FLYING winger Lewis Clark secured a 34-27 victory for Carrick over Highland in the BT Shield Final when he grabbed a 60-yard interception try with only four minutes left on the clock.
The men from South Ayrshire struggled against a powerful Highland pack, but were deadly when they managed to get the ball wide.
“We lived off scraps but when we did get possession the message was to move it and move it and keep moving it. To score five tries at Murrayfield against a quality side like that is just fantastic,” said player-coach Gordon Brown.
Tries from scrum-half Tom Brogan and Paddy Bryden against one score for Clark gave Highland a 12-7 half-time advantage, but Carrick came out after the break with all guns blazing and manoeuvred in to a commanding 24-12 lead by the hour mark through touchdowns for Brown, Kyle Johnson and Gordon Gregor. Highland grabbed a lifeline through a try for Andrew Findlater, and after Johnson and Morris Dillon had exchanged penalties the game hung in the balance. Then came the game’s decisive moment when Highland centre Tam McGowan gifted possession to Clark, who didn’t need a second invitation to grab the winning try. Craig Little scrambled over in injury time for a well-deserved consolation score.
Earlier in the day, Millbrae grabbed a 17-15 victory over Aberdeen University in the Bowl Final, after a tense finale in which the students missed a penalty in the final minute.
Scrum-half Thomas Forson gave the university an early lead, but Millbrae’s powerful pack were soon well on top, and after a long period camped on their opponents’ line, their dominant scrum was awarded a penalty try on the stroke of half time. James Armstrong kicked the conversion.
Millbrae extended their lead when Keith Hunter burrowed over from close range, but Aberdeen dominated much of the second half, scoring a fine try when Max Stobbs leaped to collect William Kelly’s clever chip-kick then dotted down under the posts.
A penalty for Patrick Clark eventually gave the students the lead with 12 minutes to go, but Millbrae dug deep and when they were awarded a kick at goal 42 yards from the posts, all eyes turned to Craig Steele. His effort scraped over the bar and Millbrae held out for the win.
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