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Weekend Review 180204 Top V Bottom

Weekend Review 180204 Top V Bottom

Gareth D Kemp8 Feb 2018 - 01:48
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Ellon First XV played bottom placed Stornoway last weekend.

Last weekend Ellon First XV had a rearranged game against Stornoway in the League. Having to be played early afternoon due to Stornoway’s travel arrangements from the Western Isles, Ellon remained focused for the fixture. Stornoway bottom and no points while Ellon were top with 49, showed the difference between the teams. Ellon played there usual squad of young players, but in addition added five U18 players for their development. Mark Galloway, Angus Craig started, while Eddie Holland, Ryan Notton and Jordan Gray were on the bench.
The game went Ellon’s way as expected, dominating the game and scoring 6 tries in the process, along with conversions, and penalties. Final score was 56 – 5 to Ellon, a bonus point win to stay 8 points ahead of Garioch.
Fantastic to see the development of Ellon’s young players in these games. Certainly builds their confidence and gives them vital experience. Ellon U18 Captain Ryan Notton played the second half and scored 2 tries on his debut.
The only other fixtures on was Ellon Youth U13 and U14 heading to Milngavie in Glasgow to take on West of Scotland. West are in the Shogun Conference, the top club conference in Scotland. Ellon have applied to join this Conference next season and were looking to see how they would compete.
The U13 squad had 10 players missing, but still put out a team with 1 sub. However this was not enough to beat a strong West U13 team. However a different story at U14. At U14 west finished near the top of their table, and came up against a strong Ellon squad. This would be the team that plays together next season if they get into the Conference. Right from the start, Ellon dominated, receiving the ball at kick off and running it back under the post to score inside 20 seconds with a great catch by Ryan Hanton and then passed to Fin Ritchie and then to Archie Falconer to score, converted by Josh Andrew. This opened the gates and over the rest of the half, Ellon ran in 3 more tries for a 0-15 half time score (3 points for a try at this age, 1 for conversion). Scores by Fin Hagen, and 2 more to Archie Falconer. Second half continued the same, with the exception of a great attack by West, but Ellon defended well, with three people making tackles out wide and Daniel Gillies breaking away to clear the danger. Josh Andrew kicked a few over the top to start experimenting, which worked very well. There was 6 more tires and conversions this half; Daniel Gillies, Ryan Dickie, Fin Ritchie, 2 more to Archie Falconer and last one to Ross Stewart.
10 tries and 9 conversion to nil. 0-39 in their points (would be 0-68 in normal points!).
Ellon Youth at U13 and U14 travel to Inverness to also play Shogun Conference opposition this Saturday, hoping for a double this time. Meanwhile U18 play Livingston at home and then Sunday U15 travel to Dunfermline to play a friendly before heading to BT Murrayfield as a team to watch Scotland V France.
Ellon Meanwhile wait for Friday 16th to hear if the Youth Section are moved to the Shogun Conference.
Ellon First XV play Aberdeen University Medics in Aberdeen, in what could be a tight game for Ellon.
Further reading