Two lapses and County lose out
Soft tries conceded either side of interval
Watsonians ..... 15 Stirling County 12 Two soft tries conceded either side of half-time proved to be Stirling County’s downfall as the Bridgehaugh side narrowly lost out to Watsonians at a bitterly cold and damp Myreside on Saturday.
County’s losing bonus point will, however, undoubtedly prove crucial in their battle to avoid relegation form the BT Premiership.
Stirling had four players away with the Scotland Under 20s but had Glasgow Warriors professionals Nemia Kenatale at scrum-half and South African Brandon Thomson – who signed last week – at outside-centre.
The visitors started well but it was Watsonians who took the lead when stand-off Ewan Scott landed a 25-metre penalty.
On the half-hour, County standoff Ross Jones broke clear from inside his own half before offloading to Kenatale who took play into the home 22. The visitors then won a penalty from a scrum and Kenatale took a quick tap which caught the home defence off-guard.
The scrum-half was tackled close to the try-line, but he managed to slip a pass to the supporting back-rower Andrew Grant-Suttie who dived over. Hope missed the conversion.
He had better luck just before the break, converting a try by Alex Black after Watsonians’ skipper Rory Drummond was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.
Watsonians responded despite being a man down and attacked down the right flank, but the ball was knocked on and County were awarded a scrum five-metres from their own line. The visitors initially secured the ball but carelessly turned over possession to home winger Keith Young who scored an unconverted try in the left corner.
Scott missed a kickable penalty for Watsonians just after the break before Drummond returned from the sin-bin.
And he was quickly into the action, picking up from the base of the scrum to run in from 20 metres for an unconverted try and a 15-12 lead.
Both sides tried to attack at every opportunity in deteriorating weather conditions, but scoring chances were scare.
County had a few chances but good Watsonians defence held them at bay and the Edinburgh side held on for a win which secured their BT Premiership place for next season.
Man of the Match for County, sponsored by John Graham Metals, was Ross Jones.
Watsonians - Chalmers, Young, McLeod, Inness, Steele, Scott, Cullen; Borel, Crombie, Rowers, Borthwick, McLean, Dods, Duckett, Drummond. Replacements: Miller, Christie, Morrison, McKirdy, McKean.
Stirling County - Hope, S McDonald, Thomas, Black, Trotter, Jones, Kenatale; M MacDonald, Kennedy, Hutton, Burr, Sinclair, Grant-Suttie, Taylor, Leishman. Replacements: Emmison, Hunter, Henderson, Donaldson, Bonnar.
The defeat means County remain in seventh position and a win in either of their final matches against Heriot’s at home on Saturday or on March 11 against Melrose will save them from a relegation playoff against the second-placed team in National League 1.
Thanks go to County’s main sponsor United Auctions, and all others who continue to support the club.