Perthshire Advertiser reports

Rugby: Perthshire to tackle the Hawks at Strathallan
Aug 13 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday
PERTHSHIRE Rugby Club’s preparations for the new season are well underway.
The Eagles have had a hectic build-up ahead of the new campaign, with the squad playing warm-up games against Heriots, Scotland’s national women’s side, Murrayfield Wanderers and Stirling County.
And the Fair City side take on Premier 1 outfit Glasgow Hawks at Strathallan School on August 14 in a 3pm kick-off.
As expected, the first match against Heriots was tough but Shire showed the speed and flair they played with last season.
They tore huge gaps through their more illustrious opponents on more than one occasion.
Perthshire’s squad has been strengthened through the acquisition of Adam Stone and Jamie Coffey, as well as several others.
Coaches have said that, combined with the pace and skill of the likes of Erlend Oag, Jack Steele and a rejuvenated Gavin Bloice, the North Inch outfit could have the makings of a very strong team.
They managed to hold Heriots for most of the match, but the capital side have a huge base of skilled players to work with and, when changes were made, Heriots came into their own and ran-out victors.
Erlend Oag bagged two tries and Gav Bloice one against the Scotland women’s side, with Shire being afforded the time and space to show what they could do with the ball in hand.
Murrayfield Wanderers produced a team of giants to take on the Perth side and the forwards certainly received a tough baptism.
Jimmy Whyte, Adam Pattinson, Ally Anderson and Garry Coull were all missing from Shire’s forwards and, as a result, they struggled in both the scrum and the line-out.
Shire battled, with Jack Steele converting a penalty and scoring a try. They were only 8-10 behind at the break.
Ross Angus pounced for the first score of the second half, with Shire fortunate that the game had to revert to uncontested scrums in the second period.
Another brace of tries by Erlend Oag ensured victory. Oag was in the final three nominations for Premier 3 Player of the Year last year, and looks to be the same form again this year.
Stirling County have lost only one match in the last two years, so the Eagles went into Tuesday’s encounter ready for a hard-fought contest.
The Fair City side successfully contained Stirling for the opening exchanges but, when typically pre-season substitutions were made, County’s greater resources gave them the advantage.
Tomorrow will see the toughest challenge yet when the Eagles take on the Hawks.
Both sets of coaches will need to give their preferred XV a run-out, so it should provide plenty of excitement for spectators wishing to make the trip to Strathallan.
The club have said that any players who have moved into the area and looking to play rugby, at any level, will be made welcome.

This article was originally posted on 13-Aug-2010, 15:56 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 13-Aug-2010, 16:02.