Rugby: Perthshire get season off to a flyer

Sep 3 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

HIGHLY competitive rugby action returned to the North Inch at the weekend as Perthshire defeated Haddington 29-13 to win in their first Premier 3 game of the season.

The visitors pressed the Eagles in the opening stages and took the lead through an early drop goal.

A long-distance Haddington penalty was subsequently missed.

The east Lothian side’s forwards were all larger than the host’s, and very well-drilled, which caused some difficulty at set pieces.

But, what the Shire forwards lacked in bulk, they made up for in fitness and heart, soaking up the pressure and winning a penalty of their own, an opportunity which was also squandered.

Unaware of his blistering pace, the Haddington defence dithered and allowed Craig Assenti to chip past them, twice, and touch down in the corner for the Fair City side’s first try of the season.

The score provided a platform for the entire side to raise their game and put Haddington on the back foot.

With Shire camped in the opposition’s half, and the ball being moved from left to right, Jack Steele crossed the line in the corner.

The tries kept coming as Adam Pattinson drove his huge frame over the line to extend the advantage.

With the score at 17 – 3, Haddington closed the gap with another penalty.

The referee knew where her whistle was and should have sent a player off for a blatant block on Steele, but, to her credit, she did eventually yellow card a Haddington second row.

His time in the sin bin made the scrum easier for Shire and, just before half-time, Erland Oag nipped in from 40 meters to secure the bonus points and ensure that the score was 22-6 going into the interval.

Shire barely touched the ball for the first 15 minutes of the second period, with their opponents favouring ugly, forward-driven rugby.

Eventually the away side’s pressure told and they touched-down to reduce the gap to a mere nine points.

A debatable yellow card for Assenti ensured an improving Shire side would finish the game with 14 men.

Steele scored his second try of the day, despite their numerical disadvantage.

On this showing, few sides in Premier 3 will take full points from Perthshire.

Meanwhile, the club’s second string ran out 36-19 victors against Cartha.

The first XV are away to Glasgow side Cartha tomorrow – the bus will leave at 11.45am.

The second fifteen face a home tie against Kirkcaldy.