IN WHAT could be the finals' final fling, Garnock put on a dynamic display to take the Bowl trophy with a 31-24 victory over Kirkcaldy thanks in no small part to a hat-trick of tries from their captain and man-of-the-match Paul McCrorie.
He put Garnock on their way to a 17-6 half time lead with a try and a penalty goal, the other points coming from a try by winger Stuart White and two conversions by full back Kurt Jacobsen.
Kirkcaldy came back into the match after half time with
a third penalty by Quintan Sanft, but a try and conversion by McCrorie put Garnock back in the driving seat. The stronger finishing Kirkcaldy side then bagged two tries by flanker Gavin Neilson and prop George Mangalo, the latter converted by Sanft whose penalty levelled the scores.
But Garnock were not to be denied and again it was McCrorie who provided the points with a try down the blindside and the touchline conversion, to cap a great win and a fine individual display.
Preston Lodge were last in the finals back in 2003 when they lost to Dundee HSFP in the Shield, but yesterday the East Lothian side tasted success with a 18-10 victory over Dalziel to win the Bowl. It was their ability to handle well in close traffic and defend against a Dalziel side full of pace behind the scrum that gave Preston Lodge their victory. The East Lothian side led 10-0 at half time with a try from prop Cameron McLean and the conversion and a penalty by stand-off Graeme Patterson.
Then in the second half despite their lock, Blair Cowan, doing time in the sin-bin (punished by a Rob Simpson penalty goal), Preston Lodge extended their lead with a try by centre Chris Dixon and a drop goal by Patterson. Dalziel mounted a fightback, to score through winger Victor Czarnocki but not enough to prevent Preston Lodge finishing winners.
In the Plate Aberdeen University became the first student side to triumph on finals day after defeating Portobello by 27-21. The students looked winners early on after man-of-the-match and centre Fraser Lyle twice ran in under the posts, and stand-off Euan Kelly scored in the corner for a 19-0 lead
But Portobello clawed their way back into the game with a Chris Davis try, the conversion and then two penalties, and a drop goal by centre Davis, before Ben Martin provided relief for Aberdeen with a penalty goal.
Then in the second half against the run of play Portobello narrowed the gap to one point with a Graham Porteous score only for the students to reply immediately with a classy try from full back Tom Rattray to seal a great win.
The full article contains 481 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
