All

Firstly, a big congratulations to all the boys who represented Marr at Greenock and Stirling on Sunday – 4 winners and 3 runners-up positions shows the strength of the Mini Section across all 6 age groups from P2-P7. Match reports below.

Also, a big thank you to Katie, the P5 parents and other parent helpers with the catering on Saturday for the visit of Kelso. The food was great, there was some tough matches against Kelso and the Kelso Squad had a great day at Marr Rugby Club / Fullarton Woods - leaving at 4pm!!!

We are coming to the last month of the season and the Tournaments are coming thick and fast. There are some changes to age groups invited and additions to the fixtures that we have just founds out about. Please have a look below :-

Forthcoming Fixtures/Training

Saturday 2nd May Training at Fullarton P1 to P7
Sunday 3rd May Livingston Tournament (Away P2 to P7)

Saturday 9th May Training at Fullarton P1 to P7
Sunday 10th May GHA (P1 to P2) and West Tournament (Away P4 to P7)

Saturday 16th May Training at Fullarton P1 to P7
Sunday 17th May East Kilbride Tournament (Away P3 to P7)

Saturday 23rd May Training at Fullarton P1 to P7
Sunday 24th May Stirling Tournament (Away P4 to P7)

Saturday 30th May Training Fun Day at Fullarton P1 to P7
Sunday 31st May GHA Tournament (Away P2 to P7)

This Sunday 3rd May - Livingston P2 to P7

On Sunday P2-P7 are invited to the Livingston Tournament. As Livingston’s space is limited they hold the P2-5 tournaments in the morning, starting at 10.30 (meet 10am), while the P6-7 tournaments kick-off at 1.30 (meet 13:00).

As with most tournaments squad numbers are limited to:
P2 – 10 (6 on a pitch)
P3 – 10 (6 on a pitch)
P4 - 10 (6 on a pitch)
P5 – 10 (6 on a pitch)
P6 – 12 (8 on a pitch)
P7 – 14 (10 on a pitch)

If selected (as numbers are limited) players should meet at Marr at 8.30am for P3-5 and 11.30 for P6-7 or make their own way there, aiming to arrive at 10.00 and 13.00 respectively. Please let your coaches know if you are meeting at Marr or going direct.

Usual guidelines re match kit, boots, gumshields, juice and any snack required to keep you going.

For those travelling direct, Livingston’s address is:
Livingston Rugby Club
Almond Park
Craigshill
Livingston
EH54 5NP

Almond Park is accessed from Almond South Road (there is a sign for the rugby club) which is off Almond Road. Here is the link to their website:
www.pitchero.com/clubs/livingston/location/

Last Weekends Match Reports

P2 Match Report

After a delayed start due to the Scottish weather deciding to show its flip side after such a glorious week of spring sunshine, we were all "treated " to four seasons in one day during the course of the four matches the boys played.
Perhaps as a result of the previous hour's climatic intervention, the boys were a bit slow to start. The Cartha team had several good runs eventually repelled by some timely tackling, and the young girl playing predominantly out on Cartha's right wing was clearly needing to be closely marked. As the Marr boys' confidence grew, a quick couple of side steps from Fraser I lead to a very tidy score in the corner. Confidence was on the up and the rare sight of passes being made prior to being tackled allowed Ben and Ian to run in a try each with last gasp efforts from Benjamin and Matthew unable to prevent the Cartha response just before half time. A quick pep talk, a couple of personnel changes, and it was back to business. Both teams exchanged scores early in the second half, with Ythan scoring for Marr. Following a period of misplaced possession from both teams, Oliver, Rory and Ryan all displayed their versatility with some well timed tackles, strong running and accurate passing to allow Fraser to score twice in the last couple of minutes. A well deserved victory from the first competitive match in nearly six months.

Greenock Wanderers
The second match was a very strange encounter. The Greenock team have only been together for 3 months and their inexperience showed in their hesitancy in passing the ball followings the Marr boys' tackles. This made it difficult for Marr to actually gain any meaningful possession in offensive areas. Frustration was eventually broken when Fraser and Matthew scored in quick succession. Ben and Ian soon followed in with further scores following good quick passing out of tackles by Ryan and Rory. A momentary lack of concentration allowed Greenock to get a score back, which was no less than their efforts deserved. Bar some over enthusiastic running a further try should have resulted when Fraser and Matthew broke through only for a bad bounce to deny the latter a second try which his constant tackling deserved. By now all the boys were working as a good tight unit able to quickly switch from offence to defence in the blink of an eye, and able to make significant territorial gains before the opposition had regrouped.

Ardrossan
Another quick snack and fluid intake, then back out for the next match while the sun shone. A quick start by Ardrossan almost lead to an instant score but for Ben and Ryan closing the door a yard short of Marr's goal line. A timely wake up call, as the boys powered forward linking well together to give Ian a try. Ythan followed over minutes later following a fantastic pass out the tackle from Fraser. No one except Ythan saw than one coming, and the opposition seemed quite stunned by what had happened, with some well deserved applause from both sets of supporters now huddling against a cold breeze. Ardrossan put together a sequence of short runs and passes to allow them to score despite almost the entire Marr team attempting to tackle the scorer and maintain their clean sheet. Fraser was having none of this, and straight off the second pass ran in his customary score to keep Marr out in front. Following yet more good tackling from Rory, Oliver, Benjamin, Ryan and Matthew, Ben McB pounced on a loose ball and ran in to score seconds before full time.

Cartha rematch
Following the earlier encounter and victories in the other two matches, the boys went into this desperate to end with another win. A strong start resulted in Fraser scoring easily to open the account, and maintain his record of a try in every one of the P2's 10 games this season. Only made possible by the excellent support and tackling from a very promising group.
Plenty of tackles were exchanged in this very tight match, as Cartha deservedly levelled and then almost went ahead, but for the usual onslaught of last ditch tackles and eventual ball winning to repel the opposition. A further try from Ian just before half time, set things up nicely for the concluding act. Some strong pressure from Marr eventually allowed Ythan to score mid way through the half. Cartha managed a further score before the end as the hail came on and all agreed that the tournament was best ended before we all suffered at the hands of the weather.

A fantastic result to win their first full tournament and congratulations to Ryan for his Marr player of the tournament award. All the boys have provided a great platform to build on, and with invitations being received to further tournaments in the next few weeks, hopefully all the squad will be able to attend and have as wonderful a day's rugby as we enjoyed at Greenock, despite the weather!

P3 Match Report

Saturday 25th Kelso rolled into town on their end of season tour – Unfortunately they only had seven players at P3 during to some non-rugby related injuries picked up during the Easter holidays, as we had the Greenock & Stirling Tournaments on the following day it was agreed that we would play two games against Kelso one with each squad and then extend the pitch and have a mixed up fun for all giant match.
Marr Stirling squad 4 - Kelso 0
Our visitors and friends form the borders gave us a great match. Entertaining, flowing rugby from both sides and I can hardly recall a dropped ball.
Our boys were stronger on the attack, frequently finding breaks in the Kelso defence and beyond to their try line.
The Kelso attack was good and certainly tested, and at times stretched our defence, our boys kept their shape preventing any advance on our try line.
Well done boys! had to play our best here against a very decent, well-organised team.
Marr G v Kelso – It took the Greenock boys a couple of minutes to get into the swing of things at one point it was one Marr boys against Kelso as everyone seemed to forget what we had to do, Easter holiday break affecting a lot of the boys. Soon though we got back into it, we had a couple of try’s on the board when Kelso made a break down the wing and got the ball down which seemed to act as a wakeup call for everyone and the defence line was set to stop Kelso playing a flowing game, in attack the running support was back and passes where whizzing along the line and everyone was back to smiling. A every good work-out but lots of pointers to work on for the warm-up on Sunday.
Mixed game – This was the highlight I think for everyone, Gareth included, as Marr and Kelso players where mixed up and a huge game of rugby ensued, they would still be playing I think had exhaustion and hunger not brought it to an end as everyone went for a hot dog, extremely happy after a fab day.

Greenock Tournament
Squad for Greenock: Jamie, Zach, Kenzie, Fionn, Rory S, Findlay, Matthew & Ewan Mathieson.
After lovely weather on the drive up to Greenock and for the warm-up where yesterday’s errors where worked on the Heavens opened as we started against or hosts…
Marr v Greenock: 7 – 0
The boys had now remembered that we were playing rugby after Saturday and the warm-up session and set off like a rocket the line was a solid wall that Greenock just couldn’t get passed, as soon as Marr turned the ball over it was worked up the pitch and a scored very quickly, the cold wind and heavy rain started to affect all the players, Marr and Greenock alike, and after getting to half time with 5 tries scored the second half slowed down a bit but still Marr played fantastic rugby keeping Greenock out and getting another two scores.
Marr v Ardrossen Tigers: 3 – 1
The tigers where a very tight outfit running forward and getting passes away, it was just as well that we had worked on the defences line before hand as we had to work very hard for most of the match the tigers had the ball, again though our attacking play was brilliant to watch as we only had the ball three times and scored on each occasion but a tighter game than the score line suggested.
Marr v Cartha: 6 – 3
Not sure if this team didn’t have a couple of younger boys in their numbers as the game went along much of the same way as the others, we gave them a couple of tries that wouldn’t have been given had the game been tighter but awarded them for the effort the young boys put in.

Marr v Ardrossen Lions: 0 – 2
This was a fantastic game, spoiled somewhat by the lions coach, especially as he had no need to spoil it, the game was flying back and forth and only two seconds switching off costings us the two tries, but it was starting to become a long day at that point, however the determination and fight to get back into the game showed by some of the boys was for my part a great reaction to going behind in the match.
Marr came in 2nd place behind the Lions and Zach Kelly was voted to be the Marr player of the day and well deserved.

P4 Match Report

The P4s travelled to Greenock hoping to add to the trophy they won at the Marr tournament in March. Playing Kelso on Saturday was good preparation for a tough tournament but the opposition at Greenock were not nearly as strong and the boys were able to turn on the style.

Unusually, Greenock had decided to play 7 a side instead of the usual 6 and the pitches were quite small so there was going to be less scope for running round the outside. Marr were quite happy with this as we had been working on attacking through the middle in training for some time.

The first game was delayed as Cartha waited for players to arrive but, just as the teams took to the field to play a reduced 5 a side game, the rest of the Cartha team arrived and the game started with the full 14 players. There was no doubt who was going to win it from the first few minutes with Marr running in try after try. At half time the ref asked Marr to refrain from rucking as Cartha hadn't yet learned that aspect of the game but it didn't have any affect on Marr's control on the game. Cartha managed 2 tries in the second half but the game ended 11-2 to Marr.

Marr played Whitecraigs next and they were a stronger team than Cartha and had been well drilled in rucking but Marr were faster and more determined in attack and defence. There was some confusion among the Marr coaches and parents in the first half at the continuous penalties awarded against Marr until the ref explained that he wanted them to allow the tackled player a couple of seconds to place the ball back to his team before the defending team tried to take it. Once that was explained the game carried on with fewer penalties. Whitecraigs put up a reasonable challenge but Marr never looked like losing and won the game 9-3.

Finally Marr took on Greenock and were in control from the start, winning 11-0 to take the P4 trophy. That was followed by a game of 20 a side touch with Marr and Cartha (Martha) against Whitecraigs and Greenock Wanderers (The White Wanderers). We then finished things off with catching a flying gazebo and a bit more sheltering from the rain before the awards ceremony.

It was a long day but the boys had a great time and it was good to get another trophy. John

P5 Match Report

The P5s travelled through to Greenock on the back of a "lesson" from our Borders chums from Kelso the previous day. A lesson in defence and counter attack that demonstrated that a porous back line is no way to achieve victory! Ross, Alex, Adam, Joe, Kyle, Ru, Jono, Luke and Charlie made the trip for a 7-a-side round robin.

Match 1 - Ardrossan - Good start to the afternoon against an inexperienced looking Accies outfit, and much in the same way that Ayrshire derbies have gone this season the boys got their game heads on straight away. In reality the boys raced into an unassailable lead within the first few minutes, meaning the opponents heads went down. I counted 9 tries to the purples, with a consolation for Ardrossan.

Match 2 - Cartha - Lots of compliments from the Cartha coaching staff before the game (having scouted us against Ardrossan) which was lovely to hear, but a much tougher defensive test in store. The boys stepped up and started making tackles, even some of the less confident ones, the only development area being that they could work more on bringing their opponents down. No such worries in attack, tries aplenty again, especially in the first half putting us out of sight before the shrill of the half time whistle. Try of the day came in the second half as a offload from Charlie put Joe through at full speed and from the resulting breakdown Jono burst through tackles and put Alex over in the corner. 6-3 to the lads.

Match 3 - Greenock - This would turn out to be the decider and it had everything! Hail showers, try line fumbles, three different ball sizes, tears, driving mauls with the lead changing hands twice and no one really knowing the result. What I do know is that playing away from home in difficult conditions lays bare the qualities of a team, and I'm delighted to say I liked what I saw. This team has got guts and they are together as one which will stand them in great stead for the future. I genuinely never found out the score.

Match 4 - Whitecraigs - Not knowing whether a win draw or loss would be enough, the boys were sent out to win. After watching Whitecraigs v Greenock moments earlier, we knew this would be an even tougher test. No problem, first half blitz attack worked again, and it could have been more than the 5-0 scoreline had some tryline opportunities been shared. We've all been guilty of that though, so I certainly wasn't criticising. The second half was closer, although certainly not the "draw" that our game coach alleged. 6-1 was the official result, but we weren't counting at that stage.

Great day out, the boys all had smiles on their faces. Runner up was good reward for their efforts and Ross was named player of the day.

P6 Match Report

Greenock Tournament Report
Marr P6 were grouped with Cartha QP, Whitecraigs and Greenock Wanderers playing six [‘home and away’ 7 a side matches, 7 minutes each way on a day when the weather on the Costa Clyde did a tour of the seasons in one afternoon. Congratulations to our hosts who had erected pitch side marquees for shelter! Our squad of ten worthies were: Logan, Rory I, Murray, Benn C, Angus, Andrew, Charlie, Rory C, Sean, James and Brodie [which is 11, but by gum, we needed them all].

The first match was relatively straightforward against Cartha, with the boys showing good continuity play and running to win well. The second against Whitecraigs was closer, with only a last gap tackle at the death securing a one point win. The third against Greenock was a turgid affair, and also our first loss, as we seemed to temporarily lose the ability to keep the ball moving and stretch them wide. They were also too strong at the rucks and that killed us. After the first round of matches everyone was pretty exhausted, especially Cartha who had no replacements and were becoming battle weary [I genuinely felt sorry for them]. It was agreed that the other teams would help them out and treat the second round of games less competitively. For match five we lent Cartha a couple of players, but still managed to run out ‘uncompetitive’ winners. In match five we took on a fresh [ha! they had 7 replacements] Greenock team, stretched them this time, and won a close game. Then we heard a wee rumour that our last match against Whitecraigs might be a decider, but we know that competing is what it’s all about for the boys, so we didn’t get as worked up on the sidelines about winning as some other coaching teams did! It was a cracking game and we came up with some good running, hard tackling, still patchy rucking and plenty of tries, no one could fault the whole squad effort.

What about all the actual play I hear you ask? Well, direct play, support , offloading, opening up space and some marvellous runs past/ through/ round/ over the opposition by all of our boys led to some marvellous tries for Logan, Rory I, Angus, Andrew, Charlie, Rory C, Sean and Brodie. There was nice link play from Murray and Benn had some of his trademark barnstorming ‘haud ma chips’ forays forward. Unfortunately James was injured, but determinedly battled on bravely in the first game before being [wisely] withdrawn to allow his strapped knee to recuperate for next week. It was good stuff. Congratulations to Rory C, who jinked, junked and jonked to our man of the tournament, and Captains Rory I and Andrew who led by example.

Thanks to all the Marr parents who turned up to support the boys in purple & gold again, as ever your encouragement is much appreciated, and also to our hosts for their hospitality [and in particular the excellent burgers]. The coaches were especially pleased as everyone stepped up and played their part, we thought the boys were excellent yesterday and all contributed well.

Ps…….. we won.

P7 Match Report

Game 1 v Whitecraigs
Whitecraigs arrived with only 4 boys so it was agreed that each team who were on their 'rest period' would loan them players to make up a team. Our hosts were not playing in the first round of fixtures so they lent them some from their pool. Clearly they lent them some of their better players too who were used to playing S1 rules.
The game was a bit like a basketball match with each team scoring in turn. Aaron opened the scoring for Marr, with Nairn adding a couple before half time. Oly got in on the scoring act before Nairn managed a second half hat trick. Unfortunately Whitecraigs were scoring regularly too.
With the match entering the last play and seemingly still in the balance, Whitecraigs looked set to score but a great covering tackle from Stephen saved the day and brought the match to an end.
The match reporter had Marr 1 ahead at that point but the ref had scored it differently and gave it to Marr by 8-4???? Anyway, it was definitely a deserved win as the tackling was much more solid in the second half.

Game 2 v Cartha
The first half of this match saw Marr really turn on the style. Some great footwork, excellent support play especially from Harris and David, and some great passing from Aaron sae Marr score 9 unanswered tries in the seven minute half. Constantly pressing their opponents, the Marr boys were simply too hot to handle. Scorers in this half were Oly 4, Nairn and Stephen with 2 each and Declan crossing for a try which brought him great pleasure.
A stern half time team talk from the Cartha coach brought a much improved second half performance from our opponents and while they finally managed to get to grips with the powerful running of Aidan and Aaron, Donald decided it was time for him to score some tries. He helped himself to 3 with some elusive running and Stephen finished off the scoring for Marr with a burst down the wing.
Again, the support play was excellent and we regularly had at least 2 waiting on a pass which would have made some of the scores even simpler.

Game 3 v Greenock
This looked like it was going to be the decided and a tough ask against a good side littered with older boys.
The Marr boys stood firm though and seemed to revel as the tackling went up a notch or too. Harris and Oly were now putting much more venom into their tackles and with Declan getting down to tackle the legs, our hosts were finding it difficult to gain any ground. A couple of spilled balls meant we missed out on a couple of scores but half time came with the score tied at 1-1.
The second half was even more impressive with the running power of Nairn, Oly and Stephen constantly stretching the home defence and leaving the home side beating the turf as they evaded tackles.
Donald was instrumental in the 3 tries scored without reply in the second half which resulted in a 4-1 victory. Every boy put in great effort in this game and were rewarded with a fine win.

Game 4 v Ardrossan

Aidan was now ready to add his customary power to the rucks after recovering from a nasty cut. The boys knew that a victory would seal the title. Ardrossan started brightly and for the first few minutes put us under pressure and took a deserved lead. Gradually Marr came back into the game with tries from Oly and Stephen. The next try was a real cheeky effort from Donald, with our opponents under a bit of pressure after being forced back onto their own line , the ball was fumbled and Donald pounced before anyone else could react.
Harris added another try before half time as the half ended much more comfortably than it began.
The second half began with Stephen and Oly touching down after bursts down either wing. Ardrossan pulled one back before Stephen completed his hat trick. A feature of this game was the support play of David - whenever a try was scored, he was always there in support- incredible work rate.
The last score of the day came from Aaron, who despite not scoring many certainly had a few assists to his name and was picked by the other coaches as Marrs player of the day.
After that the Whitecraigs coach approached our boys to see if there was any willing volunteers to play for them in their final match- amazingly every boy wanted to play and each of them did at some point. Great attitude and a credit to your club.
All in all, every boy should be proud of his efforts and other than in the first game, all of our opponents had to work very hard for any scores they got.
Well done boys and congratulations on keeping up the record of having at least one tournament success every year through the minis.