Uppie win prevents Doonie whitewash

Uppie Greig ‘Acker’ Rorie, 39, has won the Men’s New Year’s Day ba’ in a remarkable game which saw a smuggle decide the outcome of the honours.

The men’s ba’ was thrown up by John Cromarty at 1pm, and after a struggle between the two almost evenly matched sides, the Doonie’s at one point had the upper hand, forcing the ba’ from Broad Street into Castle Street, and into the car park next to WR Tullock’s garage. However, the scrum became wedged in a corner at around 2.30pm. There it was to remain until darkness fell, as the two sides gave no ground away.

Then, at around 5 pm, the Uppie’s staged dummy runs, which led to total confusion among both players and the crowds who scattered along Junction Road.

Meanwhile, a small group of Uppies, led by past winner Garry Cooper, casually walked the ba’ from the car park, up Broad Street, Victoria Street, to Victoria Lane. They then crossed the Clay Loan and went along Laverock Road, coming down Pipersquoy Road.

Here they were spotted by Doonies and the scrum reformed. Despite a never say die attitude from the Doonie side, the Uppies had their goal in sight and the ba’ smacked off the wall at The Long Corner at 5.40pm, stopping a potential Ba’ season Doonie whitewash in its tracks.

After a 20 minute debate it was an absolutely delighted Greig, a past boy’s ba’ winner, who was held aloft and declared the winner.