Champs hold on to deny vital win
STIRLING COUNTY ....................... 19 MELROSE ........................................ 22
by Elena de Mello Hogarth
A rare opportunity to defeat champions Melrose in the league slipped through Stirling County’s fingers on Saturday at Bridgehaugh.
With the Borderers reduced to 14 men early in the second half and County well in the hunt, Melrose scored a crucial try which took the game out of Stirling’s reach.
And although Ratu Tagive’s try closed the gap to three points, the home side couldn’t add any more to their tally.
Head coach Eddie Pollock was pleased with his players’ spirit though.
“I was very proud of their efforts and I thought we played well at times,” he said. “We were the best team for long periods.”
Citing the Melrose red-card as the turning point, he added: “I think we relaxed at that point, thinking the game would be won. We made it quite easy for Melrose. But credit to them, they kept the ball really well.”
Both teams started this Tennent’s Premiership match slowly with Stirling shaking themselves out of their post-Christmas stupor slightly sooner than Melrose. The home team harried the visitors where they could in the first quarter, with centre Craig Robertson looking lively, but points were not forthcoming.
The first points of the day came courtesy of referee Ross Mabon who awarded Stirling a penalty try after they had plunged for the line several times – and after several warnings for Melrose.
The visitors replied, using their strength to dominate the breakdown. They fired the ball out to Iain Sim on the wing and he snuck in for the try with fly-half Struan Hutchison curling in the touchline conversion.
Stirling went back into the lead after a thrilling try by openside flanker George Arnott, who took a perfectly timed pass from scrum-half Peter Jericevich after a jinking break by Craig Robertson. Andrew Goudie converted but then left the field for 10 minutes soon after, after receiving a perhaps harsh yellow-card for a tackle on Hutchison.
Just before half-time, Melrose reduced the leeway with a try from Patrick Anderson. Gavin Wood, on the right wing, was headed for the line before Stirling full-back Jonny Hope knocked the ball from his hand, but Melrose just picked it back up, and swiftly got it to Anderson on the other side of the pitch. Hutchison couldn’t convert.
Not long into the second half Melrose found themselves a man down, with second-row James Head shown a red card for foul play. The Borderers seemed to use this to galvanise themselves and they battled their way back into the lead when Hutchison landed a penalty.
Stirling just didn’t quite have the firepower to take advantage and they were all even numberswise – at least for 10 minutes – after replacement prop Gary Holborn was yellow-carded. There was then a fairly lengthy stoppage for Melrose’s open-side flanker Rory Darge to be treated and stretchered off with a knee injury.
With less than 10 minutes to go, the action suddenly cranked up. Melrose replacement Angus Runciman burrowed his way over for a try, with Hutchison getting the conversion. Then Stirling perked up, Trotter sliding into to catch a kick before a long pass found Glasgow Warriors’ Ratu Tagive, who sprinted for the line. Goudie’s conversion was wide.
Stirling battled on but the clock had run down and they were out of time.
Stirling County: Hope; Trotter, MacGarvie, C Robertson, Tagive; Goudie, Jericevich; Chies, Orr, Walker; Bundy, Henderson; Burr, Arnott, Mackie. Subs used: B Robertson, Holborn, Yarrow, Dineen.
● County have three remaining league fixtures - on Saturday they are away to Boroughmuir, on Saturday, Janaury 26 they host Hawick and after the Six Nations, their final match is away to Glasgow Hawks on March 2. On Saturday, February 16, they visit Hawick in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup.