Bell Baxter Rugby
Under 15s Take on Dundee High School
Bell Baxter's Under 15s take on Dundee High School next Thursday (3rd December) at Duffus Park in the latest match in their Brewin Dolphin run.
Kick off is at 2.15pm.
Buckhaven HS U18 16 v 48 Bell Baxter U18
Bell Baxter HS U 18's travelled to Buckhaven HS to play their first match in the Brewin Dolphin ( formerly Bell Lawrie ) Scottish Schools Cup. BBHS lined up as follows
Duncan Campbell, Scott Sloan, Conor Albon, Robert Struthers,Michael Hill, Domonic Martin ( capt) , Ross Chistie, Adam Honeyman, Scott Loosemore,Andy Warrender, Tom Lumsden, Rhu Paul, Iain Masson,Michael Ridley, Donald Stewart. Replacements ( all used) Alistair Wilson, Callum McBain,Grant Thomson, Duncan Mcintyre,Grant Thomson, John Read and Daniel McDougall.
Buckhaven were somewhat of an unknown quantity but with a sprinkling of pathway players and a good win by 44 - 0 against Breadalban HS Bell Baxter would have to play well to come away with a win. The school team had a shuffle in the forwards to play to individuals strengths.BBHS played into a strong sun with the wind against in the first half and from the kick off were under pressure from a very motivated opposition. Camped on their own goal line the defensive efforts of the back row helped repel attack after attack. Some headless play by several players led to a couple of penalties after 16 min , both in kicking range which the sharp and elusive Buckhaven 10 managed to convert. Despite these setbacks BBHS played composed rugby with good lineout possession being turned into territory as the centre pairing of Albon and Struthers managed to distribute ball wide to the powerful running of Scott Sloan , Duncan Campbell and Michael Hill. Pressure eventually turned to points after 24 min with a good combination between backs and forwards. Decision making was distinctly improved from recent matches and from patient build up play a good team try was scored wide by Scott Sloan. Dom Martin failed to convert. On receipt of the kick off Rhu Paul as again penalised for daft play on the ground at a ruck and the Buckhaven 10 , who had proven he had ability with he boot converted again. Kicking into the wind Dom Martin managed to hang the restart on the 10 m. This allowed Scott Loosemore, playing a great game at this older level, to gather and set up possession. Eventually after several phases and control , a lightning break with good sidestep from Robert Struthers led to a score under the posts. Dom Martin converted. Half time sounded with BBHS in the ascendancy . Some mistakes and ill discipline had proved costly in the first half so composure , cutting out mistakes and executing the basics well were priorities for the second half. Immediately at the kick off Buckhaven knocked on . From the resultant scrum Michael Ridley took the strike against the head- testament to excellent effort from the whole front row of Ian Masson and Donald Stewart. Adam Honeyman picked up at number 8 and broke well to feed Michael Hill who scurried up the wing like a ferret to score a well earned first XV try. Dom Martin converted well from out wide. This seemed to inject confidence into the BBHS team as they won copious possession in tight and loose play. Scrums while not dominant were secure and accurate throwing from Michael Ridley meant the lineout functioned well. A great series of rucks 10 min into the second half with possession being kept well by the boys .Eventually Ross Christie fed well to Dom Martin who had his backline ticking like a well oiled machine. Good handling meant Scott Sloan had a great run in for a try from 40 m. BBHS threatened to cut loose from here to really score freely however Buckhaven were very committed if lacking fitness compared to the BBHS boys. Playing into the wind and making mistakes at crucial times they were finding it tough to get beyond halfway . Each of their attacks was countered but one fantastic run from their own 22m led to a foot race up the left touchline by their stand off, by a country mile their best player . Corner flagging like a good full back Duncan Mcintyre put in a great tackle to halt this attack on BBHS 5 m line. BBHS cleared their lines well and with Dom Martin kicking well from hand made excellent ground. BBHS made some replacements giving younger players Callum McBain , Alistair Wilson, and John Read a run. From pressure on a Buckhaven lineout Callum McBain made a fantastic steal and BBHS broke into the Buckhaven 22m, Good combination between Mc Bain , Wilson and Ridley led to a loose kick collected by Adam Honeyman who broke 2 tackles and scored under the posts. Dom Martin converted. BBHS continued to press and with confidence flowing another strike against the head led to Honeyman picking up and feeding Michael Hill again. This attack was stopped and with excellent handling through replacement backs Angus Guthrie and Grant Thomson the ball was fed out to Scott Sloan to score again out wide on the right. With full time imminent a slack pass by Buckhaven allowed Alistair Wilson to pounce and eventually Dom Martin broke clean through, evading all tackles for a well earned captain's try to finish the game. Despite missing several kicks at goal the scoreline speaks volumes and the much improved overall team performance was much more in line with the players potential. Set piece was secure and as a result of much quicker ball in the loose the backline could function effectively. The newer players adapted very well and the whole squad played strongly to help the team achieve a well deserved win. Many thanks to all parents and supporters who travelled to Buckhaven to cheer the boys on.
HOGGAN HAT TRICK BOOKS PLACE IN SEMI-FINAL OF BELL LAWRIE PLATE - Monday 2nd March 2009
After a bruising but winning encounter on the Saturday before against Heriots at Goldenacre (Score 55-10), Bell-Baxter S3 took on Jordanhill at Duffus Park two days later on Monday afternoon in the quarter final of the Bell Lawrie Plate competition.
In an affair which started and finished rather tensely, Bell-Baxter took an early lead through winger Jaydan Hoggan, who had been involved twice in the build-up, duly converted by Angus Guthrie.
A second try came shortly afterwards through wing forward Andrew Steven after some excellent support play.
Bell-Baxter then seemed to go off the boil, making far too many unforced errors, allowing Jordanhill the chance to gain some momentum and score a try, excellently converted from the side line.
A try just before half-time by Bell-Baxter’s other winger, Jack Todd, took the score at the halfway stage to 19-7.
Bell-Baxter got the second half off to just the right start with a forwards try from S2 replacement Cameron Miller, and just when the game seemed to be won, Bell Baxter once again seemed to back off, allowing Jordanhill the chance to score two more tries, taking the score to 26-19, a little bit too close for comfort.
Some stern words from the Bell-Baxter coaches under the posts seemed to do the trick. Right from the restart Bell-Baxter seemed to go up a gear. Some fine driving play by the forwards, particularly the aggressive Cameron Miller and Callum McBain, allowed some good quick clean ball getting out to the backs, where man of the match Stephen Martin time and time again crashed through the centre at pace, feeding winger Hoggan for two more of his tries.
Whilst Jordanhill continued to fight to the end, they could do nothing more to prevent the final score being 41-19.
Whilst not the prettiest of wins, a win is a win, and well done to the boys who now look forward to a place in the semi-finals.
Date for the diary is Sunday 29th March when the boys as Howe play their National Youth Cup Plate Final against GHA – venue is yet to be confirmed.
Bell Baxter Retain the Scottish Schools 7's
Bell Baxter H.S had an easy start to The John Lewis Scottish Schools 7's on Saturday 26th April with a 1st round bye, round 2 saw them settling in with a straightforward win against Forfar Academy 31v 0, round 3 the guys were starting to play 7's rugby running in 40 v 0 winners against Duncanrig Secondary School. The ¼ finals we were up against Marr College who looked the part but put up little resistance for us to win 33 v 0. In the semi-final we were told that Cathkin High School were easy prey and we gave them too much room to allow them in for an early try, we responded quickly and ran out 17 v 5 winners. The Cup Final was against Gala Academy who had looked good throughout the Competition, they had a lot of pace and skill, quite simply we had to close them down. In the best display of rugby all day the BBHS lads did as they were coached and played a good blend of attacking and defensive rugby to run out 31 v 5, I cannot single out one player as being outstanding, all the lads gave it 100% and are a great credit to themselves, their coaches and the School.
Ross Aitken was presented with The Man of the Match plaque by Stephen Gemmell, the Scotland 7's coach, before the team went up for the Cup presentation.
The BBHS school 7's team photo shows; front l to r, Willy Wardlaw, Michael Brooks, Chris Martin, Steve Aitken (Head Coach), Rory Drummond and Michael Fedo, back l to r, Phil Black (Rector), Ross Aitken Captain, Andy Young, Conar Dow, Joe Barker, Murray Calcutt and Mike Dow (Coach).