Rugby World: The Champions

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CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION
Melrose magicians: skipper
SHE PREMIERSHIP THREE
Jamie Murray and (right) Scott
GALA
Wight with the Scottish Cup Captain Steve Scott
Coaches Richie Gray (forwards),
Gary Parker (backs)
ONE of Scotland’s most famous
clubs hit an all-time low when they
were relegated to Premiership Three
a year ago, but they’re on their way
back after keeping their nose in front
of Peebles in a hard-fought league.
Gala had 19 wins and a draw from
22 games and Peebles 19 wins and
three defeats, which meant Gala’s
ﬁ nal-day win over Ellon gave them
the crown. Gray says: “We brought
a few older players out of retirement
because we had good young players
here but needed some older heads.”
Scrum-half Lawrence Lemon,
stand-off Andy McLean and
full-back Fraser Thompson were
among those who excelled.
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Captain Matt Dodd
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Coaches Bob Wylie (head), Mark
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CUP FINALS DAY we did. I wished there had been Boroughmuir also won several junior McKenzie, Stuart McAllister
O AN OUTSTANDING ﬁ rst-half display another ten minutes because the league and sevens titles, which bodes IF any club wants advice on dealing
from Melrose created what proved momentum was with us, but you can’t well for next season. There was one with stepping up a level, they should

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to be an unassailable lead over take anything away from Melrose.” sad note, as Boroughmuir’s former speak to Falkirk, who’ve won a record
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Heriot’s in the Scottish Hydro Electric Three other ﬁ nals took place at Scotland and Lions star Bruce Hay ﬁ ve successive league titles and
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Cup (SHE) ﬁ nal. They led 28-0 at the Murrayﬁ eld on the same day. died last October, aged just 57. been named SRU Scottish and
break after scoring four tries and Garnock beat Kirkcaldy 31-24 in the Southern Energy Club of the Year.
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although Heriot’s hit back with four Scottish Hydro Electric Shield ﬁ nal, SHE PREMIERSHIP TWO Club president Alex McQuade says:
of their own, Melrose won 31-24. Preston Lodge were crowned Bowl WEST OF SCOTLAND “Each time we step up we bring in a
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Full-back Jordan Macey scored champions after beating Dalziel Captain Andrew Park couple of new senior faces to fulﬁ l
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Melrose’s ﬁ rst try after a line break 18-10 and Aberdeen University Coaches John Beattie (head), speciﬁ c positions, but we had three
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from David Whiteford, who crossed beat Portobello 27-21 to win the David McLean (assistant) U21s players in the team regularly.”
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for the second after grabbing an Scottish Hydro Electric Plate. TWO promotions in succession Falkirk ﬁ nished 18 points clear of
interception. Their third try was speaks volumes about West of second-placed Garnock, and lost
scored by Callum Anderson with SHE PREMIERSHIP ONE Scotland. West may not import just once in 22 games, 9-8 to East
hooker Wayne Mitchell driving over BOROUGHMUIR southern hemisphere players, but Kilbride. “We have a proud record,”
for the fourth. Man of the Match Captain Rory Couper they don’t lack famous faces, with says McQuade. “We haven’t lost a
Scott Wight converted all four Coaches Eamon John (head), coach Beattie the owner of 26 home league game since February
scores before extending the lead Stuart Reid (forwards) Scotland caps and hooker Gordon 2002 and we have only lost ﬁ ve
to 31-0 with a penalty seven minutes BOROUGHMUIR became Scotland’s Bulloch beating that with 75 for his league games in ﬁ ve seasons.”
after the turnaround. champions for the ﬁ rst time since country and two for the Lions.
Eight minutes later Heriot’s 2003, after winning Premiership One Beattie says: “Our success is down SHE NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO
opened their account with a try from by 21 clear points from Watsonians. to the spirit of the club. We’re not HOWE OF FIFE
Cameron Goodall followed by one In what club president Stan Watt getting our chequebooks out each Captain Mike Donaldson
from Innes Brown, converted by views as “probably the best season summer; I think that is artiﬁ cial Coaches Sam Wilson (backs
Graham Wilson. Oliver Brown darted the club has had”, they lost just twice short-termism. There are a few Irish and ﬁ tness), John Lathangie,
over for their third try and James in the league and had the title lads, here at university, but we set Garry Horne (forwards)
Thompson sped through for the secured in January. “We set a new out to do it with the lads we’ve got.” THE only blot on Howe of Fife’s
fourth, Wilson converting, but the target after the title was won, to try West battled for top spot with league copybook was a 5-5 draw
ﬁ nal whistle ended Heriot’s’ hopes of to get to 100 points, but just fell Selkirk and Biggar. They ended up at Newton Stewart, as they won
completing a successful comeback. short with 96,” says Watt. on the same points as Selkirk, 84, their other 21 matches and even
Melrose coach Craig Chalmers Having taken Boroughmuir from and with one win fewer, but won put 105 points past Caithness.
was delighted with his team’s relegation candidates in 2006 to the title on points difference. At the Skipper Donaldson missed most
performance, saying: “It was mid-table last year, head coach John other end of the scale from veterans of the season with a knee injury, so
outstanding. I’m as proud of this brought in key new players, including like Bulloch, 33, and Guy Perrett, vice-captain Ewan Jack stepped up.
as a coach as I was as a player.” scrum-half Calum Cusiter – brother the team has featured 16-year-old Andy McLean and Girvin Imrie
Heriot’s captain Marc Teague said: of Chris – lock Fergus Pringle, Robert Harley. Outstanding players battled to be top try-scorer and
“At half-time we set ourselves the hooker Sean Crombie, centre Matt included prop Elliot McLaren and McLean won with 29, beating
target of scoring four tries and that Cannon and ﬂ anker Olly Brown. wing/full-back Ben Wright. Imrie’s previous club record of 28.
Rugby World’s club guide returns next season. In the meantime, if you have any stories and/or pictures for the Scotland club guide, then please email catherine_king@ipcmedia.com or write to: Rugby World, Ninth Floor, IPC Media, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark St, London, SE1 0SU. Enjoy the summer!
116 JULY 2008 RUGBY WORLD
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