Bartlett try clinches win in Super6 opener
BOROUGHMUIR BEARS ....................... 24 STIRLING COUNTY ................................ 27
Stirling County scored two late tries to stun Boroughmuir Bears and win the first-ever FOSROC Super6 match at Meggetland on Friday night.
A crowd of just over 1500 turned out on chilly night in Edinburgh and with 10 minutes to go and 24-13 up, it looked like the home side would take the points.
But back came the Bridgehaugh side and with five minutes left Caleb Korteweg wriggled over for a try which was converted by Josh Henderson then as the match neared full time, Oliver Bartlett rumbled over for the winning score. Henderson’s conversion was the icing on the cake.
It wasn’t a classic contest but it was a step up in physicality with the inevitable early season lack of cohesion.
The County XV was boosted by the inclusion of Glasgow Warriors’ trio Brandon Thomson (full back), Adam Nicol (prop) and Adam Ashe (No 8) - back in a County jersey for the first time in a few years - and a Henderson penalty from in front of the posts appeared to settle their nerves. But it was the home side who registered Super 6’s first-ever try when hooker George Shannon – a recruit from south of the border – went over. Kyle McGhie kicked the conversion.
Boroughmuir were reduced to 14 men when winger Jordan Edmunds was sent to the bin for a high tackle but they survived their 10 minutes at a numerical disadvantage and Edmunds soon made amends with a wonderful solo try, collecting a loose clearance around 10 yards inside his own half, hunting down his own kick ahead and charging home with McGhie nailing the touchline conversion for good measure.
Stirling’s opening try came from skipper Reyner Kennedy from a lineout drive, converted by Henderson, but Boroughmuir bounced back before halftime when Edmunds forced a turnover and Glen Faulds showed real pace to sprint it in from nearly 60-yards.
A Henderson penalty from in front of the post after a Boroughmuir offside at the end of the third quarter narrowed the gap to 21-13 but that was almost immediately cancelled out by a Faulds effort after a ruck infringement from the visitors.
A tense finale was teed-up when Stirling’s Kiwi scrum-half Korteweg went over from close range and Henderson kicked the conversion to make it a fourpoint game with just over five minutes left on the clock.
Then Ollie Bartlett rumbled over from close range to clinch the away win.
The opening weekend results saw Heriot’s Rugby win 25-13 against Ayrshire Bulls at Millbrae while Watsonians came out 14-13 victors at The Greenyards against Southern Knights.
The Knights are County’s next opponents when they visit Bridgehaugh on Saturday. Kick-off is 4pm.
Stirling County: Thomson; MacGarvie, Hayes, Hughes, Trotter; J Henderson, Korteweg; Walker, Kennedy, Nicol, Bartlett, C Henderson, Taylor-Menzies, Arnott, Ashe. Subs: Robertson, Dineen, Brown, Pow, Goudie, McLean, Sorbie.