Plate finalists Earlston not happy with scheduling

Published on Tuesday 21 February 2012 04:08

Two tries by centre Connor Spence and one by back-row forward Michael Rogerson helped Earlston High School secure their place in the final of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools under-18 Plate competition as they defeated Madras College 23-7 in the penultimate round match at Myreside yesterday.

As a result Earslton will face Carrick Academy in the title decider tomorrow at Murrayfield. But there is anger in the Borders that there will be just two days between the semi-final and the final after Murrayfield refused a request from both Earlston and Madras to put back the final to a later date. If two days between semi and final were not bad enough, the situation is exacerbated by the fact that most of the Earlston High School boys also play for Melrose Wasps, who had a first-round National Youth Cup game on Saturday and will play in the Bowl quarter-finals this weekend. That represents four games in seven days for many of the Earlston High School team.

At under-16 level, it will be an all-Borders Plate final with Jedburgh Grammar School facing Peebles High School. Jed made an emphatic statement in their semi-final match against last season’s beaten finalists, The Gordon Schools Huntly, with a 57-0 win over the Aberdeenshire side.

Peebles, too, were comfortable winners in their 22-0 defeat of Linlithgow Academy.

Meanwhile, in the Brewin Dolphin under-18 Bowl, Dunbar Grammar School are already through to the semi-final after defeating St Joseph’s College of Dumfries 32-3 and will be joined in the last four by the winners of today’s semi-final between Boroughmuir/J Gillespies and Bearsden/Douglas Academies.

The under-16 Bowl is at the same stage. Already through to the semi-finals are Trinity Academy who had a 28-19 win over Westhill Academy, and Biggar High School who defeated Larbert High School 28-5. The other two semi-finalists will emerge from today’s match in Wester Ross between Plockton High School and Madras College, and the game on Saturday between Shawlands Academy/Kings Park Secondary and Hawick High School.

Gathering pace, too, is the National Youth Cup, the quarter-finals of which will be played this coming weekend following last Saturday’s first round matches. Defending champions Stirling County, who defeated Melrose Wasps, are away to Hamilton while Borders contenders Selkirk Youth Club play Biggar Colts and Gala Wanderers travel to Inverness to take on Highland. The other quarter-final is between last season’s beaten finalists, Dumfries, and the Edinburgh champions, Boroughmuir.

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6

Turbrech

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:47 PM

Surely the solution is for Murrayfield to be a little less stupid. They have picked random dates without caring about what happens outside their plush carpeted offices.

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tomtom678

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 07:28 PM

#4 I totally agree with you, on top of that we will have player burn out, they will stop playing and concentrate on studieswork instead of mixing both,then they will become overweight by not playing. looks like someone needs to have a word with the governing bodygovernment.

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wolfcrag

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 02:42 PM

No2& 3# - That's exactly the point made in this article re-Earlston Melrose Wasps and Jed Thistle Jedburgh Grammar players.. The players at U16 & U18 level, are in the main, the same players who play for both their school and youth rugby teams. The growth comes, is coming, well before 16-18 years of age, its at at mini and S123 level. This is where youngsters have made their choices as to whether they play rugby at a competitive level. Ever since clubs started mini and midi sections the level of physicality and skills development has improved but the competitiveness of Scottish Youth Rugby is poor as evidenced by the way our U20's struggle in the junior 6 nations and world cups. The issue to me is to plan a proper structure with either schools or clubs representing their town or area, in a league and a cup, because the present system is not working, its not about player numbers because they are churned,its about competitiveness at 16-20 level.

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The Rattler

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:01 AM

Call me a trouble maker but why not be a bit more flexible with timings rather than forcing games into small windows. Jed Under 16's have had to play their school semi-final on Thursday, followed by their Club National Cup match Saturday, then the School final Wednesday. Kids that age shouldn't be having to play 3 matches in the same week.

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tomtom678

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:25 AM

#1 the last bit on your comment would effect the playing numbers and therefore would show a drop in youths playing the game, do not think the union would want that to happen.

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wolfcrag

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:29 AM

The problem is with the structure of youth rugby in Scotland from top to bottom. The result, is as above, too many games for these young players and its part of a problem the SRU have to wake up to. Rugby DO's are chasing too few players, who in many cases, play for both school and club. The solution, a mixed national youth and schools cup. In addition set up associated regional leagues which include play off's between the respective district winners of each league to get to a national league champion. Oh and to qualify players register with and play for either their school or club, not both!

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