Ellon First XV travelled to Elgin on Saturday to take on a strong Moray team. Moray have been outstanding at home this season, making use of their huge pack.
Ellon had good support, as parents and players from the Youth section had played that morning locally also and stayed to support the Firsts.
Ellon took a strong team, looking to continue the unbeaten run. Moray started excellently and took a 14 nil lead in the first 10 minutes. Two tries for Ellon harshly disallowed didn’t help, but the team used their faster fitter players to attack Moray. Strangely it wasn’t the pace that got the points for Ellon but the forwards skill at the driving lineout. Two tries scored this way, along with a backs try and a penalty. For a team with some very heavy weight players, Moray managed to hold the game for 80 minutes and took the win 29-17. Ellon missed out on a bonus point as they only scored 3 tries.
The difference in the teams was possibly Ellon trying to rush the game, not used to being restricted in playing fast rugby. With clearly the fitter and more mobile players, they could have gone through the phases and scored by tiring out the Moray team. Ellon will look forward to the return game in the spring! But in the meantime still sit top of the league, 8 points clear of their nearest rival.
Up Saturday for the First XV is Highland Seconds at the Meadows with a 14:00 KO.

Ellon Rugby Youth headed to Gordonstoun in the lancer Conference last game of the League. Playing Saturday rather than the normal Sunday, Ellon had the opportunity to win the overall Lancer conference, win and U16 and at U15.
U13 played a decent game using all their large squad to give everyone experience. A couple of U13 played at U14 to boost the team and gain some experience. The U14 had a hard first half, but came strong the second, winning the second half, but losing overall 29 – 15.
At U15 both Gordonstoun and Ellon needed to win to take the Overall U15 league win. Gordonstoun clearly made use of extra rugby they get as a school as the season goes on, as they had greatly improved. The team even looked bigger than the U16 playing on the next pitch. A close game at Ellon was turned at Gordonstoun as they ran away with the game winning 50 – 0. Ellon played short of players and even had three forwards making up the centres and wing for half a game. However finishing second is a huge improvement on last season, for an ever improving team.
U18 took until the second half to get going. A game they should be pushing for a win was taken from them with a weak first half performance. A much stronger second half saw Ellon score twice. U18 finished 40-12 and claimed second spot in the league. This now gives them a spot in the National League Cup, with a preliminary round on 16th December at Ellon.

Finally Ellon U16! A season that started in September with a tough loss away to Granite City with a few players away, and then a great run of games, 5 wins, 1 loss and a weather effected game as a draw. The huge win against Granite City at home made the biggest difference, and all led to the Conference’s last fixture away to Gordonstoun. A win would put them level with Granite City at the top of the League.
Ellon U16 attitude was determined as the played physical defence with a fast offloading attack. Scoring in the first few minutes and then again immediately started the flood of scores for the team. Coaches making use of a full squad, every player determined to do his best, and did. The team didn’t look back and took the game 50 – 0 working hard for every point.
The win for U16 and a win for Granite City U16, saw the teams joint at the top of the table. To decide a winner, there are three rules, winner in the head to head (both had won one game each), least Red cards (both had received zero), then the highest placed team in the overall conference table (which was ELLON RUGBY!!). Ellon Rugby take the Lancer Conference U16 League!
Hard work by all the coaches and players and support staff gave a thoroughly deserved League win. This now places Ellon Rugby U16 directly into the National Cup Quarter Finals with a home draw, to be played mid-January.

At U15, Ellon Rugby finished second, and also finished Second in the overall Conference League, which was very close with Gordonstoun finishing on 110, Ellon Rugby 108 and Mackie 106.

This weekend Ellon Youth play friendlies against Deeside at U13-U16, on Sunday if the ground is not frozen!