Perthshire Eagles: 24 v Dunfermline Wolves: 64

Driving up to Perth for the first full match of the season was reminiscent of the final scene of The Terminator*. The black clouds gathering over the Perthshire hills meant only one thing....“there’s a storm coming”. Unfortunately for Perthshire the possibility of heavy rain and high winds was the least of their concerns as they were about to meet the full force of Dunfermline Wolves.

(*IDEA COPYRIGHT OF JIM BRESLIN – HE HAD TO GET INTO REPORT SOMEWHERE DIDN’T HE?)

As the teams took to the pitch, Wolves with their customary late arrival, the Perthshire boys certainly looked like they had the size advantage...usual comments like “what are they feeding them” etc came to mind. It turned out after the match what they were feeding them was half pies...half pies? They must be making up for it elsewhere....

Wolves were supplying the referee today with Richard resplendent in a bright yellow jersey; to be fair “yellow” doesn’t really do it justice so I had to consult the Dulux colour chart and would say it’s definitely more “sulphur springs” which coincidently is the likely smell of the inside of a Wolves kitbag....

FRONT ROW: Connor Crawford, Ewen McElwee, Adam Nicol
2ND ROW: Stuart Clark, Daniel McMillan
BACK ROW: Sean Taylor, Gregor Beatson, Curtis Matthews
HALF BACKS: Connor Smillie, Cormac Wcislo
CENTRES: Adam Cumming, Daniel Wilson
WINGS: Andrew McKenzie, Harvey Gardiner
FULL BACK: Andrew Clark

Straight from the kick-off, Wolves, setting the tone for the day, were on top causing Perthshire to make a succession of mistakes and infringements. As Perthshire began to come more into the game and pass the ball around, Harvey came in off the left wing to intercept leading to good support play from the forwards. The ball was released to the backs and worked along the line and eventually reached Andrew McK; starting from half way, Andrew beats 3 of the opposition and raced away to score.

7 mins Perthshire 0 Wolves 7
The score did not deflate Perthshire who continued to compete; a break up the left wing resulted in Andrew C coming over from full back to put in a tackle to save what looked a certain try. Play continued to made in the Wolves half and consecutive penalties conceded by the visitors, firstly for holding on then for going off their feet while in the tackle results in a quick tap; the Wolves defence was found sleeping leaving the Perthshire to go in from the 22 virtually untouched.

12 mins Perthshire 7 Wolves 7

After the individual brilliance of Andrew McK for the first score, this was replicated by Harvey. Wolves forwards won the ball on halfway, what seemed like a position of little threat the ball made its way out to Harvey on left wing, stepped inside to beat a couple of players and now with only the winger to beat Harvey did his usual killer sidestep to beat his man on the outside, leaving him to punch the ground in frustration.

18 mins Perthshire 7 Wolves 12

After 20 mins, the first of many mass changes made by Wolves

Ross Breslin for Connor S
Faraz Nadeem for Curtis
Cameron Hardy for Stuart Clark
Connor Bannister for Andrew C (Harvey moving to full back)
Callum Munro for Andrew McK

An excellent break through the line by Adam C leaves Daniel with a 2 on 1, a pass to Connor on the wing would have brought a certain try but on this occasion Daniel turned back inside and the move broke down. After 28 mins another change with Scott Buchan replacing Ewen. Trying to describe the next try caused me a slight problem; on reviewing my notes I only used one word to describe it...messy. Anyway, here goes. Wolves continued to attack and managed to force the ball over the Perthshire line, rather than falling on the ball or trying to play the ball out of trouble, Perthshire tried to hack the ball clear; it was kicked with such force, the ball took on guise of a pinball, ricocheting off a number of bodies eventually coming to rest back behind the line allowing Faraz to fall on it for the easiest score he'll ever have....I think that's what happened...

32 mins Perthshire 7 Wolves 19

With Wolves now rampant, there was time for one more score before half time. With Perthshire defending on their own 10, the ball popped out the back of a ruck, Faraz took advantage of the opposition’s hesitation and picked the ball up and advance towards the line, only being stopped a yard short however he managed to tee up Daniel McM in support who dived over.

35 mins Perthshire 7 Wolves 26 Half Time

After 40 mins, another mass change

Andrew C for Harvey
Andrew McK for Callum
Connor S for Ross
Stuart C for Daniel McM
Curtis for Gregor

With Dunfermline on the attack, a lapse in concentration allowed the Perthshire full back to intercept, however as earlier Andrew C makes another try saving tackle. Wolves had started the second half slowly and allowed another interception and this time were punished with a score under the posts.

44 mins Perthshire 12 Wolves 26

Ewen comes on for Scott. For the first time in the second half some pressure from the Wolves. A well worked move on the Perthshire 10 sees Faraz picking up at the back of the scrum and finding Andrew McK who has come off his wing to burst through to touch down.

47 mins Perthshire 12 Wolves 33

Some smart thinking from Perthshire. From a penalty on the Wolves 22 on the left wing, they spotted Connor B slightly out of position and launched a high up and under to the opposite corner. Waiting for what seemed an eternity, the ball looked like it was going to drop right into Connor's chest but perhaps due to the snow on the ball from its high altitude it slipped right through his hands to leave an easy touch down for the Perthshire right wing.

53 mins Perthshire 19 Wolves 33

A penalty on the half way line saw a quick tap from Adam N who charged towards the line, stopping just short but unfortunately his team mates weren't as quick and the move broke down through lack of support.

Yes, more wholesale changes....I cannot guarantee the accuracy of these by this stage....

Ross for Connor S
Harvey for Cormac
Gregor for Sean

Dunfermline kept the pressure up and another quick tap was taken by Adam N from a penalty 10 metres from the Perthshire line; this time no support was needed as the defence were caught on the back foot and Wolves 6th try was scored.

56 mins Perthshire 19 Wolves 38

It seemed that Wolves could score at anytime from anywhere on the pitch and so it proved again. From the restart Perthshire advanced into the Wolves half, the forwards stole the ball and quickly moved the ball along the backs to eventually finding Harvey who produced the side step again (by the way I've already placed a bet on Harvey to win Strictly Come Dancing in 2027...got 1000-1...plenty of rugby before then so no need for sequins & lycra just yet) and ran from his own 10 to score.

58 mins Perthshire 19 Wolves 45

Again from what seemed like a position where there weren't looking like threatening the Perthshire line, Wolves created something from nothing. From a ruck just inside the Perthshire half, Connor C decided to be next to have a go, bursting through the Perthshire back line before perfectly timing his pass to Andrew McK to run down the left wing to score

61 mins Perthshire 19 Wolves 52

In the final change of match...I think...Scott came on for Ewen.

Really running out of descriptions here...basically, great rucking by the forwards to win the ball, passed to Andrew McK on halfway...you know the next part.

64 mins Perthshire 19 Wolves 59

A momentary lapse of concentration from the Wolves after a line out on their own 22, saw Perthshire pick up the ball and score from short yardage.

66 mins Perthshire 24 Wolves 59

Talk about saving the best for last. From the restart, Perthshire looked for another consolation score and exerted pressure within the Wolves half. Brilliant defence repelled attack after attack and eventually the Wolves efforts were rewarded. From a ruck in the Wolves 22, Connor C stayed on his feet to steal the ball passed it to the backs and eventually found its way out to Andrew McK on the right wing, he drew his opposite number out onto the touchline before passing inside to Harvey in support who went from his own 10 leaving the Perthshire defence yet again kicking their heels. Undoubtedly the try of the match.

70 mins Perthshire 24 Wolves 64 Full time

Handshakes all round then, including one member of the Wolves asking each Perthshire player if they went to Perthshire Academy, not sure why, maybe trying to collect more Facebook “friends”...who knows?

So all in all, an excellent performance showing some great team play and moments of individual brilliance. If there was one negative it would be that the tries that were conceded came from individual mistakes and a lack of concentration. Also plaudits to Daniel W for slotting 7 of his ten kicks.