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Life’s A Beach For Rams

Published on 12 June 2007 at 22:01:00

MOFFAT'S BEST-EVER ISLAY BEACH RUGBY PLACING

 

Last weekend saw the largest Tournament yet hosted by Islay Rugby Club and once more the gods smiled on the home side as a day of blistering heat accompanied the proceedings.  The Moffat contingent arrived on the island on Friday evening having limbered up on the Ferry and by kick off on Saturday lunchtime was more than ready for the challenge ahead.

Leading the Rams was Kenny Carter who was chauffeured to the event in the team Land Rover along with Mark Clark, Craig Currie, Kenny Chicken and Adam Murray. Also making the journey from Moffat were Cammy Little, Scott Galloway , Alan Tyler and Graham Gemmill , while the ranks were swelled further with the addition of Alan Kirk and Rodney Craig from Dumfries who were keen to find out more about the allure of this Annual  Hebridean  pilgrimage.

There were 24 teams this year drawn from such diverse places as Melrose, Moffat, Cambuslang and Oban with the addition of The Army and numerous local sides from the Islay distilleries sprinkled with a number of guests.  Add to these three very competitive ladies sides and all the ingredients were there for a great day's entertainment.  Three leagues played a round robin of matches comprising two four minute halves. The resultant tables distilled down to three finals of seven minutes each way.

The finals were the Lagavulin, Port Ellen and Caol ILA respectively and after a tremendous display the Rams emerged from the ‘Group of Death' to contest the Port Ellen final with Cambuslang.  This feat was achieved after the round robin had seen fierce matches against Cowal, Strathendrick, Melrose and Ardbeg with the Rams way exceeding their expectations to win through to a semi final against The Army.

Adam Murray looked after the team tents for the afternoon while his team mates played themselves quite literally to a standstill and only just finished the final with five able bodied players as the war of attrition took its toll.  A narrow 6-4 defeat in the final failed to dampen the spirits and the Moffat contingent were prolific performers at the post tournament celebrations  the Ceilidh and the Sunday barbecue.

All in all a great weekend with rugby, hospitality and camaraderie being served up in equal measure. Those who missed it missed out and the 2008 event is awaited in anticipation by the anonymous scribe and the Rams in saying ‘ Goodbye to Care' once again.

 

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