Peebles Colts 27
Perthshire Colts 20
RBS UNDER-18 BOWL
PEEBLES COLTS capped what has been a successful season for the Gytes team by winning the bowl final at Murrayfield last Sunday, defeating Perthshire Colts in a match that had a tense ending, writes Alan Lorimer.
Overall Peebles deserved their win, having outscored their opponents 5-3 in the try count and having had the better of the forward exchanges after good work in the front row and tenacious defence around the fringes.
The western Borderers appeared to have the game in the bag when they led 22-3 at half-time with touchdowns from stand-off James May, lock Fraser Dale, number eight Kieran Brown and prop James Menzies, with one conversion from May.
But after the break, Perthshire began to find the attacking rhythm that had eluded them in the first half and two tries in quick succession by their pacy left wing Scott Alcorn and one conversion by full-back Craig Letham, who had kicked a penalty goal before the interval, brought the Midlanders within a converted try of Peebles.
A try by centre Ross Brown widened Peebles’ lead, only for Perthshire to hit back with a try by their right wing Charlie Winton, but in spite of a determined effort, Perthshire were unable to achieve the vital score that would have levelled the points, leaving Peebles Colts title winners.
“These were two hard-working teams, who both deserved to be in the final,” said Peebles Colts coach, Tom Menzies, adding: “Perthshire deserved credit for the pressure they put on us at the end of the game. I have to admit that I was delighted when the referee told us there was only a minute to go.”
Peebles Colts: S. Halliday; E. Flanders, R. Brown, C. Pye, G. Cursiter; J. May, D. Wills; J. Cockburn, G. Pringle, J. Menzies, F. Dale, R. Lofthouse, K. Clyde, K. Rodger, K. Brown. Subs: J. Willems, J. Millen, R. Harrison, L. Daly, M. Anderson, M. McDonald, D. Campbell.