S1 & S2 Training for the new Season 2007-2008 is under way every Wednesday at 7.00pm. Details for the new season will soon be posted here.

News Date 3/5/2007:

U13's and U14's At Ellon 7's
Sunday, 29th April 2007

End of Season Report

S1’s & S2’s at Ellon 7's

We took an S1 and S2 team through to the Ellon 7's on Sunday and although a bit short on 7's savvy all the players put in a big effort. There were six teams in each competition which were played on a round-robin basis.

The S2's finished 3rd in theirs with wins over AGSFP 2 and Garioch, a draw with Ellon and losses to AGSFP and Mackie. First up against Grammar and Mackie was always going to be difficult and it wasn't until we played Ellon that we got into our stride and finished off the tournament with the two wins.

The S1's finished 5th with a win over Aberdeen Wanderers but losses to AGSFP, Mackie 1 & 2 and Ellon. They played better than the results might suggest with odd point losses in 2 of the matches. Overall a good day out to a well run tournament from which we can take a lot of positives for our last outing of the season.

End of Season summary

As we reach the end of the season I would just like to thank the players for the effort that has been put in by them this year, and look forward to it continuing next season.

It has been a very successful season not just in terms of results - which is always pleasing - but in the development of the playing squad. The quality of the rugby has gone up as the season has progressed and the numbers registered to the club from an initial 15 to about 50 players!

Our playing record this season is as set out below:

U14's - Played 18, Won 14, Lost 4 & runners-up U14 Highland 7’s. U13's - Played 5, Won 3, Lost 2.

As well as representing the club well on the field, just as important is the players off field representation of the club which this season has been exemplary. Please keep it up!

Eleven of the U14’s squad have been nominated to participate in the U15 Pathway programme which is a stepping stone between club and full Caledonian District Level, starting with a training session on 12th May going through to games against the other Caledonian areas in late August early September. Good luck to them with this.

Training for next season will start around the middle of August, but of course there is nothing to stop you practising your skills during the summer months!!

Photo:

Back l-r: U14's David Macdonald, Calum Fraser, Connor Kelly, Tom Storey, Gavin Hedges, Greg Shand, Robert Tague, Darren Macleod, Kyle Brunton, Corrin Mackenzie.

Front l-r: U13's Stuart Gilfillan, Dodo Porritt, Ross Mackillop, Adam Romaine, Calum Martin, Daniel Hutt, Daniel Thompson, Stuart Watson, Alistair Stewart.

News Date 30/1/2007:

Saturday, 27th January 2007
Highland S1's 27 Highland P7 Minis 27

Sunday, 28th January 2007
Highland 36 Moray 5

Good Experience For Both Squads
A super outing on Saturday for the 1st years and P7 minis. This 11-a-side game ended up 27 each thanks to a last minute try from the Minis. Both sides benefited greatly from this outing. The minis as they will be involved in a least one 10 a-side tournament before the end of the season and in preparation for the step up next season. The 1st years for a number of whom this was their first ever game of rugby so an excellent introductory level. The game was neck and neck all the way, no player could be faulted for the effort they put in. Scorers for the minis included Callum Carson, Andrew Kellock and Rory Carson, with Daniel Hutt, Duncan Seaton and Stuart Watson amongst the scorers for the 1st years. It is hoped to repeat this exercise sooner rather than later to help the progress of these young players.

Highland Have The Edge This Time
Highland U14's resumed their rivalry with Moray today in Inverness , and ran out comfortable winners by 36-5. This was an improved performance from the week before all over the pitch, and with the return of Connor Kelly and Gavin Hedges to the starting line-up we had pace to burn.

Playing up the slope and into the wind in the first-half the plan was to keep the ball in hand which was successfully carried out. An early try from Gavin Hedges converted by Darren Macleod was just reward for some early pressure. Moray though as in previous meetings came back at us and only some strong defending from Kerr Melville and David Macdonald kept them at bay. Before the half was done Gavin had completed a hat-trick of tries to leave us 17-0 up.

If we thought it would be easy from here straight from the KO Moray scored an excellent try in the corner to get themselves right back into the game. This was the wake up call required as it was all Highland till the end of the game. Strong running from Connor some him rewarded with two tries, one converted by Darren. It was fitting that the final try was scored and converted by Darren Macleod a just reward for his strong running and superb defending throughout the game, without doubt his best for Highland .

All eighteen players played their part in the win. Calum Fyffe had a solid debut on the wing and the team was well led by Robert Tague for the day in the absence of Captain Greg Shand who we all wish a speedy recovery too. Up front Alan Edward and Daniel Hutt get better with every game, their strong running a feature of their play. They were ably supported by Tom Storey who runs and tackles for the full sixty minutess and has a happy knack of stealing opposition ball.

Next up for the U14's are Nairn (A) on 10th February followed hopefully by Caithness on the 17th February.

The S2 Squad pictured at Ellon, 12th November 2006
Back Row Left - Darren MacLeod, Connor Kelly, Doneil Esson, Tom Storey, Greg Shand (C), Liam Lawless, Robert Tague, Gavin Hedges, Alistair Stewart
Front Row Left - Caneron MacDonald, Oliver Barrett, Daniel Thompson, Calum Fraser, David MacDonald, Shaun Cameron, Corrin MacKenzie

Ellon 17 Highland 21
The Meadows, Ellon
Sunday, 12th November 2006

Report from John Carson

Highland held on for a good win over a strong Ellon side. In a game played in 3x20minute periods Highland had to defend with a lot of passion for the last 10 minutes to come away with a victory.

It all started well with Greg Shand scoring after a 40m dash to the line, ably converted by Robert Tague. Early in the second third Gavin Hedges looked to have scored but was judged not to have grounded the ball over the line. Ellon cleared the ball only for it to be retrieved by Calum Fraser who fed the ball to Corrin Mackenzie to power over the line. Robert with his kicking boots firmly on again converted.

A period of Ellon pressure saw Liam Lawless go down with a suspected broken arm holding the game up for several minutes whilst he was treated and made comfortable. Fortunately it turned out to be a severe sprain of the wrist, we hope to welcome him back within a couple of weeks. From the ensuing penalty Ellon scored their first try to leave a score of 14-5 going into the final third.

An early Greg Shand try and Robert Tague conversion in the last period looked to have wrapped up the win for Highland, but Ellon came right back into it with a try and then ensued that period of pressure on the Highland line. Ellon scored with the last move of the game a deserved consolation for the effort they had put in.

This was a closely fought affair between two evenly matched teams, setting it up nicely for the rematch in Inverness in the New Year. Particularly pleasing for Highland was the performance of the seven 1^st year players in the squad who didn’t look out of place in this company, although one of them needs to learn to tie his bootlaces if he wants to play in front of this referee again!!

The forwards went especially well in the lineout with Tom Storey winning all his own and several of the oppositions throw-ins. In the backs the pace of Connor Kelly troubled the Ellon defence and if we can get the ball out to him and Darren Macleod on the other wing a bit quicker more tries will come.