On a cold February morning Ellon RFC S2's welcomed Mackie RFC to the Meadows for a friendly match. Despite the cold weather the pitch was in good condition allowing a free flowing game of rugby.

The Ellon lads were up for this match having sustained a heavy defeat at the hands of Mackie in September 2014 at Stonehaven.

On this occasion Ellon had a near full strength side and approached the game much more prepared and focused.

For the first ten minutes the home side found themselves camped in their own half under continual attack from the much larger Mackie forwards. The Ellon pack dug in and stout defending repelled any Mackie attempts to cross the try line. Eventually a loose ball was fly hacked up the pitch into the Mackie 22 and despite being penalised at the breakdown Ellon won the ball at the next ruck and some good phases of play saw Cody Bartlett go over for a score, unfortunately the same player missed the conversation.

Again the bigger Mackie pack, content on playing a forward dominated game, tried to rumble through the Ellon pack who to their credit stood up to their opponents knocking back phase after phase of attacks. Eventually Mackie knocked on, Ellon were able to gather the ball which they shipped onto Ally Fitzgerald who outpaced the Mackie backs to run almost the entire length of the pitch to score under the posts. Kerr McCluskey slotted the conversation.

Mackie kicked off straight to Scottie Sutherland who ran the ball back at the Mackie players taking play into the Mackie 22. The next 10 minutes saw Ellon camped in the Mackie half. Mackie were penalised for an infringement at the breakdown. Ellon kicked to the corner for the line out which they won with ball shipped to Camran Taylor who rampaged over for Ellon's 3rd try. The conversion was missed. Half time and Ellon led 10-0

Into the second half which Mackie kicked off. Again the ball was gathered by Scottie Sutherland who went on another great run taking the ball well into the Mackie half. The visiting team were penalised for a ruck infringement which Ellon kicked to the corner. 5 meters out and Ellon called a front line out ball, Adam falconer caught the Mackie defence sleeping, gathered the ball and crashed over for a try. Conversion missed.

The next ten minutes saw a bit of a dog fight in midfield with Mackie trying to change tactics and ship the ball to their backs. Some great defending in midfield by the Ellon backs snubbed out any threat. Mackie knocked on presenting Ellon with a scrum. From the scrum a planned Ellon move saw the Ellon backs run the ball back into the Mackie 22. A great tackle from Mackie's fullback prevented an Ellon try, however Ellon were able to recycle quick ball to Cody Bartlett who went over for his second try of the game, which the same player converted.

Clearly the Ellon team had won the game by this time but they were determined to prevent Mackie scoring. Strong defence saw Ellon repel the Mackie team time after time, however a moment of madness saw the Ellon fullback sin binned for an silly infringement. From the resultant penalty Mackie were able to roll over the Ellon line and score a try. The conversion however was missed.

Despite being down to 14 men, the Ellon team came back strongly against their opponents after the restart and continual Ellon pressure saw the Ellon blindside flanker, Gregor Reynolds, turn over ball, which he fed to Adam Falconer who outstripped the Mackie defence to score his second try of the game. The conversion was missed.

Final whistle and Ellon S2's had deservedly beaten a strong opposition comfortably. Final score Ellon 20 Mackie 3.