Schools take up the annual invitational

May 1 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SEVEN schools from across Perthshire and Fife participated in the 49th annual Perth Academy invitational rugby sevens tournament, held on the North Inch.

The young Perth Academy Reds and Perth High school sides impressed throughout the tournament, despite their stiff opposition and suffering heavy defeats in the pool stages.

Throughout the early matches Madras College and Dunfermline HS looked strong with Blairgowrie HS, Crieff HS and Perth Academy Blues showing the best of the local talent with great tries..

Several of the boys playing also had a cup final in the XV-a-side version of the game with Perthshire Colts the next day.

Perth High 55

Perth Academy Reds 10

Wooden Spoon Final

THIS was a city school derby match between Perth High and the Perth Academy Reds who had to battle it out for the honours in the Wooden spoon.

The Perth High school boys raised their game, outscoring the Academy Reds who managed to score two well deserved tries late in the game.

Perth Academy Blues 31

Blairgowrie HS 17

Salver Final

PERTH Academy Blues took on a strong Blairgowrie HS side who entered the final as favourites having narrowly beaten the Blues in the round robin stage.

Both sides battled hard but the Blues hung on and scored a late try to seal a well earned victory over a determined and talented Blairgowrie.

Captain Michael Sinclair was the only Blues player in S6 so the rest of the team will play again next year and are looking to secure the Cup as the tournament celebrates its 50th Year.

In the main tournament final Madras College beat Dunfermline HS 32-21.

Thanks go to all the players, teachers, coaches and referees who enabled this tournament to take place it was a fantastic day.

The importance of such events should not be underestimated as many players move on into club and professional rugby – notably former Perth Academy Blue Tom Bury, now playing for Scotland in the IRB World Sevens Series.