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Friendly Thursday 4th |
1st XV | 10 - 8 | Dundee High School | KO 7:30pm |
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Friendly Wednesday 10th
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1st XV | 42-10 | Howe of Fife | KO 7:30pm |
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Friendly Wednesday 17th
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1st XV | p-p | Aberdeen Medics | KO 7:30pm |
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Friendly Wednesday 24th
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1st XV | 13-12 | Aberdeen Grammer School | KO 7:30pm |
14/08
RHC Cougars 2nd XV 0 - 11
Strathmore
With a few late call off's 18 fit Blacks travelled down to play Cougars 2nd XV and had a well matched game. The new faces in the squad made a great contribution fitting in well. With the Cougars sitting three divisions higher the Blacks new they were in for a hard afternoon but they defended well frustrating the opposition into giving away quite a few penalties, young Brad McKenzie slotting one over to give us a 3 point advantage by half time.
The second half was equally close, the blacks got a try in the corner and a converted penalty. The Cougars continued to work hard and got close on two occasions but just could not get through a good Strathie defence.
Deke, now to be known as James May AKA Captain Slow, Beyonce AKA Dave Cashley and Road Runner completed the first leg of The Big Strathie Bike Ride cycling into Union Park just as the Cougars kicked off, well done to coach Dave Brown who won the first 50/50 guessing the correct mileage for the ride at 73.2 miles. To learn more and enter the Hillfoots 50/50 CLICK HERE
The next match is at home against a Gordonians 1st XV preparing for another season in National 3, this match will be great preparation for the visit of St. Andrews the following week.
Strathmore 37 - 5 St. Andrews
The Uni Boys, not back for another three weeks, fielded a pretty makeshift side but it proved to work well for them as they held the Blacks to a 8 - 5 for most of the first half and started of the strongest in the 2nd half
Hillfoots 15 - 18 Strathmore
The Blacks played uphill for the 1st half of what was a closely contested match on a warm humid afternoon in Tillycoultry. Strathie went ahead first with a well struck penalty from the boot of young Brad McKenzie but it wasn't long till Hillfoots struck back with an unconverted try in the corner
Strathmore 1st XV 41 - 13 Glenrothes
Coach Dave Brown went into this in a confident mood and it was certainly justified as a try right at the start of each half set the tone for this match. Glenrothes battled hard all the way to the end and were rewarded for there efforts with a try on the final play
Stirling Uni 13 - 23 Strathmore
You never know what to expect from the Uni sides esp with the influx of Freshers and this match was no different, a complete change from last years squad. Some really good players but the majority of the team were not up for the physical in your face senior rugby. The bonus point was secured but at a high cost with Colin Bell off in the first 20 min with a broken arm receiving a kick in the arm from one of the students after going down on a ball.
For more see the
The Blacks dominated this game from start to finish frustrating the men from Grangemouth giving plenty for the enthusiastic crowd to shout about. An early penalty from Wood's settling the team, it was a blustery day and only one more kick was achieved during the match an excellent conversion - again from the boot of Gary Wood.
For more see the
Ross Sutherland 0 - 27 Strathmore
A glorious sunny day in Invergordon saw the wind get stronger as the hours went by. Not the finest game by anybody's standards as both teams were lacking regulars through injuries and Strathie via Gus's wedding. Ross started the match well and had plenty of possession but the Blacks defence was staunch. Strathie took the lead via a Gary Wood penalty then followed two unconverted tries putting the half time score at 0-10
For more see the
1st XV 39 - 5 Harris Acd FP's
Another very tough game for the Black's with Harris pressing from the off. It was clear to see why the Harris men have been getting some good results and with a tight first half at 13-5 they certainly were not out of it. During the second half Strathie certainly played well and scored some well worked tries. Garry Robb may have been 'Dick Off The Day' for his showboating but his try was good.
The St. Andrews match will be a tough affair so get along next week and support the boy's
For more indepth report see
A tremendous team performance saw off the students who were faster and possibly a little fitter. The Blacks knew they were going to be up against it and from the kick off Wendy was under pressure but the big Kirrie lad is made of strong stuff and took it all in his stride. The students were pressing for their first try with just a few meters to go when young Brad McKenzie's interception and run up the pitch changed the match.
The students still pressed hard but the Blacks defence was good forcing the students into making errors which Brad converted into 3 points each, the return of captain Jamie Wilson after a lengthy spell injured added a much missed dimension to the forward pack
For a more in depth report see
Another staunch defence from the Blacks defence saw Dundee High thwarted as they pushed hard for the whole match enjoying the majority of the possession. For once young Brad McKenzie had left his kicking boots in the changing room or the score could have been higher.
It was a close match all the way through and the High School could have won it with the last kick of the match but their penalty attempt went wide by a couple of feet to the relief to the large Strathie support.
For a more in depth report see
Strathmore 12 - 12 Hillfoots
Hillfoots took advantage of the Black's rustiness having not played a competitive match sine the beginning of November. With this match being a double header the pressure was on from the start with Hillfoots scoring an unconverted try in the opening minutes. The boot of Gary Black put the home team in front with two well struck penalties before Hillfoots struck again this time with a converted try.
The Strathie men had the majority of the possession in the second half despite playing into the cold north sea wind and had 4 attempts over the line held up and string of 8 scrums under the posts, each time Hillfoots cleared the Black's came right back but could just not get a clear cut try. The boot of Gary Black struck again twice to level the match. The last few minutes saw Hillfoots manage to get back up the pitch and they had a chance to take all the spoils with the last kick of the match but the youngster couldn't handle the pressure and kicked well wide
1st XV 29 - 12 Ross Sutherland
The men in Black made heavy weather of a resurgent Ross Sutherland who certainly did not play like a team at the bottom of the league. With the half time score at 12 - 7 the Ross men were not out of it and started the second half well but some bizarre passing on the way to the try line cost them dearly as Strathie slowly started to find some form and increase the advantage.
This was the last home match now we need to get as many people as possible out to all the matches starting with Grangemouth next week, it's a big bus and there will be space, please contact Dave or Jason at the club at training to book your place. If you like getting up early in the morning the Big Bike Ride departs at 4:00am from the clubhouse heading to the Tay Bridge, Kinross, Kincardine Bridge and Grangemouth.
Grangemouth 0-29 1st XV
Conditions couldn't have been much worse for this match, with two pitch inspections the pitch was largely covered in snow and icy cold water. This didn't deter the Strathie men who made their intentions clear from the off and went into the second half with a 0-12 lead.
To their credit Grangemouth turned it on in the second half and looked the more likely to score. Strathie's perseverance and staunch defence paid of and after a well worked converted try the referee blew full time slightly early to get everybody inside and warm.
The 1st xv get a break for the next couple of weeks to prepare for the last 4 league matches which are all away from home. Clear your diary and get out and support your team!
Aberdeen Uni 5 - 26 1st XV
The Students wanted to cancel the match as they didn't have a team, but they produced a fine performance in a match which was much closer than the score line suggests. The blacks struggled to get into this game properly and got to half time at 5-14 with the students starting to take the ascendancy which they continued into the second half.
The blacks defended well and kept the students out but it was not till the last 15 minutes that they finally ended the students resolve with two well worked tries.
Harris Acd FP's 5 - 33 1st XV
It was the warmest day of the year so far and the men from Harris were up for this match, they started well actively frustrating the men in Black, after just 5 minutes they scored a well worked try from the scrum on the blind side. It was in the corner and that made for to tight an angle for the kicker and they were limited to the 5 points. It took 15 minutes for Strathie to hit back with big Wendy smashing through a hole in the defence with Woods conversion and another try just before half time had the Harris men arguing with themselves and the spectators.
The second half had Harris playing up the hill and this eventually told on their fitness level and tempers started to get frayed, Strathie had Woods yellow carded twice for the first time this year for retaliation and Harris had a man off as well. The men in Black persisted with their challenge and got the required bonus point with ten minutes to go, after that the Harris heads dropped and Strathie were well in control and as well as scoring another five points it could have been much more but for a few mistakes.
For more please see the full Match Report
Glenrothes 9 - 8 1st XV
A completely horrible afternoon and it wasn't just the torrential down pour of rain, but any thought the Black may have had that the Glen's season was over and they had nothing to play for was made clear from the start. The Glens charged up the field and were close to getting a try but for the usual staunch Blacks Defence but a penalty was conceded and the Blacks were 3-0. It could have been 12-0 but they missed one. Strathie only really got forward three times, scoring a try from one and having a clear one disallowed but with in form kicker Black out for the remainder of the season, however Mitchell made amends and slotted an excellent penalty kick through to get the blacks within one point.
The Glens responded and kept the Blacks in their own half for the last 10 minutes and when a tactical error from the Blacks put the ball in touch the match was over!
For more please see the full Match Report
Mackie 0 - 36 1st XV
Cast your mind back 4 years to the 2006/7 season last match of the season when the Blacks travelled up the A90 for a league winning promotion opportunity. On a beautiful sunny day the score then was 12-15 in a tight bad tempered encounter. There were a few of the same faces in both squads from that memorable day but this game was played in much better spirits.
Glenrothes stopped Strathie from playing last week and it was a costly lesson learned. This week the Blacks started with passion from the off driving Mackie back into their own territory and that is where 80% of this match was played. The match was won early in the second half, but to their credit, Mackie kept on going to the final whistle testing the Blacks resolution on several occasions during the last 15 minutes.
So after 2 years it's a return to National 3 and some of our old adversaries including Gordonians and Orkney locally if the leagues are not restructured again.
