When our first game of the season ended in a disappointing draw with Selkirk even the most Robbie Dyed in the wool supporter couldn’t have expected that we would win every other league game retaining the coveted Bill McLaren shield a record 19 times along the way. What an incredible achievement! This is our first unbeaten league season since 2000-2001. However here we are in the Premiership play off semi-final with Marr our opponents for the second year running. They edged us out in a tense encounter at Fullarton Park last season but this time we have home advantage and the boys will be looking to the Mansfield Park faithful to be the vital extra 16th man. The boys are hugely grateful for your support all season both home and away. Marr were Premiership champions last season and will be looking to back this up and retain the title. Having topped the league counts for nothing when there are play-offs as Currie found to their cost last time round so it is back to scratch with a place in the final the prize to this afternoon’s victors.
It is good as always to welcome Tony Peters, Kevin Quinn, Glenn Davis and the many Marr supporters who have travelled the long and winding round from Ayrshire. We are glad to be able to return the grand hospitality we always receive at Troon.
Today, to do a Q and A at our Hospitality Lunch we are delighted to welcome an old on field foe and off field friend, the “Great White Shark” himself, now Chairman of the Scottish Rugby Limited Board, John Jeffrey. JJ was one of the Borders contingent in the 1990 Grand Slam winning side and was involved in the build up to a try which you may have seen once or twice in the intervening years
“And onti Murrayfield yon magic day
Ahint David Sole hei walked his way
And pickin up frae a scrum hei played his pairt
In yon try that broke the English hert
But it wad be remiss if I
Didni remind ee that the man whae actually scored the try
That was sterted off be the Great White Shark
Was Tony Stanger frae Mansfield Park”
We also welcome another Troon man today, the rugby legend that is P.C. Brown of the totalling unique yet for the most part successful goal kicking style. Now residing in Dunbar he played here at Mansfield in some feisty local derbies when
“Frae a’ owre Scotland they came far and wide
Ti play for the Gala Co-optimist side”.
Don’t forget to listen to Ned’s dulcet tones at half time to see if you have won the £100 prize for our “Collect a Programme” competition.
Will Currie or Accies triumph in the other semi-final? Will the final be played at Mansfield, Fullarton, Malleny or Raeburn Place? We hope to see you back here at Mansfield next week but “Que Sera sera” as ma auld Languages teacher Rob Tait yaised ti say or was it Doris Day?!
Ian W Landles
President
