Perthshire Rugby Club through to the next round of the Scottish Hydro Premier Cup

Mar 19 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Cartha Queens Park 8

Perthshire 36

PERTHSHIRE advanced to the last eight of the Scottish Hydro Premier Cup for the first time in their history following a 36-8 win over Cartha Queen’s Park.

Shire president Bob Falconer said it would be a “great feat” for the Fair City outfit to go on and win the prestigious nationwide competition after disposing of the Glasgow side.

A resurgent Perthshire are unbeaten this year and are playing some superb rugby.

The Eagles’ highly efficient pack has steadily grown in stature since the beginning of the season under the tutelage of Derek Busby.

Jack Steele, Erlend Oag and Craig Assenti in the backs all showed early glimpses of what they could do in attack.

And Shire’s front row were showing their larger opponents that they would not be pushed around.

Rory Carmichael kicked a monstrous clearance up field and Oag’s speed meant that he almost reached it before it hit the turf.

He won a penalty, which Shire kicked into touch. Garry Coull caught Pattinson’s take at the line-out and ran over the line.

Shortly after Graeme Clow converted, Shire’s front five exerted a huge push to win the ball.

Oag took off and managed to squeeze the ball out to Craig Assenti, who capped a wonderful move by carrying the ball over the try-line – Clow did the necessary with the conversion. The home side pulled three points back with a penalty before Jack Steele scored with a move that saw the ball pass through the hands of almost the entire Perth side.

Dan Bowater threw out a long pass to Steele who seemed to go into turbo mode with the ball in hand and sprinted 30 metres to score in the corner.

Clow kicked a seemingly-impossible conversion from the touchline – judging the swirling wind perfectly.

Once again the Eagles front row exerted huge pressure and pushed Cartha off the ball to allow Garry Coull to drive upfield.

Rory Carmichael took the ball at pace and spun it out to Erlend Oag for another great try.

Graeme Clow then landed a monstrous 40 metre penalty as Shire piled on the pressure.

A series of injuries stalled any attempt at a comeback by Cartha.

Craig Assenti collected the ball in his own half, chipped over the rushing Cartha defence, collected his kick on the bounce and sped up the field for a magnificent individual score.

Young Jack Steele’s conversion sailed over the posts for a further two points.

Shire’s defence was again almost watertight, but a moment of youthful exuberance at the end of the match gifted Cartha a score.

But it made no difference as Shire recorded a 36 -8 victory and a place in the last eight.

Melrose travel to Perth on March 27 in what has been described as “dream tie” for the Eagles.

The bus for tomorrow’s contest at Dumfries leaves at 10.30am.