The youngest section of the Mackie Minis, the "Micros" had two teams, the "Mackie Reds" and "Mackie Blacks", who took part in a round robin league where each team played each other with the top two teams then competing in the grand final. Both Mackie teams did very well indeed and built on their great performance at the Stonehaven tournament two weeks previously, each only losing one game in the pool stages.
Although this made them equal on points, by having scored a greater number of tries the Mackie Blacks won a place in the grand final. This was a very tight affair against a strong Garioch team. With some excellent rugby being played by both sides, the game could have gone either way. From being one try behind, Mackie fought their way back to being one ahead. Garioch then scored an equaliser going into the final minutes which meant Mackie had the restart. This they took very efficiently but then an unfortunate run into touch gave Garioch the ball and opportunity to score the winning try, which they duly took in the dying seconds.
In the P4/5 tournament, a further two mixed teams were entered. As this was the last outing of the season for the children selected and they went out to show everyone
how much they've improved right from the first whistle.
Both the Reds and the Blacks played very well all day but as the end of the pool phase was reached the Reds had just pipped the Blacks into a final against Aberdeen Grammar. The final was a very tense affair with neither club able to impose themselves on the other to pull away and gain an advantage. The play was going with the tap starts with Mackie scoring first then Grammar getting one back to produce a very evenly matched game. The tackling from both teams was fierce but fair, and the
commitment to play entertaining, fast flowing rugby was there for all to see and a very exciting spectacle of high class mini rugby was the result. With full time looming Mackie got their sixth try to lead by one again and despite a sustained attempt by Grammar, Mackie held out to the final whistle too win 6-5 ...Mackie Reds where Aboyne P4/5 champions 2008!
Like the other age groups, Mackie entered two mixed P6/7 squads into the oldest age group at Aboyne. A fortnight earlier, the same two Mackie squads had contested the P6/7 final at their own tournament, so with just one change in each squad the travelling support were hopefully that there would be a repeat performance at Aboyne, which was both squads' last tournament of the season. The Aboyne competition was based on two leagues of six teams, with the winners of each league moving on to the final, and a repeat performance seemed a definite possibility when the two Mackie squads were drawn in different leagues.
In the first league, the Mackie Reds made their intention plain right from the start, with a tight defensive line under pressure, switching to a wide attacking game whenever they had possession. This proved effective throughout the league stage, and they beat squads from Aboyne, Huntly, Aberdeen Grammar, Aberdeen Wanderers and Garioch to win their league convincingly, and to march on to the final undefeated.
In the other league, the Mackie Blacks started off well, scoring eight tries against a squad from Aboyne, but then seemed to relax and rely on solo efforts to record 1 - 0 wins against another Aboyne squad and squads from Aberdeen Grammar and Aberdeen Wanderers, and almost came unstuck when they relaxed too much against a very good squad from Garioch and allowed them to come back and secure a 1 - 1 draw. However, they had done enough to remain undefeated, and get through to the final.
So it was Mackie Reds versus Mackie Blacks in the final, and both sides showed that they were capable of open expansive rugby. However, although it was a great display, the Reds definitely played more as a team and took advantage of a strangely-jaded Blacks team to record a 3-1 win.

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Such is the depth of the squads at Mackie Minis this season, the club was able to enter the Mini Rugby Tournament at Banff this year, enter two teams at all age groups and offer every child in the club a place in one of their squads.
At Micro level, the "Mackie Hoops" and the "Mackie Quarters" played well with some outstanding individual and team performances. The Mackie Hoops were in clear contention to win a trophy up until the final game. Unfortunately, their final game was played against their club colleagues, the Mackie Quarters. The Quarters, who had already lost a game, clearly considered they had something to prove and fought with great effort and determination to beat the Hoops. This they successfully achieved to restore their pride, but it also unfortunately denied the Mackie club a trophy, which was then won by Huntly!
The P4/5 tournament was a round robin event. Mackie Blacks where first on against Alford making a steady start and combining well to run out winners 5-0. Thereafter, the Reds after helping make up some players for other teams had their first proper game against the Mackie Blacks. Strong running and great teamwork saw them twice take the lead in a thrilling end to end, try for try, tackle for tackle all action encounter. However, Mackie Blacks regrouped to come out on top 3-2.
Next up was a very large Huntly side. The Reds were determined to make amends and by moving the ball around earned themselves a two try lead, but then got involved in a forward battle which favoured the opposition. Huntly came back strongly and twice crossed from close range to level matters. The Reds responded with a well worked late try to win a very tough match. Next up for the Blacks where Aberdeen Wanderers.With confidence high they where brought down to earth as Wanderers went into a 2-0 lead. Both teams playing hard the Blacks pulled the game back to 2-2 but following some strange refereeing decisions against the Blacks they finally succumbed to a 4-2 defeat.
After the lunch break Banff were easily disposed of by both the Reds and the Blacks which led to an epic encounter for the Reds with Wanderers. Finally the Reds really gelled as a team and matched every run and tackle against an extremely physical opposition. Mackie opened the scoring but one try was a slender lead and was soon negated. The tackles increased in ferocity as neither side gave an inch, injuries were run off and the Red line continued to throw itself at Wanderers. The final result was 1-1 and all credit to the Reds for an absolutely committed display.
The Blacks' last game of the Tournament (and the season) was against a strong Huntly squad. Keeping the best till last and wanting to go out on a high threw themselves into the game. With great support play and hard tackling the Blacks fired in 4 tries before Huntly knew what hit them.Having thought it was all over they forgot to tell Huntly this and allowed them to score twice but held on for the victory 4-2 and second place in the Competition. Thereafter, Mackie Reds finished off a good day with a comfortable win against Alford to finish third.
Not to be outdone by their younger counterparts, the P6/7 squads also wanted to make their mark at Banff. In Pool 1, the Reds came top of their group dismissing Alford, Buckie and Banff scoring 16 tries with no reply; whilst in Pool 2, the Blacks also came top defeating Huntly, Aberdeen Wanderers and RAF Kinloss with 12 tries and only conceding one.
In the quarter finals, both teams won through with ease and 6-3 wins over RAF Kinloss for the Reds and 4-0 for the Blacks against Aberdeen Wanderers, saw an all Mackie final.
This was an epic final with the Blacks using their strong forwards and being countermanded by the Reds nippy backs. With tackles being fearless on both sides the crowd were treated to an entertaining match with a very high standard of mini rugby. In the end the Blacks won 3-1, but where the coaches were concerned the real winners of the tournament was "Mackie"
All in all, it was a tremendous weekend of junior rugby. Despite the Mackie Micros coming away empty handed, having the two tournaments in one weekend allowed players of all abilities and standards to get some good game time against top class opposition. The Mackie boys at all age groups showed some great skill and enthusiasm and a lot of fun was had by all. Despite the fact that Mackie have dominated many of the local competitions this year, the opposition have clearly caught up and the standard of rugby has very much improved, which has got to be very good news for the development of the game in the North-east.