The club received their reward for a successful winning streak against Hawick Linden (37-6), away to Ross High (15-10) and league-leaders Marr (24-20) to earn 14 points from a possible 15, a commendable discipline record (no red or yellow cards in the month) and in recognition of the club’s increasingly successful five year rugby development plan.

For five years PL have been taking rugby in primary and high schools across the Prestonpans area and, in addition to club development officer Dougie Thomson, they recently appointed player/club member Mark Morgan as development officer for the East Lothian Ladies team.

The development of women’s rugby at the club is set to expand with plans for a girls’ tournament to join the club’s age-grade 10-a-side competition.

Thomson, said: “We’ve got 200 kids playing rugby in the Prestonpans area from P1s to U18s, week in week out.

“The kids love rugby and a lot of hard work gets put into our youth development scheme, it’s good to see the appreciation of this hard work from Scottish Rugby.

“Two of our Colts players, Raymond MacKie and Mark Cunningham, were recently called up to the first XV. Mark was part of our youth programme right from primary school which is fantastic to see”.

An emphasis on rugby development has seen success permeate into the club’s youth ranks which saw the Colts win Edinburgh & Lothian League Division 2 earlier this year while the second XV currently top East Reserve League 3.

Shona Brash, club president of Preston Lodge, said: “Our club, like many others, is based on the commitment of volunteers and it’s good to see that these people are not going un-noticed.

“The youth development scheme has had a ripple-like effect through the club and there is a very positive feeling from this progress”.

	As Club of the Month winners, Preston Lodge are now automatically short-listed for the Club of the Season award which will announced and presented at the annual Scottish Club Rugby Awards Dinner, held at Murrayfield on Friday 20 May 2011.
	For further information on the dinner please contact the Murrayfield Experience office on 0131 346 5250 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Scottish Rugby Club of the Month award is based on three key criteria – performance, growing the game and discipline. The award is determined by a Scottish Rugby panel after nominations from Scottish Rugby Council members, Rugby Development staff and the rugby community. The club receive a £1000 cheque from Scottish Rugby and a commemorative certificate to mark their award.