County moving up after win over ‘Muir
Stirling in prime position for fourth-place push
Stirling County secured a vital 21-14 league win over Boroughmuir at Bridgehaugh on Saturday to avenge their defeat by the Edinburgh side earlier in the campaign and move up to sixth in the BT Premiership table.
County were forced to make a number of changes to the team that won at Hawick last week with a completely new front row in Colin Hutton, Matt Emmison and Fergus Bradbury replacing Mike MacDonald (unavailable), Reyner Kennedy (concussion rest) and Adam Nicol (called-up for Glasgow Warriors) with Bradbury making his first start for the senior side.
In the backs, Danny Gilmour was welcomed back for his first appearance of the season on the right wing.
Left winger Logan Trotter almost gave Stirling an early lead but he was held up over the visitors’ try-line and it was Boroughmuir who went ahead with their first incursion into the County 22 after 12 minutes, Dale Robertson touching down. Stand-off Chris Laidlaw added the conversion.
Jordan Edmunds almost added to their lead but County’s Craig Pringle made a crucial try-saving tackle close to the line.
Jonny Hope missed a penalty but County tied the score at 7-7 on 34 minutes when stand-off Ross Jones was fed the ball on halfway and wrong-footed the ‘Muir defence before swapping passes with scrum-half Matt Donaldson for the County No 10 to touch-down under the posts. The try was converted by Hope.
After the interval, Jones almost gave Stirling the lead when he gathered his own kick ahead before off-loading to Black who passed to Pringle but he was held up over the try-line.
They did go in front in 52 minutes when No 8 Alex Taylor barged over, converted by Hope for a 14-7 lead and five minutes later, a third try came when Pringle finished off a move by scoring a try to the right of the posts. Hope slotted the conversion to make it 21-7.
Boroughmuir responded with Craig Keddie scoring a try under the posts, converted by Laidlaw with 14 minutes remaining and home hearts then missed a beat as County were then reduced to 14 when Gilmour was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.
They piled on the pressure but the home defence held firm.
Stirling County: Hope, Gilmour, Pringle, Black, Trotter, Jones, Donaldson; Hutton, Emmison, Bradbury, Burr, Hunter-Hill, Leishman, MacDonald, Taylor. Replacements: Montgomery, Hunter, Henderson, Robertson, Jarvie.
Boroughmuir: Cannie, Edmonds, Kerr, Hare, McConnell, Laidlaw, Steele; Robertson, King, Winning, Atkinson, Ure, Mncube, Rose, Keddie. Replacements: Clark, Gracie, Tweddle, Mills, Cox.
County’s Man of the Match, sponsored by John Graham Metals, was Craig Pringle, who was strong in defence and a constant threat in attack.
After the match head coach David Adamson said: “We’re a bit disappointed with the tries Boroughmuir scored which came from our errors and a lack of discipline in our defensive structures and we’re disappointed not to get the bonus point but it is an important win so we’ll take it..”
The BT Premiership takes a break for four weeks during Scotland’s autumn international tests with County’s next league match away to third-placed Glasgow Hawks on Saturday, December 3, kick-off at Old Anniesland is 3pm. Before that on Saturday, November 19 County travel to Whitecraigs in the second round of the BT Cup, kick-off at Newton Mearns is 1.30pm.
Thanks to match sponsor Vimto Scotland, County’s main sponsor United Auctions, and all others who continue to support the club.