This is a call out for help, if you speak Gaelic can you please get in touch with me? The club needs your help!

Looking back at the weekend, Saturday our under 14s and 16s had the 6am start to play in Orkney. From what I have been told, both games were the most competitive the teams have faced all season. The under 14s were unlucky to lose by a single try, great outcome considering how many new faces were on the pitch. The under 16s were able to muscle out a 12-12 draw to continue their undefeated season. Sunday was the first “Let Me Play” fixture for the girls and it was a cracker!

Even though no other clubs attended, between Ross-Shire based schools and a minibus full from Plockton we had 27 turn up on the day. Outstanding! Especially if you think how many of the girls have part time jobs and had to work. We are going to keep the momentum going and get another club training day the weekend of the 10-11th December. So bloody impressed.

Onto this week, Tuesday night we had Sinclair Patience, Coach Development Officer for Scottish Rugby come along to do a defensive session for our coaches. It was a well-run session which gave our coaches some fresh ideas and the boys got their chance to get some good digs into their own mates. Hopefully going to get a second session with Sinc before the holidays and keep these types of evening sessions going throughout the rest of the season.

Wednesday night witnessed the first school rugby match to be played under the Ross-Sutherland floodlights, between Tain Royal Academy and Dingwall Academy. I decided to ref the game so I could get a good look at what was going on during the game and help “game coach” some of the fresher players. Happy to say it was an awesome game, both teams played an expansive style of the game, the odd big collision (no injuries though) and I honestly think they could teach senior players how to ruck! Players were staying on their feet, coming in through the gate and driving guys off the ball. Looking forward to many more games under the lights.

On to Friday, we will be delivering our second installment of street rugby in Balintore, this is open to all p4-7s and it does not matter if you live in Tain, Tarbat, Fearn or Balintore. The more the merrier!!!
Looking to the weekend, our mini section will be hosting Highland in the first leg of the 1923 cup. This is a two day event where teams from p1 to p7 will play and keep score, after the new year we will play the return fixture at Highland were the overall score from all games are combined and the winners take home the trophy. Highland are the current holders of the cup, but if we go by the form we saw at our mini festival it is going to be bloody close.

Finally, lets jump back to last week. I gave a presentation at the Port of Cromarty Firths public AGM. It went really well, received a standing ovation of course and got plenty pats on the back. Afterwards I had a chat with someone from BBC Alba, they are keen to do a piece with the club and rugby in the Highlands. Now, I can talk about rugby, ross-shire and Ross-Sutherland till the cows come home, however I am a touch embarrassed to admit that a can barely speak a word of Gaelic… So, to jump back to the top, I am looking for anyone who would be happy to help me on the big screen and promote the club on our mother tongue.

Tapadh leat