Super Twa's Top Group with Rout at Peterhead

Coull, Campbell and Collected as Super Twa's Succeed at Ellon

Shire Just Do Enough For Runners Up Spot

Shire did have the consolation from what was ultimately a disappointing season with this win confirming runners up spot in the league. One position better than last year, so lets hope that trend continues next season!  

The club would like to wish Diarmuid O’Sullivan all the best on his move to Edinburgh and a second fairwell to Jake Law who will be moving on yet again. Also, all the best to Lackie and Mel Roberts who are heading back to Oz, both have contributed to the club in touch and senior rugby. Thanks to all for their great service to the club.

Super Twa's Secure Victory in Westdyce Winter Wonderland

Shire Turn Up For Home Encouter With Islanders

The Student Backline Teaches Shire a Lesson

Shire To Strong For Late Students

A Good Second Half Isn't Enough To See Shire Through

Shire Struggle To Reach The Premier Level

The attitude of the entire Aberdeenshire squad was excellent throughout and they never let the heads go down and continued to support each other. This teamwork paid off as Shire crossed the Dundee line twice with two well worked tries from Matt Christie and Steve Penney with Dangerous Dave Leslie converting one. The second half score finishing a more respectable 12 - 33 to the visitors.

The back three of Jamie Stephen, Steve Penney and Matt Christie all deserve a special mention for their tireless work in defense and attack throughout the game. Also a mention must be given to the Shire support who came out in numbers to cheer on the boys.

A big thanks must go to Dundee HSFP who came here with a full squad and played an open exciting brand of rugby. Aberdeenshire need to learn from playing such high quality opposition that the team must play their own game at their own pace which will improve defensive organisation which was lacking too often in this game. However the players can gain a lot from this game and take the determination and spirit shown into the first round of the Sheild competion against Lasswade.

Also watch out for next month's edition of Scrum magazine as there should be an article about Dundee High's visit to Woodside.

Super Twa's Cut Down in Tough Ellon Lesson

iExcellent Team Performance Rewards Shire with Home Premiership Tie

The two Aberdeenshire wingers Steve Penney and Jamie Robertson also had some telling breaks into the Hillfoots half. However, the only score of the first half came from the boot of Dave Leslie with a well taken penalty.   

In the second half Shire raised the tempo and began attacking the Hillfoots line a lot more. They kicked to the corners and tried for driving lineouts and managed to inch closer and closer to the Hillfoots line. The breakthrough came when Steve Cook got the ball near the Hillfoots try line and managed to bulldoze his way over from five yards (which Dave Leslie converted). This is why “Big Cook” is top of the try scoring list with 10 tries so far this season. This score was met with great celebration from the home support as they knew that Hillfoots would not come back from this based on the amount of possession and domination that Shire had throughout the game.

One of the most positive parts of the game from a Shire point of view was that the lineout worked very well on the day with Shire winning almost 100% of their own lineout ball. This particular issue had been a major factor in some of Shire more disappointing performances earlier in the season. A lot of credit has to go to the lineout jumpers Gordon Kehoe, John Mason and Mike Roulston, but the sure throwing of Shaun Mountain was the telling factor on the day. Also the kicking game of the half backs Leith and Leslie in the second half was invaluable in keeping the pressure on the National 1 visitors.

Super Twa's Edged In Granite City Derby

This was a match between two teams of attacking intent. ‘Shire tribulations in converting pressure and energy into points began in the opening passage of play when McCardle and Law opening the defence up. Law opened the scoring with penalty from 24m. The extravagant talent of Michael MacLuash and Duncan Coull made things happen and with Robbie Cantley at his steaming best in midfield and Dave Roberts delightful skills illuminated, Aberdeenshire played some delightful rugby. Tom McLeman had another miracle match, so heavily involved that it was as if he was out there as one of three identical triplets. Charlie Flett was a considerable force in the front five and Andrew Falconer is discovering himself at the back. Aberdeenshire offered a defence vastly improved from the debacle against Perthshire. Throughout the half, it was the same story, most notably when a glorious pass from McCardle unlocked the Gordon’s defence and delivered a cool pass to Cantley running free down the left. There were many other golden chances but ‘Shire, no doubt to their own fury, managed to convert only one further oppportunity. The effervescent Maclennan attacked after catching a kick ahead and when ‘Shire moved the ball to the left, electric handling from MacLuash and Roberts put the impressive Coull through on the angle and cut the cover to pieces to score.

Throughout the match, you sensed that ‘Shire were only two scores away from a achieving landslide such was the balance between the sides and after they let the pace drop at the start of the second half, they cranked it up again. A lapse in concentration allowed Gordon’s back into proceedings with two tries from stretching the Super Twa’s defence. At the very end, Aberdeenshire pressed hard for a consolation try. Gordonian’s had no intention of allowing it.

The game ended close to the Gordons line with the Super Twa’s desperately in search of one further try. They worked a clever lineout move with Tim Condon taking the ball at the back and flicking it to Ben Thomson. For half a second, the line opened up before the scrum-half Roberts, then it closed as he threw a pass that went behind to McCardle who stormed through to have the last word. The chance was taken, final scored Aberdeenshire 2nd XV 18 – 24 Gordonidians 2nd XV.

Super Twa’s Captain Conor Henry commented at the end of the game. “We weren't a million miles off against Gordonian’s, we just weren't clinical enough and that's not unusual in a friendly match of this nature. The challenge then was to build on that and it's fair to say there's almost a sense of relief that we got that performance today with the squad we had. We felt that performance was in the team and it was certainly good to get it out there. The lads put a lot of thought into having a big game and they were happy. They showed a lot of intent and intensity to fight back into the game.

Resurgent Super Twa's Forced to Settle For Second Best

After going comfortably ahead, though, Selkirk promptly took their foot off the gas and let a stuffy Super Twa’s side back into this match. The home forwards, led by John Mason and Tim Condon, began to make inroads into the heart of the Selkirk defence. The home team enjoyed a long period of pressure in Selkirk's red zone and, if they had used all the overlaps they would have had a healthy lead.

‘Shire were forced into increasingly desperate defence and how they managed to concede four penalties in quick succession inside their own 22 without anyone being shown a yellow card will remain one of life's mysteries. In addition Selkirk held out numerous attacks, with the powerful support play provided by Thomson, O’Shaugnessy and Coull and the elusive running of full back John Maclennan being particularly impressive.

The first 20 minutes of the second half was a real forward battle with no quarter given and defence to the fore. It was always going to take something special to get the next points and it came from ‘Shire centre and man-of-the-match Liam Barratt. He fielded a kick in his own half, skipped past a couple of challenges and ran 30 metres to score in the corner. Fergusson added the conversion. ‘Shire gave expression to their talent with some impressive handling rugby that resulted with a try for Fergusson , the fly-half racing up the right touchline for a score in the corner. The glorious product at the end of what was a passage of sheer indulgent rugby.

The fightback by ‘Shire continued but despite a siege on the Selkirk line, there was no points dividend for the visitors. What really mattered for ‘Shire was a rediscovery of the form that gave the Granite City side such a good league run early in the season. Henry commented at the final whistle, "when we've got the ball we are able to do things with it. We didn't play as well as we might have liked or as well as at other times in the season, but what we did show here was the character that has got us through this season.”

iNot Quite The Centuary In The Return Fixture

Shortly after, Shire went in for their third try of the day only to have it disallowed by the referee.  A great run from Livingston saw him break a couple of tackles before a desperate covering player managed to pull him down 5 metres from the line, the resulting pass from the floor put supporting back row partner Davies in for the try but  the referee adjudged the pass to have gone forward to the disappointment of this reporter!

However, it wasn’t long before Shire got their third try and and their first glimpse of the illusive bonus point.  Again, some quick interplay between backs and forwards was the key and Waid were starting to look like they might concede a cricket score if they didn’t do something to slow down the Shire onslaught.

It was at this point that things started to go a little bit awry for Shire as they tried to force plays and became a little indecisive in the quest for the fourth try. Waid started to get some joy in slowing things down and taking the sting out of the game as Shire began to get a little loose around the rucks and mauls, not imposing themselves on the opposition and letting Waid dictate terms around the contact zone.  Shire were just not being ruthless enough in clearing out the rucks and as a result, Waid were able to impinge upon the offside line at will and although getting penalised for it, it stopped Shire playing at the pace they wanted to play at.

A little bit of frustration started to creep into the Shire play at this point and a silly infringement gave the referee no option but to award a penalty about 20 yards out , almost dead centre.  Fortunately for Shire, the Waid fly-half missed the penalty and Shire’s clean sheet was still intact.
This scare served as a wake up call for Shire and after a polite chat from captain Roulston, they started to tighten things up and looked to release their back line with a little more regularity and slowly but surely this started to pay dividends as the Waid defence couldn’t handle the pace and running lines of the shire backs.

The last 10 minutes of the half saw Shire consolidate the Try bonus point with tries 4, 5 and 6 to take a comnfortable lead into the break.
The second half started a little slower than the first half, but it wan’t long before Shire finally started to grind down the Waid resistance and they began looking like they could score at will.  The forwards were now starting to control things in the tight and when the ball went to the backs, the Waid defence were getting stretched trying to keep up with the pace at which the ball was moved around.

It was therefore no surprise that Shire ran in a further 7 tries in the second half to inflict another heavy defeat on Waid, who, credit where credits due, never gave up and made sure Shire had to work hard to produce the scores.

In the end however, Shire were carrying too much firepower in every area of the pitch and despite Waid’s best efforts, ran out 83-0 winners.
This was a good away result for Shire who, as expected, were made to work a lot harder than the last time the two teams met.
This week it was the turn of vice-captain Leith to be named as man of the match (something I was trying to keep out of this report).  “Bilbo” had one of his best games of the season as he controlled his pack from scrum-half and never stopped talking and encouraging the rest of the team when captain Roulston took a well earned break during the second half.

Although Leith was named MOM, it was a good team performance with a lot of highlights.  Andrew Cook again showed what a great prospect he is running in a hat-trick of tries.  O’ Sullivan, returning from his Christmas break at a Guiness retreat put in a fantastic shift in the second row along with captain Roulston who got on the scoresheet again with try number 3 in two games.  Not bad for the oldest player in the squad!  And another good points day for Leslie – 5 for his try and 20 with the boot.

iWaid Sleighed by Rampant Shire

Half time saw Rugby Baz and Roulston being replaced by Tom McLeman and Lachlan (Lachie) Roberts. With Waid reduced to 14 players due to numerous injuries, the flood gates well and truly opened and the Try of the Year voted by the Aberdeenshire Supporters Club was soon to come. Livingston found himself in the Waid 22 receiving a pass from Snell and to every Shire players amazement side stepped the first Waid defender, with his team mates in awe of his fancy foot work and to prove that it was no fluke Livingston carried off the same move again leaving a second defender grasping for fresh air and touching down behind the posts, showing that his fancy footwork is not just for the dance floor of Club Tropicana.

Other try scorers were Martyn Snell getting 4, Robbie Anderson touching down twice, Steven Cook scoring 1 after a trade mark run from 10 yards out, gliding through the Waid defence like a ballerina, Jamie Stephen, Lachie Roberts, John Mason, Matt Christie, James Broadribb and Alex “Chunky” Moore all scoring one try a piece and Dave Leslie scoring 10 conversions to go with his solitary try.

An easy start to the year for Shire and with tougher tests to come in the future this was a good game to shift some of the excess from the festive season. Credit to Waid, who came and never stopped trying in an attempt to backup their cocky start to the game but were blown away by a rampant Shire.

Shire went in this game knowing a win was required to have any chance of winning the league title. Countesswells drew a good crowd for this top of the table local derby with Shire represented in good numbers.

The game kicked off on a cold windy afternoon and for the first 20 minutes very little rugby was played by both teams with a lot of messy set piece restarts and plenty of kicking. In the latter stages of the half Gordonians began to gain more territory and possession in the Shire half but really didn’t look like scoring, however from some quick pick and go play they managed to squeeze over in the corner for a unconverted try. This finally kicked Shire into gear and from the restart they had their best period of the match. Shire pinned Gordonians in their 22 with good kicking play from Leslie and the forwards winning good set piece ball. From a 22 scrum Shire put together a number of phases which ended with Steve Cook powerfully barging through a number of defenders to open the scoring for the visitors to relief of the travelling support. Leslie duly converted to give Shire a 7-5 lead. With time running out in the opening half Shire were trying to play all the rugby but basic skills were letting them down. From some good defence Shire were awarded a penalty just outside their own 22 and eagle eyed Leslie spotted the space for a quick tap but with gaps to attack again basic handling skills weren’t good enough and the ball was knocked on. From the turnover Gordonians were awarded a questionable penalty which was to be the beginning of a number of dubious decisions by the match official. Gordonains converted the kicking opportunity to take an 8-7 lead into the break.

The second half began much like the first with a lot of blunt rugby being played around midfield. Gordonians then capitalised on Shire’s inability to create go forward ball or retain possession by again gaining the territorial advantage. At this point the referee began to influence game by whistling for a number of unnecessary penalties against Shire players. Making a rod for his own back and with the encouragement of the home fans the referee then sin binned the unlucky Andrew Cook for yet another nothing penalty. Shire defended bravely for a lot of 14 man period but finally ran out of defenders for Gordonians decisive second try. From a few phases in the Shire 22 the Gordonians scrum-half passed out yet another laboured ball to his backline and even though the ball seemed to take an age to get to the opposite corner, full-back Lamont had enough gas to straiten the move score 5 metres from the corner. The conversion gave the hosts a 15-7 lead which seemed very large to the travelling support. With plenty time left to play Shire were unable to gain much territory and were their own worst enemies with poor control at scrum and line and in the loose the slow individual pick and go game was never going to be enough to provide the required front foot ball. Added to this was the a number of good counter attack opportunities lost from poor Gordonian kicking by players making wrong decisions or simply not being able to catch the ball.  The final whistle went along with Shire’s league title chances.

In the final analysis this was a disappointing match for the spectators and from the 2 sides playing Gordonians were only average but disappointingly that was enough to win the game. Director of Rugby Colin Bell was later quoted on Radio Scotland as saying "we need Gordonians to have a choke of All Black proportions to win the league".

When two sides renowned for their flowing rugby clash in a festive friendly, then a busy day for the scoreboard operator is always on the cards. And so it proved in an entertaining yet bruising North East derby in which the final score does not portray the true order of the proceedings.

Indeed, any neutrals in the sizeable Kellands Park crowd would have been hard pressed to identify which of the pair was within touching distance of the Scottish Hydro Electric Caledonia League Division 2 North after the opening quarter. At that stage, Aberdeenshire were well in command, having blazed from the blocks with a greater desire for the fray and they appeared to have the hosts rattled in the opening exchanges.

Jamie Stephen opened the scoring after secure forward play had allowed the backline to expose the gaps in the home defence. Mark McCardle, making his first start of the season, was the keen architect of many of the Super Twa’s movements, his awareness of space and those around him added an extra dimension not seen in recent performances. Tom McLeman and Mike Fotheringham renewed their impressive acquaintance in the second row following Tom’s sabbatical with the 1st XV, with McLeman again proving he is the master at the lineout. Dickinson was used an extra option at the line out and the Yorkshire lad provided excellent platforms with his confident control of the ball. Robbie Cantley exposed the generous amount of space afforded to him by the Garioch centre pairing and added ‘Shire’s second try of the afternoon.

Successive phase play from the Aberdeenshire pack allowed significant territory gains, with Huw Llewyllan, Ben Thomson and Duncan Coull having an appetite and work rate that Garioch were unable to cope with. Ben Morris marshaled the pack well and will have enjoyed playing behind a dominant pack going forward, but it was Barry Davies who added ‘Shire’s third try of the afternoon after finishing up a superb break from Mike Fotheringham. David Robertson put the game beyond doubt when a superb break, saw him beat no fewer than three opposition defenders with an excellent display of footwork and sheer pace.

A change in referee at half time did offer Garioch a slight glimmer of hope, with Garioch gaining a try early in the second half after some ambiguous decisions at the breakdown. Complacency creeped into the ‘Shire side in the third quarter, the breakdown was a technical pile up, with the Super Twa’s letting their standards slip and both teams attempting to release ball outwith the laws of the game. Garioch were rewarded with a second try after ‘Shire had been turned over in their ’22. Having weathered the storm presented by Garioch, a break from Liam Barrett inspired the Super Twa’s second half resurgence. Jimmy Crockett and Liam Smith replaced Cantley and McCardle, with their youthful enthusiasm they committed to running with the ball in attempt to add to the scoreline. MacLennan once again providing excellent cover at fullback, being secure under the high ball and his counter attacking presented Garioch with difficulties all afternoon.

And, with the game firmly under their control, the Super Twa’s front eight struck again. This time, a Coull pick from the scrum allowed Fotheirngham to race towards the line, offloading to Barry Davies, who dived in from close range. Stephen’s conversion extended the gap to 17 points with the dying minutes on the clock and there was little debate that they were worthy of the advantage.

The hosts were clearly rattled by the severity of their opponents' onslaught but gradually garnered a greater share of the possession. Initially they were unable to capitalise, but the relentless effort steadily had an impact but it will have been the impressive support play in the loose from the ‘Shire pack and devastating breaks from Robertson, Barrett and McCardle that secured the game and was the difference between the two sides. Super Twa’s coach, Allan MacCreadie is hard to please, but even he was prepared to admit "we played well for the opening 30 minutes of the first half – perhaps as well as we have all season". Barry Davies was the Super Twa’s man of the match on day when it could’ve gone to a number of players, such was the professionalism of the team performance. The Super Twa’s will be delighted to return to winning ways after their recent league outings, and also to smash Garioch’s unbeaten home record.

At a time of year when thoughts turn to myths and legends, such as Santa, peace on earth and the perfect £10 present, it may be appropriate to re-examine one of Scottish rugby's favourite tales - the Great Super Twa’s Home Form. Howe of Fife were the latest challengers at Woodside and escaped with a victory that Kray Brothers would have been proud to have masterminded.

"We had other chances that we didn't take, so we can't put it down to that one thing," said Aberdeenshire Captain, Conor Henry after the game.  Henry was quick to point out that, that the visitors capitalised on their opportunities, but felt that the Super Twa’s deserved more from the game.

The hosts opened at a ferocious pace and Alex Moore slotted an early penalty to ease them into the lead, before HOF equalled almost immediately to bring them back into proceedings. Barry Davies dictated the pace from the restart, with his superb athletic ability showing no signs of being diminished following his latest injury woes. Fotheringham and Dickinson added superb ball carrying skills, something which had been lacking in recent weeks. With neither side gaining any significant momentumn, the remainder of the first half ensured a scrappy affair that was dominated by scrums and penalties. Disregard for any rules or regulation at the break down allowed Moore to add three additional penalties to leave Shire 12-3 in front at half time.

Ben Thomson sparked the move and Dave Roberts continued it before drawing the defence and off-loading to Duncan Coull, who raced in for a superb score from a ‘safe 30 yards’ with the Fifers defence trailing off him. Moore uncharacteristically missed the conversion to give Shire a fourteen point lead in the opening minutes of the second half - and no one could have disputed that it was fully merited. Howe of Fife upped the intensity levels and gained an upper hand against the inexperienced front row of Thomson, Henry and Dickinson. Following a series of continuous phase play, the Fifers were rewarded with a converted try to bring them back into contention. Limited clean ball ensured that opportunities for wingers MacLuash and Healey were restricted, but it was in defence that the skills of Howatt, Cantley and Stephen came to the fore. Flett replaced Brunton, who had suffered a fractured hand and who at the time of his departure was leading the tackle count for the day. The ‘Shire line out has faltered in recent fixtures due to the absence of McLeman but Dickinson has proved to be a welcome addition to the squad. Alongside Strachan at the line out, they worked tirelessly to gather ball and on a large number of occasions prevented the Fife front eight of securing clean ball. A penalty ensured that the scoreboard was kept ticking over and with minutes on the clock there only one point separating the teams. HOF took full advantage of a lapse in concentration at the last play of the game to secure the victory with a well worked try in the corner and return to Cupar with a six-point victory.

Having had time to reflect on the game and first half of the season, Super Twa’s skipper, Conor Henry commented: "When it was 17-16, to be honest I could only see one winner. I felt we were the side playing all the rugby and they were trying to desperately to push it. Then, all of a sudden a poor decision and a missed tackle kills you and takes the game away.”

"Our players have been magnificent all year and they were magnificent again. It was just that the little things didn't go for us. In the home camp, captain Henry claimed the performance was evidence of the potential his side possess and admitted to mixed emotions. "It's just annoying when you know how well we are capable of playing and we haven't done it in our past two fixtures," he said. "It's happiness tinged with a hint of annoyance that we should be higher up the table." Howe of Fife are a good side, there is no doubt about that but we felt that as a collective group of players they weren't head and shoulders above the competition and didn't deserve to take the points at Woodside.

"The one thing I am disappointed about is losing our unbeaten home record. I wanted to keep going and the players wanted to keep going, so I'm disappointed for them and I know they are disappointed for themselves."

The MacLugash Family Star as Super Twa’s Fall in Alloa

An unfamiliar and disrupted Aberdeenshire 2nd XV were narrowly defeated by Alloa as the second half of the league campaign got underway. It will have been a proud day for Joe MacLugash as he lined up with sons, Michael and Douglas, with younger brother Stuart lending his support on the sideline. Despite the rules having changed since Joe last played, he still maintained his high level of enthusiasm for the game, and led by example as he fought and scrapped for the ball in all areas of the game. Shire played with a slight wind advantage in the first half, the Clackmannanshire pitch was heavy and these conditions didn’t lend themselves favourably to running rugby. Once again, Shire fielded a different front row, and with eight members of the team being under 18 this would be a huge task. Early Alloa pressure was absorbed well with the Shire defence remaining solid and intact and taking their counter attacking opportunities well. Despite spending the majority of the first half in the Alloa ’22, Shire failed to turn pressure into points. The lineout didn’t work as successively as it has done in previous fixtures, and support play from second phase play was lacking. Alloa opening the afternoon scoring with when the referee awarded a try despite the ball appearing to be spilled forward before being touched down. Shire suffered again before the half time whistle, firstly when a series of unforced errors and missed tackles allowed the physical Alloa pack to cross the line and then a short range penalty to take the score at half time in 13-0 in favour of the home team.

Shire rallied well in the second half, and the predicted onslaught from Alloa failed to materialize. The scrum worked efficiently and have the pack have benefited from recent scrum clinics with Ian Clayton and Allan MacCreadie. Joe MacLuash took a couple against the head and allowed Peter Chalmers to run at the opposition. Ryan Strachan in his first start of the season, provided much secure ball at the lineout, and was supported by Fotheringham and Flett. Jimmy Crockett continues to improve at out half with each game, but could do with more options off his shoulders. In the centre, Cantley and Stephens were solid in both attack and defence. Opportunities for attack were limited, but Robertson when presented with space proved that he can be a destructive and elusive runner, MacLennan was his usual dependable self under the high ball and his counter attacking was a constant threat. When the back line did get clean quick ball, Alloa struggled to match them in defence, the territory and pressure was rewarded when Michael MacLugash crossed the whitewash in the corner in the dying minutes. This was a scant consolation for a hard day’s graft that the Super Twa’s put in, but the scoreline flatters a scrappy Alloa performance.

The commitment of the Super Twa’s was typified by Man of The Match and scrum half Alan Stewart, his link play was superb and he tackled without fear or intimidation of the physical bulk presented by Alloa. Alan is growing in confidence with each game at the senior level and proving to be a valuable and respected member of the Super Twa’s. The Super Twa’s welcome Howe of Fife to Woodside in the final league fixture of 2007 and will hope to inflict revenge for the defeat at Cupar earlier in the season.

Bonus Point Gained At The Second Time Of Asking

Shire were guilty of taking their foot off the gas after securing the bonus point, which allowed Kinross to get back into the game.  A long range penalty got the visitors their first points of the afternoon, before good attacking play up the blind side, and a deft chip kick, allowed the Kinross winger to outpace the defence and touch down in the corner.  The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 24-8.  With seconds remaining before half time, Shire were awarded a penalty just inside the Kinross half, and with the visiting defence asleep, Rob Anderson showed the Shire backs were still involved in the match when he tapped the ball to himself and ran the 40m to score under the posts.  The conversion was added to make the half time score 31-8.

With Shire playing into the wind in the second half, the kicking options were limited, but Shire were happy to try and run the ball out of defence, and rely on the forward pack to make good ground from set piece.  A 6th try was scored early in the half, again following good pressure from the Shire pack.  A lineout drive on the right hand side, as well as a couple of good surging runs from Gordon and the Cook brothers, allowed O'Sullivan to double his try tally for the day. 

Another try was then added, this time from longer range, and actually involving one of the backs.  Shire were awarded a penalty just inside their own half, and with a disorganised Kinross defence spread out across the pitch, Leslie tapped the ball to himself, instead of kicking to touch, and threw out a long pass to Broadribb, who evaded a number of attempted tackles, to score under the Kinross posts.  The conversion was added by Leslie, to make it 43-8.

Having succumbed to the effects of his long run, Broadribb was replaced, with Dave Roberts making his debut for the firsts at scrum half, with Mally White moving back to full back. Roberts was immediately into the action, marshalling the forwards well following another good line out, and allowing Cook Senior to crash over for his second try of the match.  The conversion was missed to leave the score 48-8.

Kinross showed good fighting spirit towards the end of the match, scoring 2 tries, including a fine passing effort involving most of their backs, and almost secured a bonus point for a fourth try.  However the Shire defence held firm right at the end to keep them out.  The match ended with Shire winning 48-22.

Overall a good win for Shire, securing a much needed bonus point, to keep hopes of promotion alive. The forward pack won the game, in a much improved performance, with the backs making good use of what ball they received. 

It was a typically dull, grey and wet day as the Shire team filed off the bus after the long bus journey to Crieff. Now used to the conditions that consistently present themselves at the Crieff and Strathearn ground it was a spirited start from the away team that quickly saw them on the scoreboard. Following some robust and structured play from the forwards and a neat flick from the base of the maul, winger Matt Christie simply diver between the two defenders protecting the blind side to open the scoring. With poor conditions for kicking and a tight angle the try went unconverted; however Shire were soon back in the game. Proving that they were more than prepared to work as hard in defence as in attack all attempts by the home side to break the visitors gain line were quickly thwarted and any attempt by the home side to settle into the game prevented by some good variety and endeavour from Shire. 

This work was again rewarded mid way through the first half with experienced scrum half Leith, springing on the loose ball that fell from maul the forwards had again effectively driven over the try line. This touchdown took Leith to the top of Shire's try scorers list. With a slightly more favourable angle “Dangerous” Dave Leslie was able to slot the conversion, giving the visitors a 12 point lead. 

Experience from previous meetings of these two sides allowed Shire to be aware of the forward orientated and disruptive game plan consistently employed by the Crieff sides and having fallen behind in the game the home side began relying heavily on there strengths. Shire however rose above this and continued to play a their own game mixing up forward and backs play to get into striking distance on the opposition line. Aware to the often stray hands (and fists) of the home side Shire were presented with a number of penalties in positions potentially punishing to the opposition. In search of the elusive bonus points Shire opted to kick for the corners and build on their field position, despite some good work and excellent takes by Ally Rodger the conditions combined with the disruptive nature of the Crieff defence acted to prevent any further tries.

Points were then given the priority and two further penalties were slotted by the reliable boot of Leslie, providing Shire with an 18 point lead going into the break. With Leith heading to the home of attacking rugby and of course Lord of the Rings, foreign import Mally White was brought on at half time, safe in the knowledge that previous communication issues experienced between the team and White would be avoided by the presence of interpreter Martin Snell at inside centre.

Unfortunately it appeared that Shire had collectively decided to give Gary a reminder of the All Blacks unique abilities prior to his holiday. The visitors came very near to blowing a golden opportunity to seal a great first half performance and gifting the opposition a win. Allowing their game to fall to the same level as the home side Shire conceded two poor tries, the final whistle came in time to prevent complete self destruction and the win was Shire’s. It was apparent that the Aberdeenshire players recognised their part in two very contrasting halves and that a good chance of sealing a bonus point had slipped from them. Many positives can be taken from the first half and a number of the individual performances, it must be seen whether these can be taken forward on the remainder of the season as the club keep an eye on the top of the league.

A big thanks goes to the additional travelling support for this game who certainly added to the entertainment on the journey home!

It is becoming clear that the Scottish Second XV league 4E N&M division, made up largely of National League 1,2 & 3 senior clubs, is becoming something of a home and away league. Sides are cruising to victory on home soil but struggling on longer distance away trips. Shire Twas bucked this trend with a dominating performance at Morgan Academy, running the game from the first minute through excellent forward control, strong defence and superb back 3 running.

The game was a tale of the front and back threes! The front row dominated scrum & loose exchanges and scored two outstanding tries. Andy Sutherland must be close to season top scorer with yet another try - a barnstorming run from 22 out, several handoffs before crashing over in the corner with several Morgan players hanging off him. Russell Hempsey could not be outdone though - with the last move of the game he stripped the ball from oppo forward on the half way line and headed off into a gap in the blindside. 50 yards later, no Morgan player could catch him and Russ sauntered in under the sticks to give Rugby Baz an easy conversion. At the other end of the team, Mike MacLugash, John McLellan and Dave Robertson chased kicks, counterattacked and generally ran hard at all stages of the game. Mike was rewarded with a penalty try having been poleaxed mid-chip with the line at his mercy. John McLellan ran a poorly executed clearance back 50 yards, beating several men before putting Dave Robertson in.

On a lighter note, Dave Robertson will have downed several pints for his "try" on the 5 yard line late in the second half. Having ran from his own half, beaten several men, dummied his own backline many times, he dived over to score on the 5 metre before Morgan were able to clear and live another day. Pete Chalmers, inspired perhaps by the sight of his nephew taking his Twas place, dominated both Shire and Morgan line outs at 2 and ensured a stream of quality possession when on the field. Tim Spudos was a welcome return to the team, driving up from Edinburgh and also driving many huge gaps in the Morgan defence, particularly in the second half. A clear turning point was manufactured in the second half, when Morgan on a rare foray to the Shire 22 were shoved back at a five yard scrum, coughed the ball and Robbie Cantly could clear the ball way down the pitch.

All in all, this was a very encouraging performance with the team securing vital away points, a bonus point and proving again that we can more than live with this league. The team played intelligent rugby, focusing on strengths and being clinical when points were on offer. Given that the club bus left with half the team not on it, the fact we had a bare 15 post 1st XV call ups and missing inspirational leader, Conor Henry, it was a great result. If the above report focuses on the achievements of a few individuals, it should not be taken that this was not a terrific team performance with all others contributing strongly to allow the others their moment in the sun.

With St. Andrews University neglecting to travel north, the Super Twa’s took great delight at being centre stage on Woodside. The Super Twa’s renewed their rivalry with North-East neighbours Ellon, and hoped to improve from the previous weeks visit to Perthshire. The Super Twa’s were at full strength and resisted the temptation to include any 1st XV members hoping to avoid a training session.

Ellon kicked off, with a slight wind advantage but the conditions were to prove equally unfavourable for either side. It was the Super Twa’s mobile aggressive pack causing the early problems. Ellon conceded a penalty at the breakdown, a scene which was to be familiar throughout the afternoon, Moore opted for territory with a kick to the corner. McLeman soared high to collect, with the Shire pack joining in quick support to make a surge towards the visitors line. Successive picks from the base by Coull, Henry and Sutherland were rewarded when Fotheringham crossed the line for a superb opening score to the delight of the home support.

The home pressure continued and only a frenetic Ellon defence kept their line intact, but with the front row of Llewlyan, Sutherland and Hempsey dominating their opposite numbers, confidence in attack was rising among the Aberdeenshire side. The half back pairing of Roberts and Moore made efficient use of ball provided, and tested the visitors defence throughout the opening half. Secure play from the forwards once again allowed Moore to release the outside backs, with Cantley and Hogg surging for the whitewash. The Super Twa’s got their just reward when the electric pace of MacLuash got on the end of an intelligent chip from Hogg to push Shire into 10-point gap.

Ellon returned to the game immediately, unforced errors allowed them an undeserved but significant territory and possession advantage. The Ellon pack were awarded a try in the dying minutes of the first half after a catch and drive off a close line out. This half had bee dominated by the Super Twa’s, with the home pack holding the ace card. The backline were exceeding expectations in attack with the defensive attributes of Hogg, Morris and Roberts being a key component in restricting opportunities for the visitors.

The third quarter of the game was a scrappy affair, with both teams enjoying countless off the ball skirmishes and niggles that you would expect from a local derby. Despite numerous opportunities for persistent infringements and foul play, the referee resisted the urge to brandish any cards. Ellon continued their impressive form from the first half with their forwards gaining a second score from successful driving move that started in the ’22. The Ellon prop forward added the conversion. Ellon continued to launch successive high balls, but Morris was more than capable of collecting clean ball despite the transient weather conditions. The Super Twa’s will continue their look for a successful place kicker with both Hogg and Moore having poor afternoon’s with the boot from successive attempts – but it was Hogg’s long range effort and subsequent chase that allowed Shire back into the game. An uncharacteristic Ellon fumble, allowed a no. 8 pick from the following scrum, consecutive picks from Brunton, Roberts, Gray and Thompson allowed debutant Llewlyan to score in the corner.

Constant pressure from Ellon in the final ten minutes was expected, but the Super Twa’s fringe defence was nothing short of excellent. Henry, Coull and McLeman worked tirelessly to disrupt and interfere with Ellon at the line out, and Hempsey, Sutherland and Davies denying any advances at the breakdown. The controlled, discipline of the defensive line was rewarded with Ellon failing to add to their 12 points, ensuring the Super Twa’s continued their impressive home form and a valuable victory.

This solid team performance was perhaps best demonstrated by Super Twa’s Man of the Match, Tom McLeman. Not content with winning his own ball at the line, he hassled, upset and unbalanced an Ellon line that was more than capable of posing a serious threat. Tom worked industriously in the scrum, providing support in the loose and instigating many patient phases with his enthusiastic manner. The Super Twa’s have once again raised expectations and will hope to take this inspiring home form into their next game at Morgan Academy FPs to secure that elusive first away victory in the league. C’mon the Twa’s!

Shire Leave Their Game On The Plane

As the ball was kept tight the battle at the breakdown intensified with Manson and O’Sullivan competing heartily for the ball.  As Shire at last began to win some ball and put phases together ‘senior’ Cook began to make some decent ground with a few bullocking runs and support was usually on hand to keep the phases rolling but again as has been the story in some previous games Shire were their own worst enemy taking the ball into too many phases and losing it there.

Eventually on the stroke of half time to the relief of the players Shire made the break through as Rolston and McGowan battered round the fringes the ball was zipped along the blind side to catch the home team out as ‘junior’ Cook darted through the defence to get the try. The extra two points from wide on the left were beautifully converted by Leslie with a sweet strike.

Half time 12-7 and a disastrous start did not totally blown Shire away as they mounted a comeback into the match.

The start of the second half saw Shire introduce White and Gurr to the fray for Leith and Moodie respectively and the away team started the second half the stronger. The cohesion which was lacking in the first half appeared there at the start of the second and Shire were able to get the ball moving around the park more. From some quick ball Shire worked the blindside and Snell found space outside the opposition hooker to accelerate, only to be caught a couple of meters short by some desperate Orkney covering defence.

From this point on in the second half the game became a scrappy affair once more with a fine mix of interesting referee decisions to compound a poor Shire display. Orkney spent most of the second half hoisting the ball into the swirling wind from which the Shire back three of Christie, Anderson and MacLugash did well to not only contend with but also try and mount some effective counter attack play. It was heartening to see that the fight was there from the Shire guys as they continued to stick in with the pack making up for the poor line out by putting their bodies into numerous tackles and young White sniping around the rucks and chasing in the open (like trying to chase down a young lady come a saturday night!!!).

Sadly for Shire though Orkney were to have the last say on the day as their returning number 8 McGill picked up from a scrum 5 metres out and powered over some weak defence to condemn Shire to defeat from one of the hosts only visits to the Shire 22 in the 2nd period.

A difficult fixture which was made even more difficult by the start and poor decision making by the whole team. Problem areas will need to be addressed before hosting St. Andrews in the next game if Shire are to hold any aspirations of winning the league.

Special mention must also go to Condon for making the trip after Rogers called off at 7.30am and putting in a dogged display, and of course to B.A.’s Nicola our hostess with the mostess for maintaining composure throughout the return journey.

The Super Twa’s returned to league action against table toppers Perthshire. Despite late call offs, no shows and 1st XV call ups, Shire were confident of securing a result. Early pressure in the Perthshire ’22 was rewarded when Moore opened the scoring with penalty. Perthshire came straight back in to the game immediately, with clever and tactical kicking into the North Inch sunshine putting increased demands on Broadribb, Morris and Crockett at the back. Shire were slightly naïve in the opening quarter and allowed themselves to be turned over in contact, conceding possession and valuable territory. Perthshire scored two converted tries in quick succession due to unforced errors from Shire. The third Perthshire try was the result of quick tap from a penalty, once again – a lapse in concentration gifting the opposition. After 25 minutes of play, with the score at 21-3 in favour of the hosts, many teams would have crumbled. The Super Twa’s started to play the attacking brand of play which has given them success earlier this season. Clever forward play and secure touch kicking from Moore allowed Tom McLeman to dominate the line out. The initial phase play was secure but the Super Twa’s will have to work harder off the ball, if supporting players had been closer to the break down, Crockett, Morris, Cantley and Howatt would all have seen their breaks finish in success. Moore’s strong running allowed Shire to start to claw back the deficit.

The Super Twa’s enjoyed the upper hand at the scrum when the referee didn’t interfere, the ambiguous interpretation of the laws helped neither side, with Perthshire conceding a record number of infringements for a game at this level. The Super Twa’s front eight collectively battled well all afternoon against a bulkier pack, with Brunton and Lachlan Roberts jointly topping the tackle count. Mountain, Sutherland and Thomson are moulding into a very formidable front row unit with a tremendous work rate at both the set play and in the loose. Sutherland scored his second try in as many weeks, after patient forward build up. McLeman and Fotheringham once again provided the engine for the ‘Super Twa’s scrum, with McLeman being fautless in the line out whilst on the pitch. The Perthshire side possessed a number of strong runners with Premier 3 experience, and taught their opposite numbers a very harsh lesson in the second half. Five of the six Perthshire tries being scored by their backline. The Super Twa’s controlled the final quarter, elusive running from Broadribb, Crockett and Morris all causing problems for Perthshire. The introduction of John Dickinson proved that he will be a welcome addition to the Super Twa’s squad. Dave Roberts worked equally hard at 9 and 10, with clever support play and intelligent kicking. Alan Stewart demonstrated his superb passing capabilities with excellent service throughout the afternoon. It will have been the intuitive play from Jimmy Crockett on the wing who will have caught the eye of the coaching staff, his follow up chase was rewarded with an unconverted try in the dying minutes at the game, his attitude and commitment that perhaps best summarized the Super Twa’s performance against a well drilled Perthshire outfit. Not to be content with letting a colt have the final word, Mike Fotheringham scored the Super Twa’s fourth and final try after a secure driving maul off the line out.

The Super Twa’s will have learnt a valuable lesson against Perthshire, they will have to play the game for a full 80 minutes. This was a very encouraging performance from a team that is still learning to travel, despite the disruptions to the build up, they can take credit from remaining in the game when they could have conceded heavily in the opening half. Perthshire are a very well organized side, but the Super Twa’s will have nothing to fear when they welcome them to Woodside for the return fixture in the New Year.

Shire Progress in Cup Against Local Students

In a break from the league campaign, the Super Twa’s were presented with Gordonians 2nd XV in a Granite City Derby. The Super Twa’s were at full strength for this side and welcomed back Sean Mountain after his warm weather training camp in the Southern Hemisphere. Gordonians opened the scoring with penalty in front of the posts after some uncharacteristic ill discipline at the break down. Initial rustiness from both sets of sides ensured there was plenty of ‘scrum time’ after a series of unforced errors. It was here that Shire would begin to dominate their opposite back with, with front row of Hempsey, Mountain and Sutherland being particular destructive. Patient phase play allowed significant territory gains, with the Shire pack being rewarded when Andy Sutherland touched down to open the try scoring. Moore’s introduction for Stuart brought more errors to an already messy game. Despite best efforts and secure forward play, Shire were unable to gain any significant momentumn, the back line, although attacking and pressuring the Gordonians line being unable to dominate their opposite numbers. Cantley and Howatt in the centre perhaps enjoying the best opportunities. Moore added another penalty before the break to allow Shire 5-point gap at half time.

McLeman and Thomson enjoyed a positive relationship at the line out with the youngster showing great enthusiasm, this was a great source of clean ball and allowed the forwards to continue their driving game. The Gordonians defence was resolute, but conceding numerous infringements at the breakdown. Moore’s kicks for touch allowed Shire to take advantage of this. After a series of pick and drives in the midfield, Coull’s strong running was rewarded with a try under the posts. Moore added the extra 2 points. Edwards was unlucky not to add to this but veteran whistler Gary Duncan judged the ball to have been passed forward, much to the dismay of the watching crowd. The Super Twa’s enjoyed their the best phases in the final quarter when the tiring Gordonians were unable to cope with the constant attacking threat. Anderson, Morris and MacLennan were untroubled at the back, and looked confident and secure on the counter attack. Morris and MacLennan showed great skill to retain possession but it was Anderson who posed the greatest attacking threat when presented with open space. Anderson sealed the victory, when he touched down in the corner in the dying minutes.

The forwards once again showed their ability to work tirelessly as a unit, the front row dominated the scrums, with McLeman and Coull’s enterprising work in the loose gaining significant yards. Brunton, Henry and Davies in the back row were comfortable in both attack and defence. The backs enjoyed playing behind a pack going forward and against a very mobile and pacy Gordonians backline, the centres and back three deserve credit for the excellent defensive resistance. Roberts marshaled the troops well, with his distribution and tackling being of the highest order, but it was Barry Davies who will have caught the eye of the watching coaching staff. Playing at blindside, Rugby Baz tackled and defended admirably and his support and attacking play in the loose was inspirational.

This game also allowed a number of players to gain game time, with Peter Chalmers, Iain Matchett, Jamie Gordon and Jay Gray enjoying contributing to the forward dominance, with Crockett, Hewitt, David and Hardy demonstrating the strength in depth offered by the Super Twa’s. The league campaign resumes away to Perthshire, and the Super Twa’s will need to be at full strength to secure their first away win in the league.

The re-introduction of Andrew Cook brought an increased dynamism to the front row, his support play and work at the break down was immense and along with brother Steven in the front row they controlled the set pieces with maturity beyond their years. Christie and Cantley both displayed the form that have made them favourites with the Woodside support in previous seasons, each scoring after entrepreneurial play in the backline. Christie’s clever footwork was too much for the watching Strathmore defence, while Cantley’s strong running ensured that the pre-planned move would finish in success.

On a day that the Super Twa’s expected to be under pressure up front, and would rely heavily on the experience of their backline, this youthful Super Twa’s pack demonstrated a hunger to succeed. The pack worked tirelessly as a unit all afternoon and showed the clinical potential that they possess. In the backs, both Moore and Wilson contributed at 9, with Moore reverting to 10 in the second half, once again showing his versatility and demonstrating the strength in depth offered by the Super Twa’s. Andy Manson was awarded Man of the Match and will surely have caught the eye of the watching coaching staff with his aggressive tackling and support play. Super Twa’s Manager, Allan MacCreadie commented after the game, “this is one of the most satisfying performances that the Super Twa’s have had so far this season.” All players showed a great level of commitment and intensity, and hopefully they will be able to take this into next weeks game against local rivals, Gordonians.

Mountain Tumbles as Shire's League Campaign Gets Back on Track

The bonus point try was not long in following and turned out to be the try of the match. From a scrum in Shire's half the backline showed their cutting edge, Snell received the ball and timed his inside pass to winger Healey perfectly leading to a clean line break, the winger was finally brought down in the oppositions 22 on his opposite wing side, from quick ball Snell showed the ball and picked his spot to cruise under the posts. Kinloss now seemed to have lost their composure and disapline totally, and it wasn’t long before another try was scored through McGowan after another textbook no. 8 pick-up. It was now Shire that stepped down a gear, and allowed Kinloss to run straight back at them with some quick tap penalties, edging them within inches of the try line. However Shires defence line held and the referee ended the match confirming a win and a bonus point, boosting Shires chances of climbing back to the top of the league.

Job done but plenty to work on for when better teams stand in Shire's way. A bit more controlled phase play is required and all players must be more physical and dynamic at the breakdowns to create quicker ball which will lead to more scoring opportiunties. The club wishes Ryan Mountain a speedy recovery and everyone hopes to see him back soon.

The Super Twa’s were optimistic about their chances in their first away game of the league campaign. Illness, injury, wedding commitments and representative training all interrupted preparations, but this would not deter the youthful Super Twa’s. Rory Chalmers made his Shire debut against his home town club and Uncle Peter would have been very proud of the way Rory controlled the line out and his strong power play in the loose. The inexperience of the backline was exposed on no fewer than three occasions in the opening twenty minutes and Shire found themselves having conceded three very soft scores albeit to a well drilled Howe outfit. This was to be an incentive for the Shire pack to dominate their ill disciplined opposite 8. The Super Twa’s made significant territory gains from consecutive line outs and the loose play was a significant improvement from the opening quarter. Smith, guesting in the centre, did his best to keep the scoreboard ticking over, although his inconsistency with the boot won and lost him friends throughout the afternoons play. The best chance of the half was a result of the only time when the forwards and backs played together as a unit, Morris at 10 released the waiting Bissett, and had it not been for some unorthodox play at the breakdown, Shire would’ve touched down for their just reward. Half time score 21 – 6.

Shire started the second with greater enthusiasm than that of the first. The champagne moment of the game arrived when a tactical box kick from Dave Roberts at 9, allowed Lachlan Roberts to double his tally for the season. Lachlan’s footwork was immense in this run of play and not content with stepping his opposite winger he also rounded the fullback to ensure Smith had the easy conversion. Maclennan continued to threaten from fullback and his counterattacks were a constant threat to the Howe defence. The third quarter of the game was dominated by errors from both sides, the resulting scrums didn’t help Shire, despite best efforts, the bulkier, chunkier and uglier Howe 8 always had the advantage but Shire would continue to force them into errors with their committed brand of defence. The Howe exposed gaps in the Shire defence, mainly through unfamiliarity, to score a further 3 tries but this scoreline flattered the home team. This under strength side gave a committed performance but unfortunately the experience, organisation and bulk presented by the Fifers proved to be the difference. Final score 42 – 19.

Rory Chalmers was without doubt the Shire man of the match, and the Super Twa’s look forward to continued impressive displays from the Strathclyde University graduate. The Super Twa’s will need to be at full strength in order to have the better of Strathmore 2nd XV who won the side’s previous encounter during the pre-season.

The Super Twa’s welcomed Hillfoots / Alloa to Woodside for their opening league game. The glorious conditions were suited to an open and expansive days play with Shire looking to continue their pre-season form. Due to 1st XV call ups, the front row was required to re-jigged, with Conor Henry and Mark Littlejohn joining Ben Thompson. The heavier Hillfoots pack appeared to have the initial edge with their superior bulk with both sides exchanging unforced errors in the opening minutes before Moore opened the scoring with an easy 3 points from in the front of the posts. Wilson marshaled his pack well and once again proved his ability to box above his weight. Shire continued to pressure the Hillfoots pack, with McLeman and Rodgers being effective in the loose. A familiar lapse of concentration allowed Hillfoots to take a quick line out, and by the time Shire had realized, they had conceded a soft 7 points to their visitors. The game continued with both teams displaying handling errors which prevented either side from gaining any momentum. The untried centre pairing of Davies and Broadribb being more devastating in defence that they were in attack in the opening half hour, were despite best efforts unable to break the gain line with any authority. The experience of Howatt and Pirie proved to be invaluable as they entertained the spectators with their kicking game that allowed valuable terriortory gains. A missed tackle by Moore allowed one of Hillfoots more mobile players to break the gain line, clever support play allowed them to score under the posts again. Mike McLuash finished off some enterprising forward play, to ensure that the Super Twa’s remained in touch at the interval.

The experienced half back pairing of Fergusson and Roberts appeared to be initially rusty, with poor kicking and adventurous passing being their downfall in the early stages of the game. However, when they did find their rhythm they would prove to be the difference between the sides. Support play from Brunton and Rodgers in the back row ensured that the backline would receive quick, clean ball. The handling improved in the second half and allowed Davies and Broadribb to test the Hillfoots defence. This penetration was rewarded when Rodgers scored in the corner after a successful build up over a number of phases involving both forwards and backs. Confidence increased in the Shire side but at times their discipline left a lot to be desired and conceded numerous penalties which will have to be avoided in future weeks. Shire were camped in the Hillfoots ’22 for long periods of the final quarter and with Davies and MacLugash having the best opportunities to put the game beyond Hillfoots. The reliable boot of Fergusson delivered 2 penalties to give Shire a 6 point gap in the dying minutes. The lighter Shire pack were unable to keep Hillfoots out as they claimed a try in the final minute, a missed conversion allowed Shire to celebrate their opening league game with a narrow but deserved 2 point victory.

The Super Twa’s once again showed great determination to overcome the physicality presented by Hillfoots. This team is growing in confidence with every fixture, and the healthy mix of youth, experience and lively personalties is proving to be a successful combination. Despite conceding 2 tries from a lack of concentration, the team continued to execute the basics well and retained their composure throughout. Shire must remain focused for 80 minutes in all of their forthcoming fixtures and they will no doubt fulfill the potential that this side possess. In the backs, Wilson & Roberts each contributed to the game in their own way at 9, with Moore, Broadribb and Fergusson bringing maturity to the proceedings but it was Man of the Match, Ally Rodgers at open-side flanker who will have caught the attention of the coaching staff. His tackling at the fringes, work rate at the break down and support play being particularly outstanding. The Super Twa’s are presented with a free weekend due to Cup Commitments but looking forward to their next fixture away to Howe of Fife on Sat 13 Oct.

The Super Twas sent a shiver through their league opponents when they massacred West Dyce in their penultimate preseason friendly.  Another gloriously sunny day at Woodside allowed the Super Twa’s to reach the magical century against a determined and brave West Dyce.

From the Kick off the Twas pushed hard into West Dyce’s territory and were rewarded with their first try after only 3 minutes on the clock. The pressure continued and several more tries followed from forwards and backs. Handling in the backs was exceptional throughout the day with young Jimmy Crockett playing at stand-off mothered well by Craig Howatt at inside centre. 

The heavy West Dyce pack was a good match for the Twas, however   the fitter and leaner Shire pack started to dominate the scrum late in the second half helped by Hooker Kenny Mathewson winning several against the head. Shire continued to rack up the score but the game never lost its edge with Luke Taylor coming off with a smashed nose after a wild punch from a W. Dyce player.

It was an excellent all round performance with the defence strong throughout the game never allowing the W Dyce players to break through.

The Super Twas fielded several new players who all performed well and even Bruce Strachan managed to get 20mins at the end to show the youngsters that you still can be fit and fat at 45.