U16 beat Deeside in last game of the season

It was a very good result today 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.