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RECORD ENTRY FOR BELL LAWRIE SCHOOLS CUP
Posted: 04/Sep/07
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Entries for the 2007-08 Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup have set another new record. For the first time in the competition’s 24-year history more than 200 schools will be participating across both the under-18 and under-15 tournaments.
Some 31 new schools have joined the tournaments this season – all from the state sector – and drawn from Scotland’s eight regions, taking the total entry across both age-groups to 210.
Colin Thomson, SRU Head of Community Rugby, hailed the news. “More Scottish youngsters are being introduced to rugby through the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup year on year and that’s a positive trend.
“What we’re also finding is that this is proving the catalyst for more children to have more opportunities to play more often and that has to be the recipe for the competition to continue to grow and generate more players for the community game in Scotland.
“As the national squad are about to depart for the game’s biggest showpiece, Rugby World Cup, I also think we should acknowledge the significant role the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup is playing in developing those players with potential. Alongside the John Lewis Youth League Cup and our Player Pathway programme we’re making strides in accelerating the progress of those players and their readiness for top level competition.”
Marc Wilkinson, director at investment managers Bell Lawrie, said: “We are delighted with the number of entrants this year, yet again breaking records. Last year we said that our aim was to grow the competition further over the next three years of our sponsorship and we are heartened to see this is already happening.
“We now have more than 100 teams in both the under-15 and under-18 tournaments and more than 5,000 children participating in the competition, which is phenomenal.
“Bell Lawrie started sponsoring the Schools Cup in 2001 in the hope that we could encourage more school children to take part in competitive rugby and to produce more talented young players.
“Seeing players such as John Barclay, who won the Schools Cup with Dollar Academy in 2004, go on to represent Scotland A and make the Rugby World Cup squad, shows that the competition is an important platform for nurturing young rugby talent. We hope that the tournaments continue to break records and provide even more enjoyment for the players.”
John Barclay, paid tribute to the flourishing competition, for fuelling his passion for the game.
He said: “I was determined to lead my school to victory in the 2004 final and the intensity that surrounds the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup encouraged me to work harder on my game and think seriously about making rugby my career.”
Barclay, 20, the only uncapped member in Scotland’s squad, firmly believes the Schools Cup could be a springboard for other young players.
“Who knows, if youngsters involved in this season’s competition apply themselves then they could be figuring for Scotland come the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand,” he added.
Today’s launch saw under-18 competition holders Bell Baxter High School return to Murrayfield, scene of their triumph last season when they defeated Dollar Academy 20-8 in the final.
Another member of the Scotland RWC squad, hooker Fergus Thomson, was on hand to offer encouragement to this season’s Bell Baxter squad as he is a former pupil of the Cupar school.
Thomson said: “Last season’s victory in the Schools Cup was a high point for the entire community and I know how much it meant to the players. They’ll be determined to defend their trophy this season.”
Once again, this season’s finals of both the under-15 and under-18 tournaments will be held on the international pitch at Murrayfield on Friday 25 January 2008.
BELL LAWRIE U18 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS CUP 2007 – 2008
DRAW FOR PRE-ROUND AND ROUND 1
CUP PRE-ROUND (Regionalised) – to be played on or before 8th September 2007
Losers go into Bowl Competition
Borders
Douglas Ewart High School v St Joseph's College (Dumfries)
Edinburgh
Preston Lodge High School v Firrhill High School
Forrester High School v Lasswade High School
Glasgow
KELVINSIDE ACADEMY v Largs Academy
Grange Academy v Eastwood / Mearns CS Composite
Lenzie Academy v Douglas Academy
St Maurice’s HS & Abronhill HS v Turnbull High School
Midlands
Queen Victoria School v Alva Academy
Waid Academy v Kinross High School
North
Mintlaw Academy v Ellon Academy
Kemnay Academy v Breadalbane High School
CUP ROUND 1 (Regionalised) - to be played on or before 15th September 2007
Losers go into Bowl Competition
Borders – 4 matches
Carrick Academy v Lockerbie Academy
Douglas Ewart High School or St Joseph's College (Dumfries) v Dumfries Academy
Hawick High School v Jedburgh Grammar School
Annan Academy v Wallace Hall Academy
Edinburgh – 5 matches
Knox Academy v Ross High School
Dunbar Grammar School v Leith Academy
Preston Lodge High School or Firrhill High School v Linlithgow Academy Composite
Deans Community High School v Portobello High School
Forrester High School or Lasswade High School v Kelso High School
Glasgow – 9 matches
St Columba's, Kilmacolm v KELVINSIDE ACADEMY or Largs Academy
Balfron High School v Wellington School
Rosehall High School v Lenzie Academy or Douglas Academy
Williamwood High School v Hamilton College
Duncanrig Secondary School v Oban HS & Tobermory HS
Belmont House v Dalziel High School
St Maurice’s HS & Abronhill HS or Turnbull High School v Arran High School
Trinity High School (Renfrew) v Belmont Academy
Grange Academy or Eastwood / Mearns CS Composite v Cathkin High School
Midlands – 5 matches
Waid Academy or Kinross High School v Buckhaven High School
Wallace High School v The Community School of Auchterarder
Dunfermline High School v Harris Academy
Crieff High School v Graeme High School
Lornshill Academy v Queen Victoria School or Alva Academy
North – 9 matches
Shetland Schools v Wick High School
Banchory Academy v Kemnay Academy or Breadalbane High School
Mintlaw Academy or Ellon Academy v Forfar Academy & Webster HS
Millburn Academy v Culloden Academy
Blairgowrie High School v Elgin Schools
Dingwall Academy v Aberdeenshire South (Mackie & Portleven Academies)
Mearns Academy v Montrose Academy
The Gordon Schools v Nairn Academy
Tain Royal Academy v Aberdeen Grammar
Seeded Schools to enter Round 2 (32)
Bell Baxter High School
Boroughmuir High
Dollar Academy
Earlston High School
Edinburgh Academy
Fettes College
Galashiels Academy
George Heriot’s
George Watson's College
Glenalmond College
Gordonstoun
High School of Dundee
HIGH SCHOOL OF GLASGOW
Hillhead/Jordanhill Schools
Hutchesons' Grammar
Lomond School
Loretto School
Madras College (Plate Winners) as Kingussie High School - not enter 2007/08
Marr College
Merchiston Castle School
Morrison's Academy
North Berwick High School
Peebles High School
Perth Academy
Robert Gordon’s College
Royal High School
St Aloysius College
Selkirk High School
Stewart's Melville College
Strathallan
The GLASGOW ACADEMY
Trinity Academy
BELL LAWRIE U15 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS CUP 2007 – 2008
DRAW FOR PRE-ROUND AND ROUND 1
CUP PRE-ROUND (Regionalised) – to be played on or before 8th September 2007
Losers go into Bowl Competition
Borders
Dumfries Academy v Moffat Academy
Edinburgh
Deans Community High School v Queensferry High School
St Thomas of Aquins’ High School v Ross High School
Glasgow
Dalziel High School v Lomond School
Midlands
Queen Victoria School v Balfron High School
Balwearie High School v Dunblane & McLaren composite
The Community School of Auchterarder v Craigmount High School
North
Culloden Academy v Westhill Academy (Aberdeen)
CUP ROUND 1 (Regionalised) - to be played on or before 15th September 2007
Losers go into Bowl Competition
Borders – 4 matches
Dumfries High School v Annan Academy
Peebles High School v Jedburgh Grammar School
Dumfries Academy or Moffat Academy v Hawick High School
Wallace Hall Academy v Berwickshire High School
Edinburgh – 7 matches
Dunbar Grammar School v Loretto School
St Thomas of Aquins’ High School or Ross High School v Royal High School
Biggar High School v Trinity Academy
Boroughmuir High School v Preston Lodge High School
Firrhill High School v Broughton High School
Musselburgh Grammar v Deans Community High School or Queensferry High School
Leith Academy v Dunfermline High School
Glasgow – 7 matches
Cathkin High School v Dalziel High School or Lomond School
Turnbull High School v Arran High School
St Maurice’s High School v Uddingston Grammar School
Hamilton College v Eastwood / Mearns CS Composite
Calderglen High School v Duncanrig Secondary School
Jordanhill School v Grange Academy
Oban HS & Tobermory HS v Breadalbane HS & Pitlochry HS
Midlands – 8 matches
Balwearie High School or Dunblane & McLaren composite v St Leonard’s School
Buckhaven High School v Lornshill Academy
Morrison's Academy v Bell Baxter High School
The Community School of Auchterarder or Craigmount High School v Alva Academy
Harris Academy v Queen Anne High School
Queen Victoria School or Balfron High School v Kinross High School
Lathallan School v Crieff High School
Montrose Academy v Ellon Academy
North – 6 matches
Kemnay Academy v Aberdeenshire South (Mackie & Portleven Academies)
Nairn Academy v Dingwall Academy
Culloden Academy or Westhill Academy (Aberdeen) v Millburn Academy
Mintlaw Academy v Elgin Schools
Wick High School v Shetland Schools
Meldrum Academy v Kirkwall Grammar School
Seeded Schools to enter Round 2 (32)
Aberdeen Grammar
Banchory Academy
Belmont Academy
Carrick Academy
Douglas Academy
Douglas Ewart High School
Earlston High School
Edinburgh Academy
Galashiels Academy
George Heriot’s
George Watson's College
Gordonstoun
High School of Dundee
HIGH SCHOOL OF GLASGOW
Hutchesons' Grammar
Kelso High School (Plate Finalist) as Glenalmond College – not enter 2007/08
Knox Academy (Plate Finalist) as Portobello High School – not enter 2007/08
Lasswade High School
Lenzie Academy
Linlithgow Academy Composite
Madras College
Marr College
Merchiston Castle School
North Berwick High School
Perth Academy
Robert Gordon’s College
St Aloysius College
St Columba's, Kilmacolm
Selkirk High School
Stewart's Melville College
The GLASGOW ACADEMY
The Gordon Schools
This article was posted on 5-Sep-2007, 07:59 by Hugh Barrow.
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