Ellon first XV get a great win on the road!
Travelling to Grangemouth to play the Stags under the Kelpie statues in the background, Ellon were hopeful for a win as they took on the team close to them in the league.
Grangemouth started the scoring with a converted try on 12 minutes, but Captain Brad Fraser scored 6 minutes later and converted by Ross Greig. A few penalties were given to Grangemouth which they converted one before Angus Craig scored for Ellon, converted by Greig again. Just before half time Grangemouth scored a converted try and Nicki Fraser recieved a yellow card.
Taking advantage of the man down, Grangemouth scored early second half making it 22-14. When Fraser came back on he instantly made a difference and scored to make it 22-19, however Doug Sharp also received a yellow card for the last 5 minutes of the game and Grangemouth kicked the subsequent penalty. Score was 25-19 and Grangemouth must have thought they had won, 6 points up, 1 man up and 5 minutes left. However the young Ellon team showed their never say die attitude and John Campbell went over to score a try which Ross Grieg converted with the last kick of the game to win by one point! 25-26!
Ellon cement their spot at joint 4th. With the team below them Hillfoots 2 points less and played 1 game more.
Up next is home to Hillfoots this Saturday in the last game before Christmas and also Ladies day at the club!

Great results for Ellon Youth also with all age bands winning against Deeside/Garioch.
U18 knew if they won they would top the U18 conference as winners for 2018, which inspired them on to a big win.
Playing some strong rugby, they had the edge in both forwards and backs. It was a close game for the first half, but Ellon really moved away in the second half. Final score was 44-12. Ellon U18 lost just one game and topped the Conference as winners for 2018!

At U16 It was a very good result against a tough old team. The first 5 minutes was the best start they have had with great rugby being played. It really set the stall out. Reese Melling scored after 2 minutes with a whole team try and Ben Dickie kicked the conversion. From that Deeside were a little shell shocked, however Ellon did make things a little hard for themselves, with a couple of chances to score and failed to go through the phases when the try would have come. It was 25 minutes until the next score which went to Deeside with no conversion. Half time was 7-5. Archie Falconer scored early the second half then 7 minutes later Melling went over again and converted by Dickie. Deeside responded with a well worked try and conversion before giving a penalty away which Ellon tactically decided to kick and Dickie took the three points. Deeside then pressured hard and Dickie took a yellow card for the team with a penalty close to the line. Deeside scores from there to finish the game with a win 22-17 to Ellon.
Penalties against Ellon were poor, close to 20! Realistically there would have been more than the one yellow card in the game. Defence was good today, on the line and at rucks, Ellon defended their own ball and won back Deeside ball. Some changes in the lineout to mix things up and for Ellon to use more people worked well. Again some stand out performances. Man of the match to Reese Melling and Support play to Euan Bonner. Some stand out moments of great rugby:
- Kai Taylor cutting in from the wing, taking the ball from Ben Dickie at a ruck and making 15m, with the forwards then folding round to clear the ruck and ball spun wide.
- Archie Falconer tackling the ball out of the Deeside players hands as he thought he had scored.
- Some great decission making.
Ellon now sit second in the U16 Conference. Granite City have a game to play v Gordonstoun and probaly win that to be equal with Ellon. Deeside have a game to play v Mackie. If they lose then they finish the same as Ellon also.
So Ellon should finish joint second (with Deeside and GC). All to come out next weekend when Ellon don’t have a league game, while the others do.

U15 Deeside travelled with low numbers so Ellon won the game before kick off and played a development game on 10 aside, lending players. They played three 15 minutes games, winning all three. This result and other results going their way meant Ellon U15 finish second in the conference!
U14 and U13 both played outstanding rugby in their games, winning comfortably, which shows how well they have come on since the previous game against Deeside.

This coming weekend Ellon Youth head to Biggar at U16/15/14/13 for friendlies, as a pre Christmas mini tour!
Ellon U18 are preparing for their National Cup game against Hawick in the borders on the 15th December.