Two in a row! .....Sat 14th Jan
Crieff 18 - Bannockburn 0
See match report here...
1st XV Captain Cammy celebrates birthday victory with some friends...
Crieff complete a second victory in a row, beating visitors Bannockburn in a fiery, fiercely contested home match. The match kicked off with both teams very evenly matched and contesting each ball with tremendous passion and fire. With little to separate the two sides, Crieff's discipline made the difference, with the Bannockburn full back paying price for foul play and an off the ball punch to Crieff captain, Kennedy and Crieff's Ross Johnston slotted two penalties to put the home side in the lead at the end of the first half. In the second half, Crieff began to wear down the defence, left short handed following the first half red card. Mid way through the second half, a massive clearance kick made and crucially chased by Ross Johnston, resulted in a supremely skilful solo effort to put Crieff 11 points ahead, all from Ross. In the last few minutes of play, Crieff closed the game and scoring with a well worked team try, finally capitalising on the overlap and scored in the corner by substitute wing Callum Laing. Strong performances by Captain Cameron Kennedy to take a well deserved Man of the Match award, Flanker Alister Prentice and Scrum half, the petrous Kenny Butler.
This second victory in a row has further strengthened the bond within the squad and bodes well for their away match this weekend against Stobswell. The squad will be meeting at the Towers at 11:30am for a 2pm Kick-off.
Saturday 14th January Crieff dominate the day.
Arbroath 12 Crieff 18
Crieff travelled up to Arbroath for the first game after the Christmas break. The Crieff squad kicked off in to a stiff breeze. From the off, Crieff mounted sustained pressure and dominated much of the game. Some ill discipline by the Crieff squad cost them a number of metres following disputes with the young referee's decisions, but they soon understood how the referee worked and concentrated on the game play. The ill discipline transferred to the Arbroath squad and resulted in Crieff's Ross Johnston slotting two penalties in the first half. The Crieff squad remained unchanged for the first half with the three subs waiting in the wings. Arbroath failed to capitalise on their wind advantage in the first half. Indeed, the mighty boot of Ross Johnston fooled spectators and players alike, believing that they were playing with the wind in the first half!
In the second half, the luxury of the three substitute players Chris Gunn and John Bell in the backs and young Stephen Butler on the flank, refreshed some of the "Christmas legs". Crieff had the wind advantage and capitalised on it more than the home squad had done. Forwards Jim Leishman, Jack Loxley and Captain Cameron Kennedy had superb, consistently high work rates, and helped cement the core of this "new" squad. Debutante scrum half Callum Flett, (a younger, more handsome and straighter running player than his namesake Peter Flett, at lock) had an excellent lively performance securing him a worthy man of the match award. The Crieff back division never really looked under pressure from the Arbroath back line and the continued dominance for the first three quarters of the match. A great team drive through a rolling maul resulted in Jim Leishman diving over for a well worked forwards try, converted by Johnston. Craig Wishart followed with a great individual effort a few minutes later.
The final quarter saw the entire squad switch off for a couple of minutes. This lapse in concentration allowed Arbroath to run through two soft tries one of which was converted.
It was all too little, too late for Arbroath. Crieff had a solid, clearly dominant performance for the first game back after the Christmas break. There is real promise for the rest of the season. With this squad, the future looks bright. Great to be back winning. Well done lads!
Next weekend Crieff are at home to Bannockburn with a 2 o'clock kick-off. All players and spectators welcome to come and enjoy the hospitality.
