Macquarrie optimistic after first round win

Published on Tuesday 9 September 2008 00:04

BALFRON High School are one of the first clubs to reach the second round of the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup, courtesy of a 14-7 win over Lenzie Academy, and coach Neil Macquarrie is optimistic his boys can embark on a good cup run.

The physical education teacher, a member of Strathendrick RFC, who have close links with the school, midway between Glasgow and Stirling, believes he has a very good squad, most of whom were in the side who reached the semi-final of the Plate competition last season.

"We played really well in the first half against Lenzie, but failed to repeat that performance in the second period. But we deserved to win and we now look forward to the next round," added Macquarrie.

Among the try scorers for Balfron, captained by hooker David Brown, were scrum-half Sam Greenock and back-row forward Bobby Holmes, and Holmes, Jamie Pugh, Ruaridh Clark, Ruaridh and James McLaughlin, Douglas Young and Fraser Mackay were all in the Glasgow Thistles Under-18 squad which toured Perpignan during the summer holidays.

With a school roll of about 950, Macquarrie manages to field, at times, six teams, including a girls' squad, but because most of the boys turn out for Strathendrick Under-18s at the weekend, the majority of school matches are played midweek.

Gordonstoun School, coached by Steve Brown, who won all five games on their summer tour of Sri Lanka – the first Scottish rugby team to visit that part of the world – showed the benefits of that venture, beating Perthshire 21-18 at the weekend.

Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup: Preliminary round: Leith Academy 14, Balerno/Currie Community 30; Carrick Academy 58, Dumfries Academy 10; Breadalbane Academy 48, Denny HS 5; Strathmore Schools 12, Stirling HS 64; Linlithgow Academy 35, Boness/Grangemouth 5; Arbroath HS 0, Carnoustie HS 50; St Columba's School 41, Dalziel HS 5. First round: Lenzie Academy 7, Balfron HS 14.