The award, and the £1000 prize, commends the club's on and off-field performance in the month in which North Berwick's 1st XV won both of their December games by around 30 points with an unblemished discipline record to satisfy two of the three award criteria.

In addition to their table-topping 1st XV league performances, North Berwick have been applauded for extensive rugby development run in partnership with North Berwick High School which, as result, is among the top rugby playing schools in the country, regularly reaching the quarter and semi-final stages of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools' Cup.

Tribute

And the well structured club-school relationship is certainly not a one sided affair.

Playing numbers at the rugby club have doubled over the past four seasons, going from a single 1st XV to regularly fielding 2nd and 3rd string sides while the school benefits from volunteer coaches regularly delivering sessions at the school for a shared benefit.

Head of PE — and the man in charge of Rugby at North Berwick High School — Ronnie Jeffries, paid tribute to his local club for their part in his school's success.

Coaching

He said: "Working together is the key to our success. We benefit from a great minis section at the local rugby club and the help of parents who have completed Scottish Rugby coaching courses."

Club stalwart and director of rugby, Ken Macaulay, was the first in the club to qualify with the UKCC level one coaching course in 2007 and, since, a further nine in the club have achieved the same certificate.

Detailed report in East Lothian News, February 5, 2010