You don’t learn much by playing easy teams. We went down to Wales to play some top teams to really challenge ourselves. The coaches as well as the players learnt loads and need to take it forward into their games in the future.

- U13 Head Coach, Gareth Kemp

First XV took on table topping Deeside at the Meadows in their penultimate game. On the back of a huge win against Shetland the previous, Ellon were in a great mood, but knew it would be a tough game. Ellon matched Deeside to start, with Doug Sharp scoring for Ellon and Stewart Cruickshanks converting. Moving the ball well and offloading did put Deeside under pressure, but their own attacking play was intense, leading to a half time score of 7 – 22.
Second half, Ellon scored again through Matt Pearce, and their line speed in defence forced errors by Deeside. However at the subsequent scrums Ellon were dominated by Deeside. This led to the loss, 12 – 35. The teams did well against the top team and should be proud of the effort. They lost 69 – 0 earlier in the season, so much improved.
However Ellon are still 6th and Shetland lost at the weekend. This weekend Ellon don’t have a game, Lochaber play Deeside, Shetland and Stornoway both play each other. Ellon’s last game is the 16th against Lochaber at home.
Meanwhile at the weekend the U15 had a second big win in a row in the Caledonia Plate, beating Falkirk 5 – 65 away! That takes them into the Plate Final to be held at St Andrews on 24th April against Dunfermline. With the U18 in the Shield Final that day also, Ellon will have two teams at Finals Day!
A group of Ellon Coaches took some of the U13 squad down to North Wales last weekend for a Tournament. Travelling Friday, playing three games Saturday and three Sunday, and then back on Monday it was an intense weekend. Some top opposition played, including Southport, Denbigh, Nant Conway, Sheffield Buccaneers and Rhyll. With new rule variations and an interesting interpretation of them (!) it was going to be a tough weekend! Although the lads lost their games, they lost 4 games by only 1 try and lost to the winner 6 – 0. Head Coach Gareth Kemp said “You don’t learn much by playing easy teams. We went down to Wales to play some top teams to really challenge ourselves. The coaches as well as the players learnt loads and need to take it forward into their games in the future”. Next up is an S1/2 mixed home game against Madras on the 17th.
No games this weekend for the club! Not often we have a free weekend!