Chairman of Blairgowrie Rugby Club looks back on a mixed twelve months

Jan 4 2013 by Clare Damodaran, Blairgowrie Advertiser

The year 2012 proved to be a bit of a mixed bag for the Blairgowrie Senior Rugby squad.

The team ended the 2011/2012 league season on a low with a home defeat against Carnoustie but made amends with a superb result at the Crieff 7s, winning the Plate Final 31 -21 to take home some silverware for the trophy cabinet.

The 2012 ‘End of Season Club Tour’ saw 30 players and guests travel to Belfast where the Blairgowrie squad arguably played their best rugby of the season beating a strong Malone RFC 3rds team 29 – 19, a club which regularly field at least five teams every Saturday and have produced no less than 22 full Ireland internationalists and six British Lions over the years.

In August the senior squad secured yet more silverware winning the Plate and taking runners up position in the annual Blairgowrie Tens Tournament which was won this year by Deeside RFC.

Pre-season training saw Mick Bowen, Chris Webster and Kev Brown take on the role of senior coaches and Neil MacRae taking on the role of club captain.

An unprecedented number of players turned out for pre-season training and it was looking promising for the 2012/2013 season.

So it transpired with the seniors winning eight out of their nine league games.

This means that Blairgowrie have secured top spot in the Midlands III West league and that they will be competing in the Midlands League III ‘A’ after the New Year.

2012 also saw the Blairgowrie Rams youth section continue to thrive with over 100 players now registered to play with teams being regularly fielded at all levels including Micro, P4/5, P6/7 and U14s and teams participating in both U16s and U18s leagues for the first time for many years, all of which augers well for the future of Blairgowrie Rugby Club.

The first competitive action of 2013 for the senior team will be a home match against Glenrothes 2nds on Saturday January 5, kick off 2pm.