PRESS AND JOURNAL REPORTS
PLAYERS SERVE UP EXCELLENT FARE IN TRADITIONAL GAME
Thrills in the snow as Select pip Exiles
BY JACK NIXON

Published: 28/12/2009

WARMING TO IT: Select’s Chris Doak, left, tackles Exiles player Craig Hawthorne. Kevin Emslie
More Pictures
Aberdeen’s traditional Boxing Day game provided a festival of rugby fit to match any occasion, far less a pitch covered in six inches of snow.

Exiles chairman Iain Hopkin put aside the disappointment losing to a late try to celebrate the 80th year of the fixture.

He said: “This was a marvellous advert for the game of rugby – full of quality and keen competition but all played in the best spirit.”

Hopkin’s enthusiasm was shared by all concerned.

Aberdeen Select manager Mike Munro said: “The players deserve great credit for supporting the match and turning out in such numbers in difficult conditions.”

His view was shared by his coach Kevin Wyness – and also opposite number Jim Sugden.

The Exiles left the pitch thinking they had earned a draw – only to be informed they had come one conversion short of tying up the game.

Sugden said: “It was disappointing, but we'll just have to grin and bear it. Our compensation is in being involved in a 12-try thriller.”

The result was, however, almost irrelevant as the players put aside the heavy going to provide one of the best games seen at Rubislaw in recent years.

The old boys included former Grammar stand off Keith Oddie – who marked the occasion with a try to the delight of the substantial crowd.

But the golden oldie who really caught he eye is former Currie and Grammar flanker John McKenzie.

Despite having hung up his boots, McKenzie was by far and away the most influential player on the pitch.

An equally impressive Rory McKay marked his return to Aberdeen with intelligent distribution – as befitting a Premier 1 player who now plys his trade at Glasgow Hawks.

Former Ellon player Greg Ryan, now playing for Dundee High, also showed why he has made the grade in the top flight of the Scottish club game.

His late try proved to be the winner as he chased his own kick ahead to secure the game for the home side.

The day brought together the Ryan brothers in the Select side as the half-back pairing of Mark and an outstanding Sam Ryan at scrum half.

“Players such as Sam are the future of rugby,” said Exiles coach Wyness, who also singled out his own stand off Neil Knudson, of Grammar.

Wingers Michael Leibrum and Grant Walker made light of the conditions.

The Exiles held sway in the first half, leading 26-19 and looked like regaining the trophy they lost last year, only to be overhauled by a rampant Select who turned the table on their illustrious opponents.

This article was posted on 28-Dec-2009, 08:39 by Hugh Barrow.