Schools rugby: Linlithgow must wait for last-four opponents

Linlithgow Academy have been drawn against the winners of the one remaining unplayed quarter-final tie between Carrick Academy and Peebles High School in the semi-final of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools U18 Plate competition.

Depending on the outcome of that match in Ayrshire, Linlithgow Academy could have a preview of what to expect when they face Carrick Academy this weekend in a friendly fixture.

In the other Plate semi-final, Earlston High School are drawn at home against Madras College, comfortable winners over Morrison’s Academy at the weekend.

Linlithgow Academy are also in the last four of the Plate at U16 level and will face the winners of the match between Marr College and Peebles High School.

Meanwhile, Jedburgh Grammar School are hoping for success against the Lomond and Helensburgh combination to secure a place in the semi-final and a home tie against last season’s beaten finalists, The Gordon Schools Huntly.

The higher tier Brewin Dolphin Cup competition has already been completed but, on Saturday, there was a re-run of the final when George Watson’s College and Edinburgh Academy met at Myreside. The game was less tense than the Murrayfield meeting but the result was the same, with Academy emerging 25-18 winners.

“As expected, this was a much better game than the final, with high-quality rugby from both sides,” said Academy coach Mark Appleson, who added: “Stand-off Zander Muir controlled our possession brilliantly and that was probably the difference between the two sides.”

The points gap came down to goal kicking, centre Alex Swan showing accuracy to land two conversions and two penalties. And with two tries to his credit, Swan ended with a 20-points tally. The winning try, however, came from a blindside break and 60-metre dash to the line by Scotland U18 squad scrum-half Alex Glashan. Matt Poole, Rhys Jack and Dominic Johnston scored tries for Watson’s.

Brewin Dolphin semi-finalists Merchiston and Stewart’s-Melville were also in action at the weekend. Merchiston, whose scrum half, Alex Webb, has been named in the Ireland U18 team to face Italy, scored a 74-0 victory against Lomond School, while their development side North Berwick High School 34-12. The East Lothian school, however, had successes over Merchiston at under 16 and under 14 levels.

Stewart’s-Melville beat Hutchesons’ Grammar 29-0. Elsewhere, Glasgow High School defeated Dundee High School 38-3, Glasgow Academy had a 13-5 success against St Aloysius College and Marr College were decisive winners by 62-0 over Wellington School.