Glasgow is a city with a history of deep emotional sporting rivalry, best demonstrated by local gangs of neds knocking seven bells of crap out of each other and calling it ’football’ live on SKY/Setanta/whatever network throws good money away for the Old Firm games these days. An actual sporting rivalry is probably better demonstrated by the intense atmosphere generated when the city’s 2 real universities meet in battle on the rugby pitch. Indeed this has been recognised by the city’s local clubs with Glasgow Hawks Rugby Club hosting this first, in what will hopefully be many future, Inter-Varsity clashes at their Anniesland Stadium. It’s fair to say that historically, Glasgow has been the dominant force with The Tech’s victory in 2003 the first in over 15 years! Since then though, the balance has shifted from our pretentious tweed wearing west-enders to our own illustrious institution. And on the evidence of this match, that isn’t likely to change in the near future.

With only three final year students being lost, captain Donald Pitkethly, along with former captains Simon Clarke and John Kennedy, and with this squad featuring no less than 11 ’freshers’ the future of Tech Rugby is certainly looking all the more bright.

In setting the tone for the remainder of the night, even the warm-up was eventful with both Jonny Curteis and Kennedy picking up injuries. Whilst Kennedy was able to recover sufficiently from his ankle injury to retain his starting berth, Curteis was forced to drop to the bench allowing Chris Jennings to take his place on the wing.

With pre-match pleasantries exchanged, the Strathclyde team emerged from the tunnel to a rousing reception and quickly set about their business. On receiving kick-off, the Strathclyde pack tore into their opposition with the typical ferociousness evident all season. Even in these early stages the hits were coming thick and fast with the back-row combination Pitkethly, Iain MacFadyen and Clarke showing no mercy. With the Tech in ascendancy in the forward play Glasgow changed their tactics from keeping it in their forwards to playing a quick rucking game and feeding their pacy back-line. This served only to open the game up and expose the big-game nerves perhaps felt by both sides with the first few scrums coming in quick succession. It was here that the Tech pack really outlined their complete dominance in the tight game with Kennedy, Iain Henderson and Gregor Ross completely tearing their opposing numbers to shreds, thanks in no small part to the supporting efforts of 2nd rows Bill Kenny and Murray ‘Muzza’ Longton.

Whilst the game remained open, both back-lines looked dangerous when they received good ball from their pack. The Tech back-line, superbly marshalled by half-backs Hadden ‘I love my mullett’ McPherson and Daniel ‘Sex-Pest’ Witko, were in fine form with the centre partnership of Robbies MacDonald and ‘Angel’ Williamson functioning beautifully both in defence and in attack. Wings Doug Scott and ‘Fat Chris’ Jennings looked incredibly dangerous with ball in hand, Scott especially finding increasing space on his right wing for darts into Glasgow territory. Full-back Callum MacKenzie was utilised to great effect when crashing through the centres, his abrasive style of play asking questions of the men in tweed’s defence.

Despite the early dominance, it was the GU who drew first blood. Following terrific work from their pack, who employed a rolling maul to great effect to encamp themselves in the Strathclyde ‘22. It took a colossal effort from Kennedy, Clarke and Kenny to work the ball back and allow scrum-half McPherson to kick clear. From the resulting line-out, the ball was spread quickly out the backs, sweeping right then back left through countless phases of play before crossing the Tech try line, with the conversion missed.

Ironically this only served to re-ignite the young (Kennedy not withsta

Manzie Shield 2008

Saturday 29th March

Score: Students 22 – 32 Graduates

Match Report:

In utter contrast to last years event, where the sun shone, and the playing surface was a dream, the 5th annual Manzie Shield this year presented a very different set of conditions, and resulted in a very different type of game. With a week’s worth of rain, and a fresh breeze, Stepps returned to the plateau of winter that so many of us remember from days gone by.

So it was with an optimistic air that the grads gathered at the hallowed turf of Stepps, familiar faces floating into the dressing room to be greeted by the sight of what was the youngest and possibly most talented grad team ever assembled for a Manzie Shield match. With the average age dropping below 30 for the first time ever, there was quiet whisperings that this may be the best chance we had to take the trophy back for the first time since 2004.

With the normal warm-up in progress (yep that’s still passing a ball in a circle), it was quickly established that we were short in only one position – Scrum Half! Some would say that missing a player in that vital position would hamper a team somewhat, but up stepped Mike McLorne, and proved that was true!

Certainly Mike’s performance at scrummy set precedence for the style of play – not so much quick ball out to the backs, but a quick pick and drive! However considering the conditions, it turned out to be quite an astute move!

Playing with the wind in the first half the grads quickly settled into a pattern of short driving rucks, utilising the weight advantage to great effect. The powerhouse back-row, epitomised by Grant Reilly and Badger were making great inroads, and it was inevitable when a series of rucks and mauls brought the first score, with Grant going over from short range.

The pattern from the kick off continued with the Grad forwards dominating the game, while the backs were hindered by Mike forgetting he was a scrum half, and Shaft forgetting how to pass when playing fly-half (some would say he never knew). It was no surprise when once again good forward play saw Grant crashing over for his second try after only 8 minutes

This seemed to galvanise the students into action, and inspire them to do what students do best when playing against old men – send the ball wide! A quick score followed for them on 12mins.

Normally this would be the point that the Grads would lose their focus, youth would get the better of them, and tired legs and arms would begin to force matters. Indeed the students went on the attack and gained a penalty just inside the grad 22. Ryan stepped up and in a moment of what can only be described as utter folly, decided to tap the penalty and try a drop goal. Shuffling from one foot to the next, Ryan forgot to check the wind and his effort, although on target, fell well short – and Dick Of The Day was decided there and then.

This comedy effort only fuelled the Grads and they swept down field to once again set up a series of rucks & mauls (seeing a pattern yet?), which ended with Web going over for an extremely rare try. The fact that his conversion attempt was better than both of Grant’s is testament indeed - it still missed, but at least it got of the ground!

By now I bet you can guess what happened next – yep rucks/mauls – Badger going over under the posts, and actually managing to convert!

So half time and the surprising score of Students 5 Graduates 22

Facing an uphill and in to breeze second half, the grads decided to bring on the cavalry! James Bow departed to be replaced by Tom in what can only be described as an inspired tactic. First attack of the second half saw the ball shipped wide to Tom, who managed to make 5 yards before pulling his hammy! Tom off – James back on!

The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first – the heavier grads pack pushing hard, while the student backs went around their counterparts a

On a bitterly cold, wet and miserable day, Stepps was brightened by an epic encounter not witnessed since Spring 2005 when the 1st XV triumphed in the BUSA plate final against Warwickshire. Only three of the squad remains from that historic clash, John Kennedy, Stevie Kerr and Duncan Campbell and all can attest to the similarities in both conditions and the nature of the game. It’s fair to say that the 1st XV are a relatively new and inexperienced side, with a core of nine ‘freshers’ included in the regular squad, yet to fulfil their potential. However on Saturday, perhaps for the first time this season, this new squad not only stood up and held their own against a Glasgow Uni side nearly 3 seasons in the making, but dominated large patches of the game, especially in physicality where the Strathclyde pack dominated the tight game all afternoon. Indeed if this performance was anything to go by, big things should be expected from youngsters like Murray Longton, Bill Kenny, Gregor Ross,Hadden McPherson and Jonny Curteis in particular.

The game kicked off in typical fashion with captain Iain MacFadyen leading the stampede with some particularly brutal charges into the Glasgow pack. It was in these early stages that the opposing forwards sized each other up, neither wishing to concede ground, and it was at the first scrum where Strathclyde really underlined their dominance. Against a pack boasting a supposed Finnish international, the starting Tech front row of John Kennedy, Scott Pirie and Gregor Ross completely dominated, ably supported by 2nd rows 'Muzza' Longton and Kenny, tearing their opposite numbers to shreds and winning good clean ball, both with and against the head, time and time again. Indeed this dominance told in loose as well with Murray Longton, Bill Kenny and the back row combination of Cameron Burt, MacFadyen and Mathieu Laborde making great gains with ball in hand. It was unfortunate then that with Glasgow’s first real telling possession of the game that they scored in the corner. Winning good clean line-out ball, the GU pack employed their rolling maul through 3 phases of play making great ground and was eventually stopped by Kennedy and Ross combining to bring it to ground. From the resulting ruck the GU scrum-half spun the ball left and the Glasgow backs, both quick of feet and hands, released their winger who rounded Jones to score in the corner, with the conversion missed. This only served to re-ignite Strathclyde with scrum-half Hadden McPherson now getting quick clean ball, releasing the backs and it was only through sheer bad luck that rapid Strathclyde winger Curteis, using his blistering pace, to charge through his opposite number was held up over the line after great work from Gregg Ruthven. The Tech continued to press forward with great work from Longton and Kenny again from a line-out releasing Kennedy who charged forward and set up a maul which, with mere feet to go, was forced out of play. With Strathclyde now on the ascendancy, captain MacFadyen was lost through a sickening clash of face and knee, leaving him nursing a broken cheekbone and had to be replaced by Simon Thomson. The loss of MacFadyen obviously upset the young Tech team and it was up to stand-in captain Kennedy and the senior players Burt, Dave McPherson and Ally Brown to help steady the ship to half-time against a barrage of Glasgow pressure, leaving the score at half-time 5-0 Glasgow.

The 2nd half started off in contrast to how the 1st ended, with all the play coming from the home team. Kennedy, Pirie and Ross’s complete dominance in the scrum told once more, winning GU ball against the head, releasing live-wire French back-row Laborde (dubbed Freddie by his team-mates due to his striking resemblance to French International talisman Frederik Michalak) to pick up where MacFadyen left off. His charge and subsequent off-load to scrum-half McPherson led to some great insurgent pressure from the back-line,