County youth sides take Scottish crowns
Stirling County’s boys and girls celebrated a stunning double success when they were presented with top honours in Scottish rugby.
The girls section at Bridgehaugh collected the Mitsubishi Motors Mirage Conference overall winners award while the boys won the Mitsubishi Motors Shogun Conference.
Representatives from the SRU, Mitsubishi UK, Academy sponsors Kilgannon Motors and former Stirling players Adam Ashe and Matt Smith helped commemorate the double win.
The Mirage Conference for girls was won by Stirling for the second season running, with both the U18s and U15s topping their age groups.
In the Shogun Conference County narrowly pipped Boroughmuir in a hard-fought season, with the U18s undefeated in winning their section for the third season running.
U18s boys head coach Matt McGrandles said: “Our success demands a continued professional approach to developing our players through both physical and mental conditioning.
“We have 51 players this season so I can’t thank my management team enough as without their coaching support both teams would not be in the positive Bryan Robertson position we find ourselves in.”
U18 girls coach Al Wilson said: “I am so proud to have been part of a wonderful team that have helped develop girls’ rugby at Stirling County, seeing it grow from12 players a few years back to more than 50 across three age groups.
“Winning the conference was another milestone in our lives that we are all extremely proud of.
“The structure of having the conferences with competitive games across the country is really helping to develop the game across Scotland and we are delighted to be part of that success story.”
Club president John Wright thanked the sponsors who have contributed to the youth academy, in particular Kilgannon Motors, as well as the players and their families.
He said: “Our most hearfelt thanks is reserved for all the volunteer coaches and managers who give so much time, effort and commitment to allowing the players the opportunity to take part in our great game of rugby.”