Healthy draw for the Shire

Aug 22 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Perthshire 19

Dundee HSFP 19

FOUR 20 minute sessions of rugby yielded 6 tries as these old rivals battled it out in their pre-season friendly.

Dundee looked to have the bigger team but they didn’t reckon on the sheer guts and determination of the Eagles buoyed by the return of honeymooner Garry Coull and the cool head of Ally Dall.

Within the first five minutes Dundee were rocked and Shire had secured a 12–0 lead thanks to Rory Carmichael and Joe Hickman.

The whole Shire backline was on fire especially Keir Doe at scrum half who had his opposite number second guessing his every move. Craig Assenti was a powerful runner at 13 and the wingers and full back Fleming were always looking for an opportunity to have a run.

The forwards were having a tough time containing the big Dundee pack but gave as good as they got in the battle for supremacy.

The Dundee back line looked as though they could cause severe damage if they were allowed to break.

Far too often Perthshire teams have employed a drift defence and players have used this as an excuse to avoid tackles but there was none of that as they thundered into their opponents causing them to make mistakes.

In the 2nd session Dundee countered with 2 tries. Firstly, Horton danced through some weak tackles as he opened Dundee's account and then Ross Lemon barged through after Shire's forwards halted the first attack but they were not strong enough to prevent him going over from the ruck.

The 3rd session was going Shire's way again as Coull, Mackinnon and Pattinson kept making strong runs and Simon Moffat was a constant thorn in their flesh as he fought for the ball. Dundee grabbed the lead when Sivewright sliced through following a five metre scrum. The Eagles fought back and Smith almost tore straight through the defence at a lovely angle but was held up near the line.

Keir Doe crowned a man of the match performance with a scrum half break and dummy which fooled everyone as he cantered under the posts to seal a well earned draw.

Shire played Heriots 1st XV last night and travel to Selkirk on Sunday to play in the King of the Sevens circuit.

They are drawn against Peebles in the 1st round.

A Perthshire squad will also be in action against Kirkcaldy on Saturday at the North Inch. KO 3pm.

Anyone wishing to travel with the team to Selkirk 7's on Sunday will be welcome and the bus will leave the clubhouse at 10.30am sharp.