Relegation fears grow for County
Second-half slump costs them dearly once more
Stirling County ...19 Currie .................. 27 For the second successive week, Stirling County surrendered a sizeable lead to lose in the BT Premiership.
The defeat by Currie ended any hopes County had of a top-four league finish and now their focus over their final five matches must be to stay clear of the relegation places.
County opened the scoring in nine minutes when Adam Sinclair barged over. Jonny Hope added the conversion.
Eight minutes later, the visitors spilled the ball in the County 22, Hope gathered possession and released Craig Pringle who sprinted up the right touchline before passing to scrum-half Matt Donaldson who kicked ahead and collected the ball to dive over for an
unconverted try. Currie responded with full-back Harvey Elms squeezing over for an unconverted try.
Glasgow Warriors’ forward Langilangi Haupeakuir came off the bench for County to make his first appearance in club rugby but he was injured making a tackle and retired after only four minutes on the field.
Two minutes before the break, Currie again lost possession deep in the County half and the home side quickly worked the ball out to winger Craig Sorbie, who ran clear before passing inside to Pringle who strolled under the posts to score his side’s third try, converted by Hope.
Currie scored a try three minutes after the restart when full-back Elms touched down in the left corner, converted by stand-off Jamie Forbes.
The visitors dominated possession and territory and when County were reduced to 14 men after Wynne was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle, Currie immediately made their numerical advantage pay when secondrow Hamish Bain was driven over for an unconverted try.
With nine minutes left County were attacking in the visitors’ 22 before a loose pass was intercepted by Currie winger Ben Robbins who ran the length of the pitch to score his side’s fourth and bonus-point try under the posts, converted by Forbes to give them the lead at 24-19.
Forbes added a 77th minute penalty to rub salt in the wounds and to cap a disappointing afternoon, Hope missed a penalty in the last minute, which deprived Stirling of a losing bonus point.
Head coach David Adamson said: “At 19-5 we were looking good for the win but once again we go off script, the system breaks down and we concede extremely soft tries.
“I don’t think it is a matter of fitness, it is more about decision-making; however it’s something we’re going to look at as we’ve now lost four games in the last 20 minutes.”
County’s Man of the Match, sponsored by John Graham Metals, was Ruaridh Leishman (sponsored by Inverlochlarig Venison).
The next BT Premiership match is away to Gala on Saturday, kick-off at Netherdale is 3pm.
Thanks to match sponsor Rennies of Dunfermline, County’s main sponsor United Auctions, and all others who continue to support the club.