Deeside Under 18s travelled to Gordonstoun in extremely windy conditions and with recent rain having threatened to cause the match to be postponed through waterlogging. In the event, although Deeside never fully came to terms with the wind, it was the organisation of Gordonstoun that was their undoing. Gordonstoun claimed two tries in each half and ran out winners by 22 ponts to 5. Gordonstoun had a large pack which worked well together, with driving play close to the breakdown and when the ball was released to the backs, slick handling behind dummy runners created overlaps out wide. It was two overlaps that resulted in Gordonstoun's first half tries. Playing into the wind in the first half, Gordonstoun kept the ball in hand and recycled possession to keep the play in Deeside's half. Deeside tried to counter in similar fashion when kicking for position would have served them better. In the second half Deeside was playing catch-up rugby and the pressure of forcing the play led to Gordonstoun's tries in that half.
Against a better drilled side, Deeside nevertheless kept trying. In the forwards Murray Hoare and Chris Ballentyne put in some important tackles; Callum Ferguson was successful in stripping the ball from the opposition and he and Angus Wallace were ever-willing to carry the ball into the heart of the defence; and Angus Hart gave his most powerful performance of the season. Wing Lewis Reid had few opportunities in attack, but gave a strong defensive display, while Sam Morris at full back showed good positional awareness and was sound under kicks. However, it was when Deeside worked as a team that they were at their best and both halves finished with Deeside battering away close to the Gordonstoun tryline. In the first half the defence held out, but close to full time Deeside got no more than they deserved when scum half Glen Taylor spotted a gap and dived over for the try. The conversion by Sam Morris was held up by the wind and fell short.
Deeside from: M. McAskill, A. Hart, A. Wallace, S. Beatie, C. Ferguson, T. Christie, M. Hoare, M. Diack, G. Taylor, G. Watt, L. Reid, T. Chochrane-Dyet, H. Macaulay, C. Long, S. Morris, C. Ballentyne, F. Gordon, O. Pickering