Match Report - Sunday 28/08/16 - Ellon (7) v Aberdeen Rugby (16)

Match Report - Sunday 28/08/16 - Ellon (7) v Aberdeen Rugby (16)

The opening Red Conference game for the team was always going to be a tough match on a full sized pitch with 13 lads covering a lot of ground, however they proved they were up for the task ahead of them as they put in a performance they should take heart from.

The first 15 minute period opened with pressure from Aberdeen which resulted in a try for them after 2 minutes. Ellon recovered from this and started to apply their own pressure by ensuring they covered the ground quickly to close the gap with their defense lines and took the ball into the Aberdeen half. This was done the hard way with the forwards driving head on into the Aberdeen pack and trying to recycle the ball with the rucks going 50/50 to each team with some handling mistakes giving the ball away. Aberdeen scored again by passing wide and using their backs effectively to score another try in the 10th minute. Ellon then took the game to Aberdeen at the restart and powered into the Aberdeen half, keeping possession driving forward and eventually getting the ball to Ryan Dickie to score. Ryan also converted his try. Ellon 4 v Aberdeen 6.

Ellon made 4 substitutions for the second period and it started fairly evenly matched with again some good pressure being mounted by the Ellon forwards taking the ball into Aberdeen's half, however Ellon could not capitalise on this as once again Aberdeen turned over the ball in a ruck and passed wide for Aberdeen to attack the wings and score in the 5th minute. Ellon again countered and moved into the Aberdeen half but again were rucked off the ball which lead to a period where both teams were counter attacking and the play moved from 22 to 22 in each half as both teams tried to break the defenses. Aberdeen again got the upper hand by moving the ball wide and ran in their second try of this period in the 11th minute of play. Ellon then managed to hold off a sustained Aberdeen attack defending against line out and scrum attacks and held the ball up off the try line to finish the period Ellon 4 v Aberdeen 12.

The third and final period saw the teams go up to 15 a side rugby with flankers added to the scrum. The Ellon boys came out fighting in this last period and again took the ball into the Aberdeen half with a lot of pick and goes from the rucks however they were making it hard for themselves and kept running back into the pack instead of using their backs to help move the ball wide. This period also saw a couple of injuries, an ankle injury to an Aberdeen lad, and Ellon's Connor Friel sustained a knee injury which ended his match. Eventually Ellon started to use the backs more effectively but could not get through the Aberdeen defense who then managed to break away to score their 5th try in the 13th minute of the third period. Ellon however did not let this dampen their spirit and fought back to score in the last minute to even that period with one try each. Final score Ellon 7 (2 tries / 1 conversion) Aberdeen Rugby 16 (5 tries / 1 conversion).

The lads should be proud of their performance today which was a vast improvement over last weekends game against a strong Aberdeen team.

Match Awards:
Best Forward: Ross Stewart
Best Back: Ryan Hanton
Best Rugby Attitude: Ryan Dickie (playing new position of fullback and scoring Ellon's tries)

Graham Ritchie
U13 Head Coach
Ellon Rugby SCIO