Kevin Wyness is not one of life??s shrinking violets.
Kevin Wyness is not one of life's shrinking violets. The Aberdeenshire RFC coach doesn't like egotists, loathes people who blame others for their own deficiencies and woe betide anybody with a half-hearted approach to improving themselves at training nights.
But while he sets himself and his players high standards, the process is paying dividends as the Woodside club show signs of progression in the BT National League second tier.
Rugby in Aberdeen still has problems, as Wyness acknowledges. In his opinion, 'the youth system just isn't good enough', there's a lack of a grand vision for the region from most officials and too many 'bad eggs' content to poach the best talent and do little to nurture their own personnel, not just for this season or the next, but 10 years down the line. It helps explain why Scotland's third largest city has no representatives in the Premiership, with Shire's counterparts Aberdeen Grammar suffering relegation last season and struggling to make much of an impression in the Scottish National League.
But while Wyness' charges launched their own campaign with a few defeats, they have subsequently recorded a sequence of eight consecutive victories which has left them in a position where promotion is a possibility in 2015. Not that the team's mentor is particularly obsessed with going up in this campaign. Instead, in reflecting on the youthful nature of his side, he is more interested in sustainability than transient success.
'We had five of our youngsters ' Andy Watts, Brad Fraser, Matthew Emmison, Jamie Batho and Matthew Gordon ' picked for the Caledonia under-20 squad who took on the Borders last week and that shows the efforts we are making to encourage our lads to move forward in the game,' said Wyness. 'The oldest of our players in Saturday's match [a 41-5 win against Kirkcaldy] was Nicky Fraser and he is just 27.
'Since Alex [Duncan] and I came here [from Grammar], we've put the emphasis on youth, we have created a partnership with Aberdeen University, we have a strength and conditioning coach [Fraser Murray] and we are working at the Aberdeen Sports Village as often as we can to sharpen up the boys, who have really bought into the idea.
'We want everybody to be honest and work hard and that applies to us the same as it does the players. We suffered a couple of disappointing defeats against Kirkcaldy and Musselburgh, and that was frustrating, but the losses to Hamilton and Howe of Fife were different. They were better than us, much better, and that has shown us the benchmark.
'I'm confident that our boys will only improve in the future, and we have a 17-year-old Bruce Sorbie who I'm hoping will earn Scotland age-group recognition in the months ahead. We also have a wonderful back row prospect, Cameron Simpson, and he has a huge amount of potential. But we have to be realistic: most of these lads are at the very start of their careers and it is inevitable that some will decide to move on to the Premiership. But while they are turning out for Aberdeenshire, we have to help them become better, stronger and fitter and I reckon we are managing that at the moment.'
The Shire brigade has also forged links with a club in South Africa and the plan is to send two or three of their rising stars to the Republic next summer. Yet Wyness is resolutely refusing to get carried away. Yes, he appreciates the advances which have been made. But no, it doesn't mean he is looking beyond Saturday's tussle with Howe.
'They are a quality side, so we have no illusions that it will be hard, but we go out looking to win every fixture and that never changes,' said Wyness. 'This season, it is more about improvement and building momentum than pursuing promotion, but that won't be the case in the 2015-16 campaign. But we have a longer-term goal. At this stage, points are important, but we really are still ahead of where we wanted to be.'
His Twitter handle carries the words: 'A face only a mother could love'. But one suspects Kevin Wyness is exactly the sort of tough-as-teak, take-no-prisoners individual with the bloody-mindedness required to resuscitate the sleeping giant in the north east.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Some thought Hawick would struggle on their return to the top flight and they aren't entirely out of the woods. But their hard-fought 27-22 win over title-challenging Ayr was the sort of result with massive implications for the victors and vanquished alike.
TALKING POINT
Just over a month ago, Gala seemed capable of battling for the Premiership. However, a run of four straight defeats means they are in danger of missing even a play-off spot. Something has gone badly wrong at Netherdale.
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