Midi section games postponed

Sunday dawned cold and frosty and this meant that the Midi games scheduled – against Hawick, Linlithgow and Ayr – were all postponed. The frustration at these postponements was increased ten-fold when at 1pm the pitches had thawed sufficiently for a contact session to go ahead. Damned if you do….damned if you don’t!!

Details of the U-15 and U-16 cup games have yet to be finalised – hopefully there will be a decision this week.

This weekend is another international weekend with Scotland playing on Sunday against France. Despite the fact that several of the Midi age group purchased tickets weeks ago for the game it seems that those in the U-15 and U-16 age groups may well have to play in their respective knock out competition games and miss the international. Quite how this comes to be no one knows especially as the SRU strive to get folks to buy tickets for the games…!! Watch this space!

Midi and School results

Biggar High U-16 28 v Larbert 5
This was the eagerly-awaited quarter final of the Brewin Dolphin National Bowl and saw Biggar host Larbert High at Biggar on Friday.
Conditions were not promising all week but the game went ahead nevertheless. A notable absentee was breakaway forward Ryan Anderson who recently picked up a very nasty facial injury at Lanarkshire training. The school and club wishes him the best of luck for a speedy recovery.
Larbert became one of the SRU Schools of Rugby this session and although this is for S1 it is clear that the school plays good rugby, with their big pack setting out their stall early. Larbert proved adept at the ‘pick and go’ tactic but Biggar were well served in defence by both James Gray and
Kieran Scott who were fairly uncompromising in their tackling. The Larbert strength told eventually however as they continued to take the game to Biggar to score a try to go 5-0 ahead.
This had the desired effect on Biggar who began to play better rugby, tries by Reece Cullen and then Aird Jardine both converted by Jack Warnock putting Biggar 14-5 ahead at the break.
Despite deteriorating conditions Biggar still tried to play open rugby and their endeavour was
rewarded as Danny McAllister and then Craig Stewart both crossed for tries converted again by Warnock.
Larbert were unable to add to their tally and so it is Biggar High who progress to the semi final stage. As yet their opponents are unknown, the only other quarter final tie to have been played seeing trinity from Edinburgh get the better of Westhill from Aberdeen.

U-15’s v Uddingston
As the league season continues to be affected by the weather Biggar were delighted to host Uddingston on Sunday, this Biggar’s first competitive outing since last December. Numbers at training have been constant through this long spell of inactivity but the boys have been desperate for a game and this undoubtedly told as they played some great rugby to win by 33-21.
A debut at stand off saw Simon Denholm excel and his lead meant that tries were scored by Liam Black (3), Richard Morgan (2) and Liam McGarry. James Barr added 2 conversions for the total.
A cracking result and one which should give the boys a boost as they try to complete their league programme. This continues this Sunday with Linlithgow due to visit Hartreemill.

The U-16’s recorded a good 33-25 win over Falkirk while the S1 side fared less well as they were outplayed by Dunfermline.

Development Officer Update

After a meeting this morning between Andy, the Vice-President and I it has been agreed that in the best interest of both parties Andy will stay in post until the beginning of March.
This will ensure that our commitments up until then are fulfilled properly, and will enable us to have all necessary documents in place for a new D.O. when appointed.
Dr. Doug Ward CBE.
President BRFC

Youth section news

There was no rugby action for anyone at the weekend as once again frost bound pitches at Currie and Portobello prevented play for the Youth sides on Sunday. These postponements are likely to rule out full completion of the Edinburgh U-15 and U-16 league programmes as the deadline for this competition is 19th February.
The sides will then enter into cup competitions the draws for which will be made on the 20th – details to follow whenever the draw is published.

There is some great news about the club’s Colts XV who finished top of their preliminary section of the Edinburgh Cup. They are now through to the Shield section although the next tie is currently delayed awaiting other sections to complete their programme of games.
In addition to this the top 4 finish in the EDU U-18 league means that they have qualified for the U-18 National Youth Cup; the first round of which is on 18th February 2012 and will be a home game against Hamilton. This is sure to be a touch encounter and will make for another exciting day at Hartreemill as the 1st XV face Peebles in Premier C action on the same day.
Meanwhile, and not to be outdone, Biggar High School’s U-16 side face Larbert High on Friday afternoon in the quarter finals of the Brewin Dolphin Bowl. The game will be played at Hartreemill and it is hoped that there will be a good turnout of supporters for this match. The winners will gain a place in the semi-finals against one of the following school, Trinity (Edinburgh), Westhill (Aberdeen), Plockton (Highlands), Madras (Fife), Shawlands (Glasgow) and Hawick (Borders).
Good luck to all involved.

Advance notice is given of a Girls Open Day scheduled for Sunday 19th February (1-4pm). This will be led by DO Andy Tither but will feature other club coaches as well. There is currently a strong group of S1 girls playing at Biggar High School and the hope is that this day will provide a spark for others to join.
The U-16 side achieved considerable success last season but with the squad diminished as they could not compete at U-18 level there is a pressing need to rejuvenate the girls section.
Central to this would be the involvement of a Girls coach. Anyone with an interest in driving what could be a very successful group forwards would be made more than welcome. It may be of course that the role could be shared, so please….think about it and if interested get in touch with the club.

The Girls Day will be one of the last official events Andy will attend in his capacity as DO as he tendered his resignation last week. A combination of reasons convinced him to leave although he has thoroughly enjoyed his work with the youngsters at the club.
He will return south where he hopes to pick up a similar role in local schools.
The club join in according Andy a sincere vote of thanks for his efforts and wish him well.
The post has once again been advertised and interested parties should check the SRU website for details.

Andy Tither Resignation

I regret to have to announce that our Development Officer, Andy Tither, has tendered his resignation and will be leaving us with effect from 29th February.

I am sure that everyone at Hartree Mill will join me in wishing Andy every success in his future career and offer our sincere thanks for all his hard work with the surrounding schools and at the Club.

Ian Conn,

Hon Secretary

Match report 22nd January 2012

There was no 1st XV game on Saturday and so the spotlight fell on the 2nds and Colts XV’s both of whom were in action at the Showfield.
In bitterly cold and windy conditions all players and match officials deserve great credit for their efforts. The wind was so strong and biting that the Colts referee was unable to record the last two Biggar scores as his hands were numb and virtually unworkable!
The 2nd XV managed to get the better of their visitors from Musselburgh. In a close fought contest Biggar opened with an early score but couldn’t make their pressure tell, Musselburgh coming back to tie the scores with a first half try of their own.
The 7-7 score lasted until almost the death when, after both sides had kicked and missed penalties, Richard Peacock eventually notched the score which put Biggar ahead at 10-7. This was just enough and the win pushes the Biggar side into joint 4th spot in the RBS Reserve League Division 2. There are still 6 games to go however so things could get better still. Clear at the top and uncatchable are Aberdeen and Selkirk A who will deserve their promotion to Division 1.
The colts hosted Livingston U-18’s in the Edinburgh Regional Cup. Having put Ross High to the sword last week the boys were keen to maintain their top spot with a second victory. That they achieved with some ease, Livingston having a really difficult task in attempting to stem the tide as the wind swept play downfield in the first half. Things didn’t improve much after the break as Livi turned to get the benefit of the gale but by that time the home side were in control of proceedings and resolute in defence.
The Colts travel to face Portobello next week for what is their last cup game and with both the U-15’s and U-16’s also in action against the Edinburgh club on Sunday it will be interesting to see which club has the bragging rights come Sunday evening.

Sunday should have seen the S1 and U-16 sides in action at Dunfermline and Biggar respectively but with waterlogged pitches in Fife making play impossible and Cambuslang short of players neither game went ahead. Training was the order of the day instead.

U-16 v Penicuik

The Under 16’s were in action and again many thanks to Richard Adams for this report.
Biggar U16 61 Penicuik U16 7
After the festive break Biggar travelled away to Penicuik to complete the league season. All thought that it would take a while to get back into the flow of rugby after such a long break but Biggar were also looking to put things right after their last outing ended in defeat.
The worry of too much Christmas dinner causing a lack of fitness and skill within the Biggar team were brushed away within seconds as the Penicuik kick off went straight into the hands of Graig Stewart who ran all the way to the try line but knocked on. This was a clear sign of things to come as Pencuik simply could not get out of their twenty two. After doing everything but score, Biggar did finally cross their opponent’s line through Ryan Anderson. The visitors continued their dominance with Scott Graham scoring moments later and completed their impressive start after a surging run from Grant Hamilton, giving the away side an early 19 point lead with Jack Warnock again kicking well.
The points stopped flowing as Pencuik seemed to wake from their Christmas hangover and despite better play from the home side, Biggar added seven more points to their tally when Richard Adams scored and Warnock again converted.
The game then heated up a bit. Pencuik attacked Biggar and pushed them back, taking the spring out the visitors step. Penalty after penalty was given away by Biggar and they were pinned back and it allowed the home team to get on the scoreboard with a converted try from a long throw at a line out close to the line.
Biggar replied though with a try of their own from Danny McAllister after a back move worked perfectly. The first half ended as Biggar made the score 40-7 at the break with another try, this time from Warnock. However, Biggar were accused of chatting back to the ref and captain Anderson  was put in the sin bin before the interval.
The second half was much the same as the first with Biggar knocking hard at the Penicuik door in hope of more tries. McAllister scored again, Steven Campbell got a try and William Cooper got his first Biggar try with a fine run down the wing. Warnock continued his fine kicking from 2011 to make the score look even more emphatic.
A good, comfortable win for Biggar who will likely finish in the top four in the league, meaning there will be tougher games to come but, nevertheless, a very fine start to 2012 for the Under 16s.

U-15 and U-16 games this Sunday

Sundays U-15 and U-16 league games against Portobello both succumbed to water-logger pitches and this pretty much ends their rugby action for this year, training will resume in January.

U-16’s Boroughmuir

Following last Sunday's epic U-16 clash between Biggar and Boroughmuir - read Richard Adams excellent report on the Midi page - Aird received an e-mail from Boroughmuir coach David Ladd. Well done boys!

Hi Aird

Can you please pass on my regards to your team and coaches. Sunday was an enjoyable day (mostly). It was hard fought and one of the best games of rugby we have had the pleasure to play this season. Your players are a credit to the club. I suspect your team will be disapointed by the draw after playing so well. I hope circumstances will allow a friendly at some point later in the year.

Regards

David