U18s defeat Ayr to be crowned Conference champions

Marr U18s entertained Wellington/Ayr in the final Conference league game knowing a win would see them top the league with an undefeated record. Marr started the game playing with the wind and soon had the Ayr team under pressure. From a line out move Scott Rodger burst through for the first score. The conversion came back off the post. 5-0 to Marr.
Marr played the wind sensibly and Gregor Beckwith kept the team going forward with intelligent kicks down wind to force Ayr to play from their own 22. Pressure by Marr resulted in a penalty and Keir Macdougall took a quick tap and a gap opened for him to go through and score try number two.
One of the best sights in rugby is to see a prop in full gallop charging down the pitch with ball in hand. Isaac Renucci showed today that he is not just in the team for his scrummaging prowess but also his ability to run at the opposition, with two 40 metre charges, showing a surprising turn of speed for such a big prop. From his first charge through the midfield the ball was moved left, recycled and then moved across the pitch for Ryan Brown to score in the right corner for a well-worked score. 15-0 to Marr.
Ayr/Wellington were penalised again for not rolling away at a ruck and Macdougall’s quick tap and pass found Cameron Mackenzie and he went over for try number four. Gregor Beckwith added the conversion to extend Marr’s lead to 22-0.
Just before half time another play from a lineout allowed Ethan Reilly to score in the corner. 27-0 to Marr .
Playing into the wind in the second half Marr were determined to keep the ball in hand and play a support running game. From the kick off McCulloch burst forward and fed Evan Light who outpaced the defence for a try which Beckwith converted.
From the next kick off it was Scott Rodgers turn to charge through the defence. O’Leary was the beneficiary this time and he ran in for try number seven. Again Beckwith added the conversion. 41-0. O’Leary then scored his second try when Mackenzie Smith breached the defences, fed the supporting Scott Rodger who then passed to O’Leary to touch down for a converted score.
Fed up with tries being scored straight from kick offs Ayr tried to kick the ball long. However it went too long and the game was brought back to the halfway line for a scrum to Marr. Replacement scrum half Scott Grassom moved the ball to the right, Brown gained yards, Grassom was their in support and he passed to Josh Affleck for try number nine. Beckwith knocked over the conversion.
Brown then went over for his second score which was converted by Beckwith to take the score over sixty point s to 62-0 and under the Conference rules the referee blew up for full time.
A fantastic effort by the boys over the season who have only conceded three tries in the league. They have shown a solid defence throughout the season but have also scored a variety of excellent team tries with great support running. They now have a week off before playing some friendlies against the likes of Kelvinside and St Aloysius. The futures bright.