Colts keep hold of the league cup
Stirling re-run their 2016 final victory
Stirling Colts ...... 22 Ayr ...................... 10
Stirling County Under 18s retained the National Youth League Cup on Friday in a repeat of the 2016 final at Murrayfield on Friday.
Twelve months ago, they beat Ayr and the Milbrae youngsters had to settle for second-best once again as the Stirling Colts won 22-10.
County took the lead with a 33rd minute penalty from full-back Keiran Gammie in the only score of the first half.
They extended their lead 11 minutes into the second-half following good work by second-row Cameron Keys and winger Cameron Hill, before the ball was swiftly moved wide to No 8 Wallace Nelson who powered through the Ayr defensive-line to score in the corner. Gammie converted for a 10-0 lead. Four minutes later it was 15-0 when outside-centre Andrew McLean exploited a gap in the Ayr defence to sprint over for an unconverted try in the left corner.
Ayr responded immediately and prop Logan Richardson barged over for a try converted by Jack Gaw to reduce the deficit to 15-7. Gaw then added a penalty for Ayr with six minutes of the match remaining to bring his side to within five points of County.
But with three minutes left, County sealed the win with a well-worked try scored by flanker Cameron Blakemore who strolled over the Ayr line to touchdown after a succession of controlled attacking drives by the Stirling forwards.
Man of the match Gammie kicked the conversion to take the final score to 22-10 to County.
Head coach Matt McGrandles said afterwards: “We came to Murrayfield expecting nothing else but a hard march from Ayr.
“We tried to play our usual game plan but they managed to suss us out. However, when we moved forward in the second-half, glimmers of hope started to show and tries came from that, so we’re very happy and I’m very proud of the boys.”
Team was: Keiran Gammie, Cameron Hill, Andrew McLean, James Gibson (capt.), Tommy Johnson, Jonathon Ross, Adrian Riddick; Connor Clark, Bryce Robertson, Ross Murray, Cameron Keys, Ross Bundy, Cameron Blakemore, Donald McLaren, Wallace Nelson. Replacements: Fraser Muir, Lachlan MacKay, Andrew Rutherford, Derek Sneddon, Craig Jardine, Adam Shaw, James Manners.
Thanks to Stirling County Rugby Academy sponsors Kilgannon Motors of Bannockburn.