RBS Regional Cup rugby: Forrest leads from front in dogged Dundee win

HOOKER Simon Forrest scored two tries to lead Dundee HSFP to victory against Aberdeen Grammar in the RBS Caledonia Regional Cup on Saturday.

The front-row at Mayfield of Neil Dymock, Forrest and Alan Brown is one of the best in the club game in Scotland and they proved that again at the weekend.

The trio gave their side a good platform in the match and Forrest chipped in with the two scores and a man of the match showing in the 19-15 victory in Group A.

Winger Erland Oag opened the scoring for Grammar early on before Forrest hit back soon after to leave the teams tied at 5-5. Former Perthshire man Jack Steele then kicked two penalties for the hosts to see them go into the break 11-5 to the good. In the second-half, stand-offs Cam Brown and Rob Aloe swapped penalties to leave things delicately poised at 14-8 to Dundee HSFP before the visitors scored a converted try through livewire scrum-half Morgan Ward to give them a one-point lead.

But, with 10 minutes to go, Forrest went over again to see Dundee HSFP edge it.

In the same group, Kirkcaldy went to Morgan Academy and won 32-18, Craig Wilson leading the way with two tries.

In Group B, Howe of Fife started the year in fine form with a 44-8 thumping of Perthshire on the road.

In the RBS West Regional Cup, Hillhead/Jordanhill will face Glasgow Hawks in the last eight in a fortnight’s time after they saw off Cartha Queens Park at Dumbreck. The hosts had dominated early proceedings but failed to get any points on the board, and the visitors managed to take the lead through a try by winger Andrew Leslie.

Centre Will Marshall added a penalty and Hillhead were 8-0 to the good at half-time. The home side came out flying after the break, however, and a try reduced the arrears to just three points.

But, with 15 minutes remaining, Hillhead secured the win when front-row man Will Goulden scored a try converted by Leslie to register a 15-5 victory.

Whitecraigs are through to the semi-finals after a 28-19 win over Hamilton.

Currie put Lasswade to the slaughter 91-7 at Malleny Park in the RBS Edinburgh Regional Cup, thereby securing their semi-final place. The capital side ran in 15 tries to get 2012 started with a bang.