Silver Saturday Preview: Men’s Bowl Final: Irvine v Blairgowrie

Blairgowrie lost out to Portobello in the 2017 Men's Bowl final.

Blairgowrie secured the Caledonia Midlands Region League Division 2 for the second successive season, having opted against promotion last season in order to consolidate their squad.

They also picked up the Caledonia Midlands Bowl. The competition kicked off for Blairgowrie with a 47-24 win away to Madras in the first round.

A quarter-final away to Bannockburn followed, which they won 43-10, and the semi-final saw Blairgowrie win 41-14 away to Dundee University Medics.

They faced Glenrothes in the final, and won 21-13 to win the Caledonia Midlands Bowl and advance to the National Bowl semi-final. There, they beat Ross Sutherland 17-12 to reach Saturday’s final, a first Bowl final appearance in seven years for the club.

Captain Rory Grant said: “To make it to the National Bowl final for the second time is massive for the club, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players, coaching staff and committee on and off the pitch this season.

“Myself and the lads are super excited to get out there in front of our friends and families to compete for the silverware and to represent Blairgowrie Rugby Club.”

Blairgowrie lost out to Portobello in the 2017 Men’s Bowl final.

Irvine RFC currently sit top of West Region League Division 3, with 12 wins from 14 games.

They are this season’s West Bowl champions. The competition got underway for them in January as they picked up a 27-19 win away to Moffat in round one.

An 89-7 win over Lanark & Clydesdale followed in the quarter-finals, before a 27-0 win against Birkmyre took them to the final, where they faced Lochaber.

A 30-7 victory there secured the West Bowl, taking them to the National Bowl semi-final, where they hosted Edinburgh Northern RFC, and were 17-5 victors to seal a spot at Silver Saturday.

Director of Rugby Liam Burnell said: “Irvine Rugby Club are delighted to be competing at Hive Stadium in the National Bowl final. It has been a remarkable season for the club, and has been achieved through hard work, determination and a steadfast belief in each other.

“I am so incredibly proud of all those in the playing squad, and would like to thank them for the effort and sacrifice they have made for the maroon and white shirt. The final will be a special occasion for all involved with the club and I hope that the players go out and enjoy the moment and make some special memories that I’ve sure will live with them for the rest of their rugby careers.”

Captain Ruchin Filander added: “It’s been a tough few seasons for the club after Covid and this year we’ve come a long way as a team, and I’m grateful to and proud of all those who put in the effort to reach this final.

“With new coaches Calum Ridout and Liam Burnell coming in, nobody knew what to expect, and it’s unbelievable how far we’ve come under their wings this season, and I hope on Saturday we can show what has brought us here.

“As a community club, I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say we are all very excited to represent Irvine, and I would like to thank the club and our families for their support.”

To view the Blairgowrie team, click HERE.

To view the Irvine team, click HERE.

On the day

Gates will open at 10am for spectators, with a range of food and drink options available throughout the day. 

You can view up-to-date fixtures and results on the day HERE. 

Ticketing

The ticketing portal is now live. You will receive your tickets through Scottish Rugby’s ticketing app. If you have not already, you can download the app here. 

Finalist rugby clubs can earn commission on Silver Saturday 2024 match tickets if purchased through the club’s unique URL. If you want to support your rugby club in this way, please ensure you use the URL of the club you wish to support. 

Once you click on the link, you’ll be taken to the Scottish Rugby Online Ticket Centre to make your purchase in the standard way. Club URLs can be found here. 

Media accreditation 

Accreditation for media outlets and club photographers/videographers will close on Friday 26 April at 5pm. You will be refused entry if you are not properly accredited. Click here to be taken to the accreditation portal.