Made it a much more competitive game and really challenged the U14 boys. They were made to work for the win, first 20 was 3-3 with an unconverted try apiece. Try scored by Finlay Ritchie as the ball was stripped by the forwards and turned over, spun wide for Fin to drive through a number of defenders to score out wide. Logan Vavangas was leading the way in tackle as he felled the Highland tall lads with confident chop tackles. Ellon's full back Euan Bonner was also saving the game for Ellon as he stopped three break always with try saving tackles. In the second 20 minute third it was 7-7, with both teams scoring two tries and one converted. Bonner took an early knock that saw him off for the rest of the game as precaution. Ellon went two tries down but came back really strong with two tries again to Fin Ritchie. One an easy run in after being in the clear, but the other a really hard fought try as he cut in from the wing and drove through 4 players. With a few changes in position in the final 20, Ellon really took the game to Highland. Lewis Duncan moved to centre and ran well, there was scrum shuffles also. All still fit and fresh, the team went into attack mode, with Ben releasing the backs, forwards stealing ball in a now dominate Ellon scrum, a great turn over as Dylan Kemp ripped the ball in a held up maul. All this led to Ellon scoring 6 converted tries to 0 in this final third, 0-24. 4 to Finlay Ritchie, 1 to Ben Dickie and 1 to Ross Stewart, making it 10 34 overall.
Great team performance at times. Especially when two of the team big tacklers came off very early.
Forwards get the ball, for the backs to score! That phrase showed true today, as some great ripping and jackal won the ball and 7 tries for Fin Ritchie on the wing! Only a couple were run ins, the other 5 he had to use his strength and step to power over, George North esc! Try also to Ross with the standard 5 m blast over for a hooker, and try to Ben Dickie when he was switched to stand off for the final 5 mins.
Can't forget the 7/9 conversions for Ben. Kicks win games at every level.
Try of the day as Ellon and Dylan stole a ball in a maul, from Highland, Fin Hagen took the ball on and beat two players before switching direction and passing 20m in a cold windy day to the left wing for Finlay Ritchie to catch and run in a 45m try driving through two players.

Huntley next week. Again this will be a very physical battle. Need to work on the ruck this week. However team is looking forward to James Myers coming back from school for this game.