U14 was the game of the weekend! Unbeaten at this age band against Highland twice a year since Primary Rugby, Ellon had high hopes but weren’t complacent as they knew Highland were much improved. In good weather but a slightly heavy pitch after the overnight rain, Ellon were clearly up for the game. 1 minute into the game the Ellon Scrum stole the ball against the head and Ben Dickie sniped from 9 to score, with Adam Fowlie getting the conversion. This was the start of a great afternoon for these two prolific Ellon backs.
After the kick off, Ellon stole a lineout from Highland and spun the ball to the other wing for Arran Whitaker to score. The backs then combined for Adam Fowlie to score.
The second third Ellon continued the attack, combining forwards and back in great offloading and support. Forwards doing their job of rucking and the backs clearing the ball. Ben Dickie controlled the game from scrum half, while the Scrum back row dominated the tackle and break downs. Arran Whitaker missed a try after a 60m break and was tackled just short, but high. Ben Dickie then took a quick penalty and scored the try and conversion. Next came the best move of the game. Ben ran off the scrum at 9, taking a wide route, with a reverse pass to Dylan Kemp breaking from the flanker position. Dylan ran 30 meters and offloaded in the tackle to Lewis to score out wide. Dylan then got his try, breaking through the first tackle with the help of a drive by Finlay Hagen, he was then double tackled by Highland. Staying on his feet and using a strong leg drive he then broke this tackle and went under the posts, making the conversion easy for Ben. Almost the full team then combined in passing and offloading for Adam to take the final score and Ben converting. Ben also score another try to finish the third.
The final third and Ellon did not sit back at all. Determined to continue scoring and working hard, Ellon scored 27 points this third. Tries to Lewis Duncan, now in the centre of the backs, Adam Fowlie who gave great pressure in defence, ripped the ball and scored; Euan Bonner on his first game back after 2 months off; Finlay Hagen ripped the ball from a Highland player passed to Dylan Kemp, who passed on to Adam Fowlie to score after beating two men and running 50m.
Final score was 56 – 4 to Ellon (3 points for a try and 1 for a conversion). 5 Tries and 8 conversions to Ben Dickie, 5 tries and 3 conversions to Adam, 2 tries to Lewis Duncan, and 1 try to Dylan Kemp, Arran Whitaker and Euan Bonner.
Logan Vavangas and Ross Stewart both missed tries as the referee was playing advantage. A full all round performance by the young team. Especially in the scrum where they won all scrums in the first two thirds, more than half against the head.
Awards went to Logan Vavangas for Best Forward for immense tackling, Backs to Adam Fowlie for his constant game play in attack and defence, and BRA to Euan Bonner on his first game back.

A 4 week break now and then Ellon face Highland in Inverness.