For the last 15 aside game of he season Deeside U15’s travelled to St Andrews for the final of the Caledonia Cup against Stirling County.   The U15’s have had a very successful season scoring a total of 501 points for to 129 against in the Caledonia League, National Cup, and Caledonia Cup.   They finished top of the Caledonia League 2nd place playoffs with convincing wins against Dundee and Dunfermaline,  lost the semi-final of the National Cup 7-26 to Currie, the eventual winners,  and narrowly lost out to Stirling County 15-27 in last Sunday’s Caledonia Cup final.  Strength in depth has been a key factor throughout the season and several U14 S2 players have contributed immensely to the success with four playing all or a part of a game in Sunday’s final, and others showing great character to travel and strengthen the squad on the day despite knowing that they were unlikely to get a run out.  All deserve special mention and include Hillier, Hutcheon,  McCance,  Mullins, Taylor and Wood.  Additionally, U15’s Dargie, Dawson, Ferguson deserve equal mention for strengthening the squad on the day and for their contributions throughout the season.

 Deeside started the final well and were first to score after 6 minutes from a penalty converted by Earle-Wright.  Stirling County were in no mood to sit back and came right back into the game with a converted try to take the lead 3-7.    Quick thinking by stand-off Earle-Wright at a tap penalty close in caught Stirling napping, and Earle-Wright barged over for a try out wide, unconverted, but handing an encouraging lead back to Deeside 8-7.  County replied almost immediately with another converted try and the lead changed hands again 14-8.   Deeside also were in no mood to sit back and took the game straight back into the Stirling half and from another quick tap at a penalty Earle-Wright was over again,  converting  his own try to take the half time score 15-14 to Deeside.   Deeside played with a breeze to their backs in the first half and as the wind strengthened in the second it was clear that this was going to be a tough half.  Deeside narrowly failed to capitalise on two try scoring opportunities in the second half crossing the opposition try line twice but on either occasion they were held up or judged to have knocked on at the last second.   

 Stirling played to their strength was clearly a slick but simple offloading game and took both of their opportunities to score, the best coming from a cross field well angled break by their number 10, although neither were converted.  Along with a penalty between both scores, Stirling sealed the game 27-15.   Although Deeside were clearly disappointed to have come so close a winning they can take consolation in the fact they were a worthy opponents to Stirling and based on pervious performances throughout the year against some of Scotland’s other big league clubs Deeside are clearly going places.   In spite of loosing this was a fantastic all round team performance and you can rest assured that Deeside U16’s will be going places next season.   New players are always welcome and various forms of training will continue through the summer break.  The final game of the season will take place n 29th March when an U15’s 7’s squad will travel to the Buckie 7’s.

http://www.deeside-rfc.co.uk/  Deeside squad from:  Buchan, Christie, Crilly, Dargie, Dawson, Earle-Wright, Ferguson, Hart, Hillier, Hendry, Honey, Hutcheon,  Irvine, McAskill, McCance, McGowan, Morris, Mullings, Rennie, Sutton, Taylor, Watt, Wallace, Wood.

Several U14’s playing regularly

Only lost 3 games