FRIDAY 26 MAY: AYRSHIRE BULLS V HERIOT’S RUGBY

A beautiful evening in Alloway was the perfect setting for the 2023 FOSROC Super Series Sprint 1v2 decider where it was Ayrshire Bulls who took the 1st place crown.

After thirteen minutes and early injury time, points were finally added to the scoreboard when stand-off Frazier Climo (who was playing his final match before hanging up his boots) threw himself over the whitewash in the corner. The extras were missed.

Heriot’s responded shortly after with a heavy driving maul which allowed captain Iain Wilson to add his team’s first points of the evening. The conversion was made by Bruce Houston, bringing the visitors out in front.

Driving mauls were Heriot’s best friend as just a few minutes later, Iain Wilson crashed over the line once again thanks to the help of his teammates. The kick was missed.

A penalty awarded to Heriot’s for Bulls’ Eli Caven not releasing allowed Bruce Houston to try his luck at a penalty kick on the halfway line. He was successful, adding another three points to the visitor’s scoreboard and finishing the scoring for the first half.

HALF-TIME: Ayrshire Bulls 5 – 15 Heriot’s Rugby

Some more injury time meant another lengthy period of paused play at the beginning of the second half. However, the Bulls didn’t hesitate to get the ball rolling again when Captain Blair MacPherson barrelled over the line. Eli Caven added the extra points.

Some ferocious phases and excellent composure was what allowed the Bulls to get Captain Blair MacPherson over the line for the second time that evening. Eli Caven’s kick was successful.

In a game of two halves the Ayrshire Bulls came out on top and secured their 2023 FOSROC Super Series Sprint 1st place win.

FULL-TIME: Ayrshire Bulls 19 – 15 Heriot’s Rugby

Referee: Ruairidh Campbell
FOSROC Player of the Match: Blair MacPherson (Ayrshire Bulls)

TRIES:
Ayrshire Bulls: Frazier Climo, Blair MacPherson (2)
Heriot’s Rugby: Iain Wilson (2)

CONVERSIONS:
Ayrshire Bulls: Eli Caven (2)
Heriot’s Rugby: Bruce Houston

PENALTIES:
Heriot’s Rugby: Bruce Houston

SATURDAY 27 MAY: BOROUGHMUIR BEARS V SOUTHERN KNIGHTS

The first of the Super Series Saturday double headers at Meggetland got under way this Saturday with the 5th v 6th playoffs between Bears and Knights.

Bears conceded some penalties early in the game allowing Knights the advantage they needed to get the Bears out of their 22 and take advantage of play.

The Knights made several attempts to get over the try line but kept getting pushed back, third time was a charm as Rudi Brown carried the ball over the whitewash for the visitors in the first try of the game after 20 minutes of play. Callum Grieve added the extras.

Great work from the Bears’ forwards as they made headway on the pitch from a lineout which allowed Corey Tait to breakaway from the maul and sprint towards the line to close the gap on the scoreboard. Tom Quinlan’s kick was successful which evened the scoreboard.

Knights were quick to retaliate with a driving maul try from Russell Anderson as he broke away and dotted the ball over the line. Callum Grieve added the extras.

The referee drew a yellow from his pocket for Bears Scott McGinley for infringement of the Knight’s try winning maul.

The Bears did not want the visitors to stay ahead for long as Callum Ramm got hold of the ball making a beautiful offload to Trystan Andrews as he got tackled who sprinted over the line for the try. Quinlan added the extra two points which brought the scoreboard level as they headed into the break.

HALF-TIME: Boroughmuir Bears 14 – 14 Southern Knights

With only one minute on the clock in the second half Knights came out ready for battle as a clean play of passing found the ball in the hands of the Knight’s inside centre Adam Hall who made his way over the line. The conversion was successful, and the visitors took the lead once again.

An advantage from a clumsy Knights’ throw in gave Bears the opportunity they had been waiting for in the second half. Liam McConnell made his way through some soft tackles and crashed over the line. George Paul had taken over kicking duties and he added the extras and evened the scoreboard for the third time in this playoff game.

Determined to push themselves ahead on the scoreboard the tried and tested move of a powerful driving maul allowed Jerry Blyth-Lafferty over the line for a try which put Bears back in the lead. Conversion was unsuccessful.

Knights fought till the end as it looked like they could get one final try ahead of the whistle but the Bears defence was too strong as they fought them off and secured their final win of the Sprint and took home the 5th place spot in the playoff table.

FULL-TIME: Boroughmuir Bears 26 – 21 Southern Knights

Referee: Finlay Browne
FOSROC Player of the Match: Trystan Andrews (Boroughmuir Bears)

TRIES:
Boroughmuir Bears: Corey Tait, Trystan Andrews, Liam McConnell, Jerry Blyth-Lafferty
Southern Knights: Rudi Brown, Russell Anderson, Adam Hall

CONVERSIONS:
Boroughmuir Bears: Tom Quinlan (2), George Paul
Southern Knights: Callum Grieve (3)

YELLOW CARDS:
Boroughmuir Bears: Scott McGinley

SATURDAY 27 MAY: WATSONIANS V STIRLING WOLVES

The 3rd v 4th playoff match got underway at Meggetland for the last of the Super Series Saturday double headers and the final game in the 2023 FOSROC Super Series Sprint.

Watsonians opened the scoring in today’s match with as Hector Patterson collected the ball from the back of the scrum and passed it wide. Scott King gathered and threaded through the Wolves defensive line to get the first try of the game. Jason Baggott’s conversion was successful.

A yellow card was shown for Wolves Callum Norrie which Watsonians used to their advantage as they deployed their signature driving maul to gain territory. The ball escaped from the back into Scott King’s hands who went wide to Jason Baggott, and he dashed over the line. Conversion went wide.

Penalty for Wolves due to Watsonians being offside gets them their first points as Marcus Holden’s kick soared through the posts.

Watsonian’s extended their lead with a pickup and go from Hector Patterson out the back of the maul. He found a gap in the Wolves defence and grounded the ball for their third try of the game. Conversion went wide again.

A quiet 20 minutes of play led to a thrilling final minute before the half time whistle as the Wolves Captain Reyner Kennedy crashed over the line for their first try off the back of a successful throw in. Marcus Holden added the extras and closed the gap heading into the break.

HALF-TIME: Watsonians 17 – 10 Stirling Wolves

Watsonians were the first to score again in the second half after just three minutes of play. An offload from Matt Reid to Hector Patterson as he weaved through the Wolves players and grounded the ball under the sticks. This made it an easy conversion was Jason Baggott’s as he added the extras.

Soon after and for the second time in the game Watsonians fly-half Jason Baggott cut through the Wolves defence and plated the ball under the sticks. Baggot’s successfully converted his own try as the ball soared through the posts.

A sixth try for Watsonians is picked up by Seb Cecil as the boys in blue once again used their momentum inside the Wolves 22 to get themselves another five points on the board. Extras added.

Some strong back and forth between both teams saw Stirling Wolves forwards powerful display of dominance rewarded as Jake Spurway crashed over the line. Holden’s kick went shy of the posts.

A yellow card was drawn for Watsonians Jason Baggott for infringement as the game came to a close at Meggetland. Watsonians secured their win with more than double the Wolves points and with that the FOSROC Super Series Sprint came to a close.

FULL-TIME: Watsonian’s 38 – 15 Stirling Wolves

Referee: Jonny Perriam
FOSROC Player of the Match: Neil Irvine-Hess (Watsonians)

TRIES:
Watsonians: Scott King, Jason Baggott (2), Hector Patterson (2), Seb Cecil
Stirling Wolves: Reyner Kennedy, Jake Spurway

CONVERSIONS:
Watsonians: Jason Baggott (5)
Stirling Wolves: Marcus Holden

PENALTIES:
Stirling Wolves: Marcus Holden

YELLOW CARDS:
Watsonians: Jason Baggott
Stirling Wolves: Callum Norrie