GLASGOW HAWKS 12 STIRLING COUNTY 30
Stirling County completed an up and down Tennent’s Premiership season on a high with a bonus point win over Hawks, writes Matt Vallance.
And James Wade, who was handed media duties by Ben Cairns, could not have been happier.
“Our team was a mix of mainly young players, from our second and lower teams, and the fact they were able to win demonstrates the club system works,” he said. “They made a few mistakes in difficult conditions but they worked out what they had to do to win.”
For Hawks’ Fin Gillies, it was a familiar story: “A lot of good stuff, undone by basic errors,” he said.
County sought to spread the ball and Hawks, with early forward control, tried to keep it tight, so the win was justification for County’s ambition. Conditions were terrible, but, this was still an entertaining game, albeit not helped by a referee who seemed to lack a feel for the game.
Andrew Goudie for County and Gary Adams for Hawks exchanged early tries, converted by Goudie and Liam Brims, before a Goudie penalty and one from Jonny Hope saw County lead at the break.
George Arnott’s try, converted by Goudie, stretched the visitors’ lead before James Couper’s chase of Brims’ kick through was rewarded with a try. Conditions – and the play – then deteriorated before county’ s strong finish was rewarded by further tries from the outstanding Ali Mackie and Scott Derrick.