Weekends Pre-Match Preview – week 11

Pre- Match Review – Week 11

In what has been a sad week for the rugby family, have a read what’s been going on in the clubhouse and a look ahead to this weekends games

Grab coffee, sit back and relax and enjoy the read

Club President : Gavin McQuillan

It’s great to welcome Ross High to Penicuik this Saturday as the 2s look to build on their impressive performance against Lismore last weekend.

We offered our condolences privately to the Ross High and Tinlin family last week following the loss of their president John Tinlin, and both sides will take part in a minutes applause before todays kick off.

The 2xv have a fantastic opportunity to seal their top 6 league position with victory and with no other senior rugby I know they would welcome a strong home support. Looking ahead to next weekend we have an exciting double header with both senior teams away to Dalkeith.

This is a key game for both squads and the last games of the year. We would love to take 2 full teams and a big away support so if you can find a spare couple of hours to make the short trip it would be very much appreciated. Either double up in cars, or the local 140 bus service will take you to the front door of the Dalkeith clubhouse, and enjoy some pre-game drinks in the Dalkeith clubhouse then onto the sidelines to cheer on the teams.

If your around Penicuik early doors, why not pop down to the club and catch our U16’s who play Dunfermline at 11am, its been a while since they’ve had a home game and I’m sure Andy & Stuart would love to have a good support to cheer the youngsters on.

Enjoy your weekend Gav

Membership details can be found at https://penicuikrugby.org/online-membership/

200 Club

Congratulations to Ross Liddle who is Novembers 200 club winner. Keep an eye out for the Christmas bonus draw which is almost amongst us

Player Sponsorship

Thanks to everyone who has stepped forward and sponsored a player for season 2022/23. The new sponsors board is ready for printing, please check the foyer next time your in.

We look forward to welcoming all our sponsors for our sponsors day on January 21st, invites are coming out shortly.

To see all our player sponsors please check out the Squad sectionhttps://penicuikrugby.org/our-squad/ , click on the sponsors logo to be directed to their web page and coming soon to the website will be a sponsors directory which will encourage all members to use when they looking for services.

Director of Rugby : Mark Blair

Penicuik 1xv 42 v 12 Hawick

The Hawick game was pleasing on several points. Not least it gave us 5 vital league points and started to rectify our negative points difference.

All the players took their tries well, special mention to Oscar Malone who crossed the try line for the 1st time this season and well deserved his try. I’m glad to report Aidan Dean has recovered well from his sickening head knock in the final minute and would have been back in contention today had the game gone ahead.

It is unfortunate we had to cancel todays trip to Duns, a shortage of players have hurt us. But as long as the boys were happy putting their Christmas shopping ahead of a warm up game before next weeks crucial trip to Dalkeith then we are all good.

Next Saturdays game at Dalkeith is vital to how the second half of the season will play out. We haven’t visited Kings Park for a number of years, but the older members talk fondly of trips there.

Check out some of last weeks tries here

Kaihe Kaharau IMG_2216

Aidan Dean IMG_2218

Steven Ketchen IMG_2234

Oscar Malone IMG_2236

John Sprott IMG_2248

Here’s the rest of todays league fixtures

2xv coach : Rich Mann

Penicuik 2xv 52 v 19 Lismore 2xv

Tries : P.Smith, M.Randall (2), L.Randall (2), Ogilvie (2), C.Smith

Con : McCormick (6)

Pens :

Last weekend we had a fantastic result away at Lismore. The quality of rugby was superb with everyone contributing to the game and the scores highlighted this. It’s great to see Max back after a year out last season and his presence in the back row was superb. The Randall brothers seem to score for fun just now and the look on their faces tells us they are enjoying the atmosphere amongst the 2xv squad.

We have a great mix of older statesmen, and up and coming youngsters who are blending well and hopefully learning lots alongside McCormick, Hope & McNeill.

Its always a great battle against Ross High and I am looking forward to a great game especially with the team I’ve been able to select.

Weekend Squad

It is great to have been able to select almost the same side for the 3rd successive game. Fraser Wilson steps up to prop forward and Simon Glen returns to the 2nd row. 2 new faces on the bench, Jon Cartwright is home from university and we welcome Rhys Beazer to the squad for the first time

Ross High Team Selection

Other league fixtures

2xv captain : Paul Hope

Today sees Ross High 2’s visit Penicuik. Ross High are currently sitting in 9th position, 8 points behind us in 5th.

There a few changes due to John Graham having man flu and Ronnie and Reggie Randall have gone off raving in Manchester. Myself, Richard Moffat, Simon Glenn and Martin O’Sullivan will be making a return following injury and Steven Hawkins is back from filming series 6 of Cobra Kai.

We hope for a good competitive match and a win for Penicuik should seal our place in the top half of the league.

Meet the player

Chris Smith

Sponsored by : “Available for Sponsor”

Chris returned back to the club following a spell away at Liberton, all is forgiven as he crossed the try line last week and even brought along a new player this week!

Previously a regular for the 2xv and one of our armed forces players

Position : Winger

Age : 32

Favourite chat group : Banter group chat: can talk rubbish about the wives without them finding out, moan about how crap the army is now and how its getting worse, moan about how shit England played this year in the six nations and autumn series and we’ve all decided we’re now Scottish and not English haha and chatting shit about our lives

Last song listened Spotify/Apple musics etc : Upon a burning body – code of honour. They are heavy metal rock band

Current box set watching : Wednesday on Netflix I’m blaming the wife

Current job : Army

Who do you sit next to in changing room : I’m normally at the club early so I’ve got plenty of space to choose from but if I’m late, I’ll sit next to anyone if there’s a space

Tell us something your team mates don’t know : I played prop for 2 seasons when I first started rugby at a young age, I was a chubby little kid

Mini/Midi Rugby This Weekend

U16’s kick off 11am Saturday morning v Dunfermline. Squad at time of press

Jack M, Logan B, Sam M, Calum S, Calum P, James M, Ossian H, Stan D, Finlay P, Kyle M, Fraser I & Stuart A

In and around the Club House

It was great to welcome a couple former 1xv players on the clubhouse last week. Graham Briggs was over from his home in the United States and popped by to watch the 1xv’s take on Hawick. He was joined on Sunday to watch the All Blacks game by Ian Love.

Those who know, will remember the fear those two gave the opposition when scrumming down.

It has been a sad couple weeks for the rugby family with the passing of Scotland Legend Doddie Weir and also Ross High president John Tinlin. Our own thoughts also go to former Penicuik 1xv stand off Brian King and his sons, whose wife and Mother ,Shona, very sadly passed away last week.

The club received some great publicity this week thanks to the Scotsman and Midlothian Adviser, if you haven’t already seen the link click here https://www.scotsman.com/sport/other-sport/community-sport-roofing-company-gives-funding-as-penicuik-bid-to-hit-the-heights-3924851?fbclid=IwAR3WY6j8IOZe9crBUaT5OIVJzCRvHgdxgTCKeLheZnux3VpWG4wBV3EQn8k .

The Midlothian Advertiser picked up our recent player sponsor post

Christmas will soon be upon us, if you are looking for Penicuik rugby gifts, please see our club shop run by our partners PSL https://tinyurl.com/Penicuik-Rugby-Shop

Some new items have been added including these leisure tops

If your office or work are looking for somewhere to relax for Christmas drinks, please consider booking our lounge. On the 16th Dec we are already booked for the Cuiken Primary School teachers night out. If you’d like to make a booking please contact any member of the committee

Members Special Offer

Thanks to our sponsors Lind & Lime Gin, our members are able to access their corporate gifting items from https://www.mucklebrig.com Please click here for the full gift guide MUCKLE BRIG_CORPORATE GIFTING_2022_PRICING

2022/23 Player Points

2xv players Ally McCormick and Luke Randall increased their points with no 1xv game last time out. With only the one game this afternoon we could see a change at the top of the leader board for the first time this season.