Ex-Banff player leads select to sevens victory
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Lee Youngson won The Colin Smith Memorial Trophy awarded to the best junior player of the tournament. Both Colin’s parents attended the presentation, and the trophy was handed over to Lee by one of Colin’s coaches and friend, Hein Mijzen. Also pictured, b
A STRONG select team, led by former Portsoy resident and Banff Rugby club member, Colin Philips, lifted the main tournament title at the Banff Sevens competition on Saturday.
The CP Select team, made up of players from his current club, Aberdeen Grammar, as well as Ellon and Dundee High overcame a youthful Aberdeen Grammar side 52-14 in a final that was more exciting than the scoreline suggests.
The plate competition was won by the home team, Banff, who played some excellent rugby in overcoming a veteran team led by Neil Mckenzie, of Cornhill.
The Banff lads did not quite have the skills of some of the oldies, but they had bags of pace to spare and and ran in some excellent tries from James Milne, Mitch Wyllie, captain Colin Duglonski, Euan Swan and Gordon Robertson. This has been a great season for Banff and they did well against some very strong opposition.
Ellon won the cup competition, beating Mackie in the final. Moray lifted the plate by beating Buckie.
The day was designated as a fund-raiser for two local charities, the RNLI, and UCAN in memory of Andy Nicholson, a young Macduff man who died of cancer. More than £600 was raised by the teams and by a raffle.
Marjory Nicholson made the presentation of prizes to Aberdeen Grammar players and CP Select. Colin Philips is pictured with the trophy on her right.
Marjory, Andy’s mum, presented the trophies and gave a short reminder of the importance of checking for urological cancers. The money raised will go towards a trust that has been set up in Andy’s name to provide specialist care in a ward in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Banff’s annual trophy presentation dinner is in the clubhouse on Saturday. Anyone interested in attending should contact club president Hein Mijzen on 07966120516.
