Girls bounce back to win
STIRLING COUNTY WOMEN ........... . 25 CARTHA QUEENS PARK ..................... 12
County went into their home game of the Tennents Premiership on Sunday, seeking to make up for last week’s defeat in Corstorphine.
With the pitch in great condition at Bridgehaugh, County dominated the opening exchanges and opened a gap in Cartha’s defence for full back Kirsty Wilson to run in an unconverted try for the first score of the day.
For much of the next 25 minutes County were camped in Cartha’s half but could not make the pressure count. The ball from rucks was often slow and on a number of occasions County released pressure by giving away penalties.
Then with half an hour gone, Cartha were able to level things up when their full back took a ball in midfield and managed to arc round the County defence to score.
From the kick off, Stirling applied good pressure and worked a position in the Cartha 22. Quick phase play and width of passing opened up half a gap, which was enough for Orla Proctor to hand-off two defenders and make it 10-5 at the break.
Frustratingly, it was Cartha who scored first in the second half, levelling matters with a try and going ahead with the conversion.
But the County women deserve great credit for holding their nerve. In an eight minute spell they turned the game around as Sarah Murdoch took a pass close to the Cartha line and stepped inside the defence to score.
Another score came when Fi Keys ran in a try on the left wing and that was followed by concerted pressure from the kick off leading to Heather Davis cutting through the Cartha defence to score under the posts fo.
Stirling County held on well when Cartha managed a period of serious pressure on their try line with Gemma Brown and Orla Proctor prominent in defence.
Player of the match nominations were shared by Beth Streets who marshalled the game well at 10 and Heather Davis who was her usual human dynamo in attack and defence.
Thanks to sponsors Precise Medical Aesthetics.