Baggy Pipers v Forth Valley Fossils

Meggetland, Edinburgh. 21/06/08

4 tries – 8 tries

The Forth Valley Fossils played their third match of the year against the Baggy Pipers based in Edinburgh. The Baggy Pipers are a side that have been put together to play in the 17th World Golden Oldies Festival to be played in Edinburgh in the first week in September. Like the Fossils they are trying to bring together players of a certain age back into rugby and to raise money for charity.

With Festival looming Gavin Hastings, who is the Festivals ambassador, addressed both teams prior to the match to provide a taster to the Festival and run through the amended laws which are based on those of under 19 age group rugby. This was beneficial to the players and the 23 referees who were to watch the match as part of their preparation for the Festival.

In glorious weather on an extremely hard Meggetland pitch the game, which was split into three 20 minute segments got under way. The Fossils had arrived with 37 players representing every club in Forth Valley split themselves into 2 sides. The Baggy Pipers who had only 16 players “borrowed” four Fossils Ronnie Innes, Gus Smith, Richard Thomson and Stuart Cameron who certainly contributed significantly to the Pipers cause.

The game was played at a surprisingly fast pace with significant levels of commitment and intensity from both sides. In the first session the Fossils scored 3 tries through Davey Holmes, Niel Ross and Donald McNicol. The latter try following impressive handling by Tony Howard and Stuart Simmers allowing McNicol an easy if not long, by Oldies standards run in. The Pipers secured a try following a move in which the 84 year old Easton Roy contributed to the play.

The second section saw the Fossils change team and the match continued at an up beat tempo. In this section the Pipers who had never played together before started to impress with Chris Reekie and captain Mike Hall. This called upon some resolute defence from the Fossils which was reflected by the tackle of Mike Tomney on Gus Smith. The Fossils scored three tries in this portion of the game with  Willie McCune, John Mckay scoring long range and obviously lung busting efforts the third by Tomney. The Pipers countered with 2 scores one from the omnipresent Ronnie Innes who will no longer be allowed to jump ship again. The Fossils received a let off courtesy of Gus Smith who having done all the hard work broke clear and dropped the ball over the line, almost necessitating a stewards inquiry.

In the third session the Pipers were beginning to tire but managed to score through Mike Hall. The Fossils scored following a smooth piece of running by Alan Manson through Michael White the Fossils oldest player at 61. The final score by the impressive Niel Ross.

The Fosssils now look forward to their next match which is against the Linlithgow Pealers            on 23rd August at Linlithgow, as they continue to build for the Festival in September.