Well Done the Seconds !!
Crieff & Strathearn 2 XV 40 Hillfoots 17
The “Terrible Twos “ as the clubs 2 xv are jokingly referred to , proved more than a point last week. This is primarily a social team who do not play in a league but enjoy battle with like minded opponents . Saturdays titanic struggle was against old rivals Hillfoots who had won the seasons opener against the Blue and Golds by a mere two points. In fine conditions it was the Tillicoultry men who quickly stamped their authority in no uncertain manner , racing to a 17 point lead in the first twenty minutes . Showing tremendous spirit with a stupendous fight back , things rapidly changed . Inspired by skipper Peter Flett the pack began to dominate with the veteran Crambs showing rock like steadiness and the indomitable Pierre Leger bursting through the opposition with frequent regularity . With veteran centres Mayall and Nunn causing havoc and the effervescent new man Gary Honey buzzing around from the base of the scrum , the Blue and Golds were soon back in the reckoning .Craig Wishart , making a guest appearance , ignited the performance and with Wilson and the Murchie brothers adding their piece , the tries began to come . In a second half which was all Crieff , there was no fight back from the men from the other side of the Ochils and an emphatic 40 – 17 win was sweet revenge for the earlier failing against their old foes
Crieff & Strathearn 2 XV 24 Hillfoots Cast Tups 26
Saturday 5 Sep 09
Excellent game which saw the TT’s well in the lead at half time (16-10). A bit of fatigue in the second half led to some poor decision-making resulting in Hillfoots clawing their way back. Despite this it was a great team effort by Crieff. The pack was shown the way by Pierre (FFF) Legere rooting out the ball like a boar after truffles (whatever they are) creating an opportunist try for Jimmy Coldwell by snatching the ball out of the Hillfoots fly-half at the base of their scrum. The young(ish) backs led by the indefatigable Posh George were in great form displaying what could only be termed champagne rugby (or at least sparkling wine) which led to the first half batch of tries. Le petit generale, Duncan Murchie was back playing and in great form, apart from a SMALL LOSS of concentration in the second half which saw an opportunity for a try thrown away. Something I am sure Duncan will be desperate to forget, but something we will make sure to mention at every opportunity…we’re supportive that way. All together a great day’s rugby, enjoyed by all. Man of the match Jimmy Coldwell. Special thanks to Italian Tony for medical support, Craig and Sandy’s weans for running touch, and the Curly Coo for the after match drinking venue in Crieff. Next fixture in two weeks time at the Braidhaugh – probably against Hillfoots.
The Mighty 2nd XV
Crieff and Strathearns 2nd XV are the social side of Crieff and Strathearn RFC. Our aim is provide a place for new, younger players to find there feet in a senior team and a place for the old gits to fritter away their last remaining brain cells tottering around the pitch trying to relive past glories.
All are welcome to come along and play or support us. We typically have a game every two weeks during the rugby season (sometimes more if our match convenor fouls up...) against a range of teams from Fife to France. We also have the occasional tour; Mull, Inverness, Paris...all of which have been a great success and only resulted in a couple of hospital visits...
In conjunction with the main club we have a range of social functions throughout the year, Burns night, ceilidhs, BBQ's, cheese and wine, Xmas dances etc, all well attended and great fun. We have a number of great sponsors (formerly, Gilbert, proprietor of the Tower Hotel in Crieff.) "We had a great partnership, sponsor and sponsees, it worked very well for us both and we are all richer for the relationship" a slightly camp insider was heard to say.
We are now looking forward to another fun season of , if not champagne rugby, at least sparkling wine rugby, and are actively seeking to secure a new main shirt sponsor for the 2nd XV.
Another great contributor to the 2nd XV has been Micheal Lynch, proprietor of James Cottage B&B another superb place to stay if you are planning a trip to Crieff. Micheal organised the recent 2nd XV tour to Paris, which was superb.
New Captain announced.........
After a tremendously successful season as 2nd XV Captain, James "Java Jim" Coldwell has decided to step aside and let one of the younger players take the reins as skipper for season 2008 to 2009. Jim has been a very strong, tenacious but above all hairy captain and will be difficult to replace. Thanks Jim!
New skipper Ian Brisco takes over - Good Luck Ian! ................
__
__________________________________________________________________
Saturday 1st March
Paisley Penguins p p p p p p p p p pick up a winwin.
Paisley Penguins 45 Crieff 2XV 5
The 2s place a lacklustre game on Saturday against good travellers Paisley. The old rivals met once more at Braidhaugh on a windy afternoon for a lesson in rugby by the Paisley veterans. In a game played with the usual good spirit, the Paisley men showed their usual well drilled routines to run in a siccession of tries in each half. The Crieff boys were able to claw back a concellation try shortly after half time but were outplayed by the visitors.
Crieff's performance seemed to be due to the "out of practice" feeling after the long break and the team would benefit from a squad session to bind the team back together.
Watch this space...........
Saturday 23rd February
Dundee Medics
No remedy for Crieff 2nd XV vs Medics..........
Dundee Medics 16 Crieff 2nd XV 0
I know it sounded like 16 anyway!.........................
The young medic boys had a romp on the Braidhaugh pitch and it was simply attempting to tackle the powerfull runners around the chest instead of round the legs which caused most of the pain. The Medics ran around the side of rucks and mauls and powered up the centre, very seldom using the wide ball to increase their scoring. Come on lads! Lets get back to were we were!
Saturday 17th November
Bitter Pill for Crieff 2nd XV vs Medics..........
Crieff 2nd XV get plastered after medics game........
Crieff inject rucking lesson to Medics students.........
No remedy for Crieff 2nd XV vs Medics..........
Dundee Medics 31 Crieff 2XV 20
The seconds travelled up to Dundee to play the Dundee Medics (formerly "The potbellies".) All traces of belly had certainly disappeared and the young Dundonian crew gave Crieff a good battle. Crieff were very clear on tactics from the first whistle and embarked on a war of attrition, keeping the ball mainly in the forwards and using their superior weight to ruck and maul the opposition for the entire match. All credit to the young Medics, who defended superbly, always on the backfoot, but still managed to turn any mishap by the Crieff warriors into breakaway tries. Crieff's first try was a push over score by the pie man Mark Dow, assisted by the unusually generous hands of Peter Flett. Next over, for the first of two tries, and man of the match, was scrum-half, Al Niven with a glorious sniping run up the blind side and score in the corner. Skipper Coldwell saw red after constant Medic infringements, followed immediately by Yellow and 10 minutes "rest" in the sin-bin. The petrous Sam Cramb, Pete Cramb and Martin Lutti in the front row were like rampaging bulls, with many penetrating runs, a fearsome sight for players and spectators alike. The front rows' combined weight of 75 stones was too much for the Medic pack and they were overpowered at every turn . Lutti's great performance culminated in a charge into the end zone and a slam dunk for a dubious, but given try. Minutes before the final whistle, the constant pressure paid off again when Flett gifted a try to Niven from a 5 metre scrummage.
The young players who have joined the Twos this season have been improving in confidence game by game and again had great performances, noticeably so from Josh Sheerin, Andrew Coffey, Ian Brisco and Andrew Cooper.
The next match for the Second XV is on the 8th December against Glasgow University at Braidhaugh.(Kick off 2pm) To avoid the huge crowds, come early and enjoy some Braidhaugh hospitality!
Saturday 3rd November
Hillfoots XV 36 Crieff 2XV 25
The second fifteen had a good battle with Hillfoots yesterday finally losing out 25 - 36. Missed tackles in the first half let the Hillfoots backs through for a couple of easy tries. Crieff rallied in the second half with some great input from the younger members of the team who were superb but it was not enough to make up the difference. Given that Hillfoots appeared with some players from their other teams it was a spirited performance from Crieff who did not give right to the final whistle.
Saturday 20th October
Crieff 2nd XV - 29 Hillfoots - 0
Crieff 2nd XV try bonanza.
Saturday’s 2nd XV fixture against Hillfoots saw an amazing 26 players travel to Tillicoultry to play another round of what has become a regular fixture.
Captain James Coldwell had difficult selection choices to make with such an abundance of players and opted for “age before beauty” approach. With Veterans Kerr, Ashworth and Sam Cramb forming the front row, the forwards stamped their authority on the game from the first to last whistle with a strong rucking game, so far unseen. The change in forward play in terms of rucking and mauling was very apparent and the plentiful ball to the pacy Crieff backs paid off in the first try by father/son combination Wilson Jnr, in this very exciting 5 try game.
Minutes later, Bob Kerr slipped over on the blind side for a staggering 2 yard try, his first in approximately 37 years. With Hillfoots on the back foot, Crieff took advantage and kept the pressure on throughout the game. Sustained pressure at Hillfoots 22 metre line saw Temple make a break from the maul and jinked his way past several defenders who looked as surprised as he at his try scoring position. With McNeil slotting the conversion, Crieff went into half time with an unheard of 17-0 lead.
The second half saw some changes with the under 18 players replacing some of the older heads. The speed and fitness in the back line paid dividends with the backs chasing ball and continuing the second half with the strength of the first. Crieff looked at risk for perhaps the first time in the game when Hillfoots threatened the Crieff line, but were saved by a superb solo effort from Niven. With a break off the blind side of a 5 metre ruck, Niven set off like Ben Johnston and finished like Sally Gunnel for a full length of the pitch break-away try converted by McNeil. In the last minute of the game young Mcintosh went over for a super try securing a well deserved 29-0 victory for the Crieff side. 2nd XV sponsor Gilbert Edgar of the Tower Hotel said he was, “Absolutely deligted at the teams’ superb performance”. Celebrations continued after the game as the club welcomed visitors to watch the Final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup and join in the "Octoberfest". Thanks to all those who supported the club for this social event.
----------
The next fixture for the 2nd XV is the return fixture on the 3rd of November at home against Hillfoots.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 6th October
Edinburgh Northern 24 - Crieff 2nd XV 12
Crieff 2nd XV run in the tries!
Another sunny autumn fixture at Braidhaugh saw the 2nd XV take on their old rivals Edinburgh Northern. In a good spirited performance by both teams a total of 6 tries were scored with Edinburgh emerging victorious 24 to 12. Captain D.B. Milne led a Crieff side bolstered by a plethora of under 18 players, (4 who graciously agreed to play for the shorthanded Edinburgh Northern visitors.)
Notably, Josh Shearon scored two tries for Northern and Rowan McIntosh played a tenacious game at scrum half to take Edinburgh's man of the match. For Crieff, veteran Nic Mayall ran in a try to open the scoring with youngster Andrew Cooper scoring the second. Despite the two superb tries by Crieff, handling errors in the back line ultimately lost them victory to Northern in a closely fought match.
Crieff's front 5 (with a combined age of 225) had a good strong performance with Ian Brisco injecting some youth and a firey performance at flank to take Crieff's man of the match. These enthusiastic performances by the 2nd XV under 18 players are encouraging and as experience playing at Club level increases, should provide a good feeder platform to the 1st XV.
Training for both 1st and 2nd XVs is on Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm. All welcome!
----------
The next fixture for the 2nd XV is on the 20th of October, away, against old friends, Hillfoots. Meeting at the Tower Hotel at 13:00. After the Hillfoots game the club are celebrating the Final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup at a Braidhaugh "Octoberfest" where the game will be screened. All welcome.
Saturday 22nd September
Blairgowrie 27 Crieff 7
With so many of the old guard still unavailable after a long summer sitting around doing nothing, a very youthfull 2nd XV headed up to Blairgowrie hoping for a close contest after last seasons two matches finished with a win apeice. Some excellent Crieff defence held out against a much bigger Blair attack, the visitors trailing by only 7-0 at the turn. The pace of game saw players coming and going at regular intervals. The lack of any continuity certainly didnt help the Crieff side and it looked like the Blairgowrie boys were going to pile up the points. Crieff, however, rallied well and scored an excellent late try through man of the match Andrew Coffey. Temple converted. There is now a very good mix in the second fifteen between youth and experience and it is hoped that the first win of the season will come soon. the next fixture is on the 6th October at the Braidhaugh against Edinburgh Northern.