordon on Saturday.
Team Captain Calum Sangster was the young Stags’ hero with the only score of the game.
This was their first game since mid-November but any thoughts that the youngsters would be a bit rusty after such a long lay-off were quickly dispelled.
It was the visitors who had the best of the early pressure but it was Ross Sutherland who broke the deadlock.
With 26 minutes on the clock, Ross Sutherland advanced into Cumnock’s 22 with a clever kick to touch from Fergus Dobson. Winning the lineout, the ball quickly shifted out through the backs where an overlap opened up, but with the line beckoning the final pass went astray and the opportunity was lost. However, the referee called the players back for a Cumnock infringement and before they could re-set their defence Sangster took the ball from a quick penalty and steamed in from seven metres out.
Team manager Sean Sangster said: “Our intensity from the very first kick to the last won this game. It was there in every carry, every tackle, every scrum, and every kick. Both sets of players deserve great credit for such a good game of rugby, but overall I thought we were worthy of the win.”
On Saturday’s trip to Melrose he said: “A fixture like this doesn’t come along very often and the lads deserve this chance to test themselves against a top Borders side.”
Team: 15 H Pearce (Invergordon Academy), 14 A Bregazzi (Golspie HS), 13 A MacKay (Dornoch Academy), 12 Calum Sansgter (Invergordon Academy) (captain), 11 J Geddis (Dornoch Academy), 10 F Dobson (Plockton High School), 9 C Munro (Tain Royal Academy), 8 T Bannerman (Invergordon Academy), 7 N Whear (Plockton High School), 6 J Eaglesham, 5 H MacKay (Golspie High School), 4 J MacAskill (Plockton High School), 3 G Torrance (Tain Royal Academy), 2 F Foulis, 1 D Morrison (Invergordon Academy).
Replacements: F Kitson-Jones, N Arnott, A Teago (all Plockton High School), Z Knibbs, D Murray (both Golspie High School), L Buchanan, D Wood. Man of the Match: Harry MacKay.
• ROSS Sutherland’s U15s lost narrowly, and in cruel fashion, at The Meadows on Sunday as Ellon snatched victory in their Caledonia Cup 1st Round match with a last-minute penalty.
Playing in bitterly cold conditions, the Ross side got off to a shaky start with Ellon taking the lead in the first three minutes.
An early penalty from Fraser Mohun rejuvenated their desire to win and Ross’s strength began to dominate the game. Two more tries by Jake Henry and Lewis Macleod, both converted by Fraser Mohun, saw the team take a 17-12 lead at half time.
End to end, fast and furious rugby dominated the game in the second half. Ellon added two more tries, with Ross responding through Edward Murray-John’s first try for the U15s following a great attack by winger Calum Munro. At 22-22, and with less than a minute left on the clock, Ellon were awarded a penalty which they slotted over to take the tie 25-22.
Man of the Match – Lewis Macleod (Invergordon Academy)
The Ross side now face either Orkney or Highland in the Plate competition.
Fixtures – Saturday, February 7 — 1st XV vs Lochaber, noon KO at Invergordon (provisional – check website for any changes); U-18s vs Melrose Wasps. KO 2pm at Melrose.
