Mackie v Hillfoots

Saturday saw Mackie host basement team Hillfoots. This has always been a close hard fought encounter, and this was the case earlier in the season when the two sides met at Tillycoultry.

The young Mackie team has been improving week on week although results haven't shown this.
With a raft of injuries after the previous two weeks games v Caithness and Highland, the home team was forced to dip in to the U18 squad to bolster their squad. Scott Cavan retained his no6 jersey after his performance v Highland while fellow U18's Adam Taylor and Alexander Evison started on the bench.

From the whistle the home team looked in control, the big forward pack dominated every scrum and made ground with ease. Stand off Mair controlled things well, mixing play between forwards and backs and stretching the Hillfoots defence.
It was only minutes in to the game when veteran full back Duncan Ross scythed through the defence to open the scoring, the usual reliable Reddish missed the kick, 5-0.
Play continued with Mackie dominating the game adding a further three tries before the break, centre Tex Macleod, Winger Kirkwood and 2nd row Matt Foster, Reddish must of left his kicking boots at home as he missed all coversion attempts.
Half time 20-0
The second half saw the visiting Hillfoots put up a battle but good physical defence snuffed out any chance they had of scoring.
Mackie added to their tally through Mikey Kelly, Adam Taylor and Joe Leather, Reddish handed over the kicking duties to Stand off Mair who got his first points of the season by converting the last try.
Full time Mackie 37-0 Hillfoots.

A good result and a vital 5 points in the league.
Although the home team scored 7 tries, several opportunities went begging, and these are the chances we must work on to improve as a team, the what looked like the simple ability to execute a simple 2 v 1 and catching and retaining possession of a ball deserted us. Not taking anything away from this young team, they have had some dark days on the field of play this season yet they have this ability to bounce back and shake of the previous weeks result. In time they will develop in to a great team, and time is something they have when the team is made up of teenagers and guys in their early 20's!!!