Ellon u13 v Aberdeen Grammar (HOME)

This was the semi-final game of the Culblean Challenge competition, where the opposition was Aberdeen Grammar.
Having only played them once early on this season it was going to be difficult to know what kind of side they had developed into over the season. But for us to be coming up against them in the semi-final after they beat Highland away it was clear they would be stiff competition.

Despite it being a semi-final knock out game the squad were relaxed and some what giddy during the warm up.
In contrast during warm-up Grammar were very intense and vocal, more signs that it was going to be a tough encounter. We continued to focus the team on their own process and increase the intensity and accuracy of our drills. This started to bring us into the zone just before kick off.

However, it was clear the focus Grammar showed during their warm up paid dividends as they took control of the early stages of the game. This showed that going into the final and to show growth as a squad in general this is one area that must be improved on.

From their quick start Grammar took the lead with looping wide running off the back of physical rucking. In the lead up to the game this was the physical display we expected from Grammar but from our last encounter they had added pace to their attack. They are to be congratulated on their good play and skills to get their try's. But in the early stages of the game it felt there were soft try's given away due to our team not working to fill the field in defence giving large areas of open field for the Grammar #15 to take full advantage of.

After the initial shock to the system we started to get more ball and territory all be it still playing very disjointedly with single runners and lack of width. Despite this the pressure we put on Grammar led to high tackle penalties in our favour close to their try line. This pressure stressed the Grammar defence into continual off side infringements leading to a penalty try for us giving us a 7-5.

Both sides strived to take control of the game through pressure defence, with both teams racking up high tackle penalties - nothing cynical but a clear point of reference that to get back momentum in a game lowering the tackle height is be a key takeaway.

The end of the first half came, a try from Euan Redpath had the game poised at 14-19 in favour of Grammar - showing there was lots more rugby to be played to find out who the winner would be.

Both teams emptied their subs bench with Ellon aiming for more physicality in the second half. Whist we upped our game on that front Grammar were still more than a match for us and showed that if we didn't get the ball away from the breakdown quickly we would be turned over. It was such turn overs that let Grammar in again taking their lead to 10 points.

The team aren't used to having to come from 10 points down so it was pleasing to we stuck together and started to piece a full team performance, showing ourselves we have a great blend of players to get the ball moving and turn any game around. Indeed we took the lead running in two further tries (Euan Redpath & Xavier) and helped by a high conversion rate thanks to Quentin Booth and Captain Hamish Henderson. This took the game into the final stages with Ellon leading 28-24.

By this stage we had grown into the game and were taking everything Grammar could throw at us, a final try from Noah Scarisbrick made it a 9 point game. Grammar kept digging in and playing to the final whistle making big inroads to the Ellon half. At the death our defence turned up a ruck penalty with Quentin realising it was the last play of the game took a quick tap and kicked the ball out to leave the game at 33-24.

The whole squad were ecstatic and deservedly so. A very big thank you to all the effort from everyone through the squad and supporters for making it a great day.

A big week at training now with a return encounter verses Moray ahead at home this Sunday 17th, 1pm KO at the Meadows.