County claim a morale boosting victory

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR ................. 19 STIRLING COUNTY ......................... 26

The very notion that this Scottish Cup tie was a meaningless fixture, given the assumption that the two protagonists might be more committed to saving themselves from relegation from National League One, drew stinging responses from both camps.

Craig Deacons, the County head coach, was delighted to have come through a stirring cup tie, regarding the competition as an integral part of the club season.

“We will now have the confidence to go on to save our season after being pushed all the way. We were brilliant for 20 minutes and then played ugly rugby for the remainder of the game but had enough in the tank to come back at the death and win with a late try,”said the enthusiastic Deacons, who will now apply himself to avoiding relegation, while preparing for the second round tie away to GHK.

Tries from No 8 Callum

Macpherson, centre Mikey Heron and winger Ross Maiden, two of which were converted by their excellent playmaker stand-off Jonny Hope, looked to have done for a limited home side who appeared to not even understand the basics.

All that was to change just before the break when inspired by the efforts of captain for the day, No 8 Youssef Salem, the homesters surged back into the game, grabbing the initiative through their highly effective scrum-half Donald Kennedy, who raced over after a tap penalty, with the conversion added by stand off Paul Paxton.

Playing with a stiff, cold wind, Grammar were a different proposition after the break and it was no surprise when they drew level through tries from flanker Mark Galloway and another from Kennedy, one of which was converted by the excellent Paxton.

County then asserted themselves to take control of the game but were unable to break the deadlock thanks to some determined home defending.

Then, with extra time beckoning, centre Liam Carroll finally found space out wide to break home hearts, and with Hope adding the extras, it was game over and time to return to all things relegation for both sides.

At least, County can look forward to the distraction of another Scottish Cup tie, not that Deacons will be taking it lightly.“it’s another opportunity to boost our confidence, and who knows, another chance to progress in the competition,”he said.

Aberdeen Grammar – S Rutledge; B Renton, C Shepherd, S Ryan, C Hunter; P Paxton, D Kennedy; Y Ahmanache, L Buchan, M Galloway, B Garwood, J Gamba, G Robertson, J Burnett, Y Salem.

Subs – S Mcdonald, P Gaston, A Fitzgerald, S Ryan, O Finlayson.

Stirling County – D Tomanek; B Yarrow, M Heron, L Carroll, R Maiden; J Hope, D Scott; L Quarm, C Richardson, C Murphy, E Cairns, J Brough, R Sangster, S Macdonald, C Macpherson.

Subs – C Hudeon, K Crainey, A Budde, L Jamieson, A Crozier.