County hold on to their Premiership status in style
There was a real buzz about Stirling County at the end of this encounter, which guarantees the Bridgehaugh club BT Premiership status next season, coming as it did on the back of a victory over Edinburgh Accies in the BT Cup the previous week, writes Martin Laing.
Stirling were comfortable winners of the crunch clash and it gives them momentum as they prepare for next month’s BT Cup semi-final on their own ground against Hawick, a point recognised by player-coach Peter Jericevich.
“You win one game, get a bit of confidence in training and the boys approach the next game with a bit more belief. You could see that in the first half and I think we’re back to showing what we were doing earlier in the season,” said Jericevich.
After going behind twice in the early stages to a penalty by Paddy Kelly, cancelled out by Johnny Hope, and a try from Mark New, it was County who dominated thereafter. They went ahead with a try from Hamilton Burr and a brace from Ross Curle, two of them goalled by Hope before the interval.
The second half was a curious affair, with Hope nudging over another penalty but then seeing very few chances for either team until Reyner Kennedy went over in the 85th minute for a try that Hope converted for a bonus point.
Hawks coach Fin Gillies said: “We couldn’t get a foothold in the game and I don’t know whether you would say that is because they defended well or because we attacked poorly.”