County will benefit lots from final loss
Stirling County skipper Jonny Hope believes that his side’s Murrayfield disappointment at the hands of all-conquering league and cup double-winning Melrose in April can still prove to be a positive.
Last season in the BT Premiership after a bright start County endured a torrid league campaign winning just six from 18 games.
But the captain is hopeful his men can use the lessons of last season and and the positive platform of their cup final appearance to kick on – and he has been given a further boost by the encouragement from a Bridgehaugh legend.
Hope said:“I think the big difference on the day was the big game experience that Melrose had over us.
“We are still a very young side whereas Melrose have been at the absolute top of the Scottish club game for a while and they managed the game better.
“After the final Ian Jardine, former County and Scotland centre, said to me that sometimes you have to lose a final to win a final and I get that.
“What the final did was give us a boost in terms of getting there while in the final Melrose gave us a lesson in terms of how to win a big game.
“Over the summer we will reflect on these lessons, take the positives and come back the better for them, determined to kick on.
“What we have to do now is take that positivity and belief and make sure we build on it in the league next season.”