Tennent's Velvet Bowl
In sporting terms, Tayside is perhaps somewhat synonymous with the ups and downs of its three big soccer clubs - Dundee, Dundee United and St Johnstone.
For, in Tayside, it is the round-ball code that is perceived to be the people's game, albeit that, in terms of playing numbers, golf must surely claim that particular title. On Saturday, however, it is rugby that will put Tayside on the sporting map when Carnoustie FP and Perthshire meet in the final of the Tennent's Bowl at Murrayfield.
An all-Tayside final seemed very much on the cards with Strathmore and Morgan FP both in the quarter-finals along with the two successful clubs.
Established just 22 years ago, Carnoustie FP initially harnessed the wealth of talent produced by the local high school, but now, because of a changing emphasis in sport at school level, the club have adopted a home-grown policy by running mini and midi sections and becoming involved in the highly-successful Angus Colts project in partnership with Strathmore, Arbroath, and Montrose.
Their policy and determination to see it succeed has undoubtedly paid off. Two years ago, Carnoustie, having won the Midlands District League, then demonstrated their ambition by winning the Tennent's National League division seven title last year and, this year, the division six championship.
Carnoustie realise that they will be facing opponents who play their rugby three divisions higher up the national league. Carnoustie's coach, Barry Simmons, a physical education teacher at Forfar Academy, said: ''That will make us underdogs, but that will suit us.''
The road to Murrayfield for Carnoustie began with their 40-0 win over Hawick YM back in September in the first round of the Cup and entered the Bowl as a result of losing 22-17 to Kinross in the second round. Then, in December, their 37-10 win over Hillfoots, followed by a walkover against Marr FP, saw them into the quarter-finals of the Bowl.
Luck continued to be on their side in the quarter-final against Helensburgh. With the teams locked at 20-20 after extra time, the tie was awarded to Carnoustie on the ''away try'' rule. The semi was less dramatic, Carnoustie cruising through 28-5 against Strathmore.
Coaching Perthshire this season is Bruce Beckett, who learned his rugby at Harris Academy in Dundee, and who is the head of PE at Perth Academy. He, too, is aware of the different levels at which his side and Carnoustie are currently playing in the national league.
Beckett, who believes that a win on Saturday would do much for recruitment at youth level into the Perthshire club, said: ''The results in the Bowl show that it matters not a lot which division you are in.''
Perthshire intend to play an expansive game at Murrayfield on Saturday, and showed their potential by reaching the final with a 44-8 win over Cambuslang in the quarters. They then defeated Ross High by 22-13 in the semi-finals to secure the coveted Murrayfield spot. Earlier in the campaign, they dismissed Panmure in the first round of the Bowl by 17-0 and in the second round scored a characterful away victory over Ellon at a snow-covered Meadows pitch.
Snow should not be a problem on Saturday at Murrayfield, where, whatever the outcome of the Tennent's Bowl final, Tayside will be the winner.
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