Real Rugby - In The Regional Leagues

HAVING already dealt with the Tennent's Premiership and National Leagues, it is time for a slightly-belated look back at Saturday's Tennent's Regional leagues matches.

In East Division 1, last season's Champions, Hawick Harlequins, who of course refused promotion into the National Leagues, are again top of the table. Their 43-0 win over Livingston was a welcome boost to the currently sad state of rugby affairs in the toon. 'Quins are the only team in this division to have posted back-to-back bonus-point wins, and they head the table from the reborn Royal High, who followed-up their opening day draw at Berwick, by beating North Berwick 49-17.

Forrester are third, after a 24-17 win at Duns while Portobello, who couldn't play on the opening week-end, got their campaign going with a bonus-point 26-9 to go fourth, with Broughton fifth.

Corstorphine Cougars bounced back from their opening day loss – 48-27 at Leith, to beat Gala YM 27-19 and go top of the East Division 2 table, with six points. This leaves them one ahead of Trinity Accies, Langholm, Leith and Dunbar, who follow in that order, on five points.

In East Division 3, after a blank fixture card on 1 September, three games were played on Saturday. Edinburgh Northern beat Queensferry 48-12 to top the table, followed by Lismore, who won 45-25 at Walkerburn, while Dalkeith are third, after their 36-28 win at Liberton.

In the wild West, Paul Justice, who has some knowledge of how things operate got it wrong in his pre-game forecast. He reckoned the Match of the Day would be at the Bearyards in Bishopbriggs, where Allan Glen's were entertaining promoted Strathendrick. In the end, Glen's had a comfortable 46-7 win.

The real Match of the Day was at Netherthird, where in a fixture with a lot of history and spilled blood behind it, Cumnock edged-out Irvine 27-26 in what was clearly a good, old-fashioned Ayrshire fracas.

Greenock Wanderers followed-up their opening day home win over Cumnock with a 46-15 win at Cambuslang, to top the table on ten points, one clear of a pursuing posee of clubs on nine points, headed by Glen's, with East Kilbride and Annan keeping close order.

Uddingston lead West 2 on points difference, from Lenzie, Oban Lorne and Bishopton – all of whom have 10 points following back-to-back bonus-point wins. I liked one story to emerge from Saturday's matches. Apparently, after being beaten 31-7 at Bishopton, one of the Millbrae players was heard to say: “This is just like playing at Cumnock,” a remark which had Bishopton coach Franklin Clark – a one-time Cumnock player – smiling. There is no truth in the rumour, by the way, that, on seeing former Kilmarnock hooker Clark on the touchline, Andrew Pickles, legendary father of Millbrae skipper Max, went back to his car to look out his gum shield and shin guards.

Lochaber head West 3, after their second straight bonus-point win, 38-16 over Isle of Mull. Glasgow University Medics might have lost 19-24 at home to Cowal, but, the remain in second spot with six points, one more than a clutch of clubs: Waysiders-Drumpellier, Mull, Birkmyre and Cowal.

The disturbing news in this division is, that for the second straight week, Clydesdale had to call-off their scheduled match, against Shawlands, due to a shortage of players. This is not what we want to hear at this early stage in the season.

In Caledonia Division 1, Strathmore's 38-22 win at Hillfoots sees them head the table, the only club to have won both their opening games, with bonus-points too. Second spot is held by Glenrothes, in spite of them losing a hard-fought Fife Derby 29-28 at Dunfermline.

Glenrothes are on seven points with a battle developing behind them, where Alloa, Hillfoots, Grangemouth Stags and Aberdeen Wanderers are all on five points. The Stags v Alloa game, which the home side won 56-38 was apparently a feast of running rugby, with both sides prepared to give it a go from anywhere – god to hear.

It's tight at the top in Caledonia Midlands 2, with Blairgowrie, Panmure and Carnoustie HSFP leading the way, all on ten points following back-to-back bonus-point wins. Blairgowrie's 105-0 win over Madras has, however, given them a healthy lead on points difference.

Dundee Morgan and Rosyth Sharks are setting the pace in Midlands 3, both have accrued bonus points in winning their opening two games. Dundee had a huge 83-29 win over Angus Development on Saturday, while the Sharks bit Arbroath 48-7.

Midlands 4 is headed by the second teams of Dunfermline and Glenrothes, two more sides to have started their season with consecutive four try bonus-point wins.

Now we turn to what is already being called Monro's Moger, or the North Referees Cup – Scottish Rugby's QI question, because: nobody knows what is happening.

As far as I can tell: Aberdeen University head Group 1, with two wins from two games. Mackie Academy FP, after beating Aberdeen GSFP 2s 27-26 lead Group 2. In Group 3, Banff, having beaten North Police Scotland 46-21, then Dyce 59-0 on Saturday look sure to win the group, while in Group 4, the winner of Saturday's meeting of Deeside and Garioch will win the group.

What we do know is, Huntly and Peterhead, in Group 2, Fraserburgh in Group 3 and Aberdeen University Medics and Aberdeen Wanderers in Group 4 have all been kicked out of the competition for not fulfilling fixtures.

In the National Reserve Leagues, Ayr are leading, from Heriot's Blues – both having won their opening two fixtures with bonus points. Stirling County are third, with Melrose Storm fourth – all good and well for the S6 sides then.

FINALLY – something I did not have time and space to do yesterday, that is, to wish a happy 80^th birthday, and many more to follow, to Tom Howie, one of the true stalwarts of club rugby in the West of Scotland.

Tom Howie - Happy 80th birthday old boy

Whether with Glasgow Academicals, Kilmarnock, or Glasgow Hawks, Tom has been a fervent supporter of the club game – while also earning his “True Bufty” status during sterling service to the old Glasgow District.

Rhona Howie – Olympic Winter Games gold medal-winning curling skip – her delivery of “the Stone of Destiny” at the 2002 Salt Lake City games is one of THE great moments in Scottish sport – may be the sporting poster girl of the Howie family, but, wee Tom, has contributed hugely to rugby and I wish him a belated all the best today.

Tom's pearls of wisdom whenever I cover a Hawks game, are always welcome. I look forward to his sound advice for a good while yet.