Carrick Academy have frequently been held up as a template for the revival of state school rugby and on Saturday the south Ayrshire school just how far they have progressed by achieving a clean sweep across the board against Jordanhill School teams on Saturday.
At first fifteen level Carrick Academy, who face Lenzie Academy at home this weekend, ran in six tries on their way to a 36-12 win over Jordanhill, their touchdowns coming from Zander Howie (2), Grant Thomson, Connor McCLung, Peter McNair and Iain McKnight, three of them converted by Nicolas Davidson.
The Jordanhill v Carrick match was one of the few schools games played on Saturday as half term holidays throughout the country meant an almost complete shutdown of sporting fixtures.
Half term breaks, however, did not have an effect on youth rugby and in particular the National League Cup and Bowl competitions. On Saturday, Highland RFC, proved that distance is no object, by overcoming the effects of a lengthy journey from Inverness to the Scottish Borders, to secure a historic win over Hawick Wanderers in the semi final of the National Youth under-18 Cup.
Inverness, who head the National Youth League table, will now face the winners of the postponed semi final between the defending champions, Jed Thistle and last year's runners-up, Ayr, in the final at BT Murrayfield a week on Sunday.
Highland's Calum Boyd and skipper Stephen Grant each scored a brace of tries the other touchdown coming from Murdo Patterson. Fionnlagh Call kicked three conversions and a penalty goal. For Hawick, Scotland under-18 squad member D'Arcy Graham scored a hat-trick of tries, Wanderers, other try coming from winger Logan Gordon-Wooley.
Meanwhile Highland were unable to achieve a double celebration after their under-16 side lost 36-10 to Peebles Colts in the Bowl quarter final. Peebles Colts now play Biggar for a place in the final against Hamilton.
Peebles Colts have their eye on a double appearance at Murrayfield and will achieve that aim if they can defeat Musselburgh on Saturday in the under-18 Bowl semi final. The winner of this penultimate round tie will then play Melrose Wasps in the final.
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