Rugby: Dunfermline's under-16s set for Caledonia Cup final

The McKane Park club's 2008s (under-16s) will travel to Aberdeen on Sunday to play in the Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup final, where they will meet Stirling County.

After advancing from one of two groups at the beginning of the competition, winning all six matches, Dunfermline defeated Deeside, 17-10, and Highland Eagles, 25-5, to progress to the showpiece match.

It will take place as part of a Caledonia Cup finals day, at Robert Gordon College, which is the largest regional event of its kind in Scotland, with silverware on offer in cup, shield, bowl and plate events at different age groups.

They'll play Stirling County for the trophy. (Image: Tim Wilson.)

Last year, the current crop of under-16s from Dunfermline won the Caledonia Cup at under-15, against Stirling County, and are aiming to make it two-in-a-row.

Dave Mallinson, a coach with the team, told Press Sport: "It's been a difficult season in many ways, but they're looking forward to it, and we hope they'll do well.

"They're playing against Stirling County, that's who we played against last year, so we'll see how it goes this year.

"We've played Stirling County over the years and, every time we've played them, it's not a walk in the park. It's a difficult game. It'll be what it'll be.

"We may win, we may not, I don't know, but as long as we play well, that's the main thing.

"It's been a whole team effort to get us to this stage. They're playing well."

Sunday's final could be a bittersweet day for the team, with Dave explaining that, whilst some of the players will remain at under-16, others will have decisions to make as to whether they progress to under-18s with the club or elsewhere.

"It's the end of an era," he added.

"It's the end of a team, and the boys start going their own different ways, so it's important to them."