AFTER a layoff of nearly three months Mackie P5s went to the Ellon Tournament on Sunday with little thought of winning any medals but more to just getting back to playing rugby.
The tournament itself was made up of seven teams and played on a round robin basis. This would mean six games for the 10 man Mackie team, with all of them called upon to play their part.
The first game was against the hosts Ellon and Mackie got o
ff to a great start, running in four tries with no reply. The defence stood up well and with Ellon striving for the line a last ditch tackle from behind prevented any thought of a comeback. The score went to 6 – 1 to Mackie and ended up a convincing 7 – 2 victory.
A good start but there was going to have to be a big effort for the next opponents, who were Stirling, the team that beat Mackie last year in the final of this tournament. The game was certainly physical with neither team giving an inch of ground.
The score swung both ways and at 2 – 2 Stirling edged ahead to go 3 – 2 up. Credit though should be given here to all the Mackie boys as their heads could have gone down with thoughts of last year.
However, they gritted their teeth and quickly drew level and then edged ahead after some fantastic driving and decisive running. They then rounded of a great display by running in another try to win 5 – 3. A great result.
The next opponents were Aberdeen Grammar, a team the boys know all too well. This was to be the best game of the day. Both teams played lovely flowing rugby with some bruising tackles put in as well.
Again no quarter was asked for or given as the game went from end to end. This was mirrored in the scoreboard with a draw looking the most likely and probably deserved result. But then right at the end Mackie managed to win a ball in the loose and picked it up to run in a try just on the final whistle to win the match 6 – 5.
Highland were the boys' next opponents and after three great wins the wind seemed to go out of their sails. Highland raised their game and ran in three or four tries quickly and although Mackie came back at the end they went down 6 – 3 to the eventual tournament winners.
Heads went down at this point but after a small team talk things began to look up again and the Garioch/Wanderers mixed team were not going to stop Mackie. They were a big team and it took some big tackles to keep them out but Mackie were just too strong for them. Although they put up a brave defence they were beaten 5 – 4.
Howe of Fife was to be the last game for Mackie. Everyone was by now really tired and this showed when Howe ran in an easy try straight away.
The Mackie boys were not going to give up and they dug deep and played some superb running rugby to score three tries. The teamwork was back and it showed. They then tackled like demons to stop Howe getting back in the game and went on to win deservedly 7 – 5.
This win meant that Mackie had come second in the tournament and taken a well earned runner's up medal. A fantastic achievement given the complete lack of practice they have had since Christmas.
Mackie Team: Zander, Daniel, Arthur, Ben, Callum, Ethan, Fennick, Josh B, Thomas and Luke.
