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SOUTHERN KNIGHTS ........................... 10 STIRLING COUNTY ................................ 24
Stirling County made it two wins in a row in the FOSROC Super6 Sprint Series after achieving victory over a Southern Knights team weakened by both a red card and injuries to key players.
But there is no denying that Stirling, fielding a clutch of under-20 players, were worthy winners such was the quality of their performance based on disciplined defence and, at times, polished attacking rugby.
What is encouraging for Stirling is the number of players in their side who have come through County’s famous youth system - players like Logan Trotter and Euan Cunningham, who, against Southern Knights, both excelled. The younger players were helped by the likes of Benedict Grant, whose ‘soft’ hands were a feature of the No 8’s play at The
Greenyards.
For Stirling’s coach Ben Cairns, there was satisfaction in the way his side always seemed to be in charge on the field.
“I thought we controlled the game pretty well generally but it probably didn’t tell on the scoreboard,” he said. “We scored some decent tries; they were all different.”
It was Knights who claimed the first points of the match with a 45 metre penalty goal by scrum-half Ben Afshar but County hit back from a break out just outside their own 22, Stirling turned on the style. Grant used soft hands rather than hard muscle to put DJ Innes through a gap. He was hunted down but County were able to go through several phases before Ross Mcknight went over.
Knights were unfortunate to lose second row Daniel Sudden then winger Iain Sim and Stirling increased their lead before the break when hooker Gregor Hiddleston scored, the touchline conversion by Marcus Holden giving the visitors a 12-3 half-time advantage.
The home side began the second period of play with much greater purpose and skipper Fraser Renwick finished off the attack with a try under the posts, converted with some ease by half-time replacement Nathan Chamberlain.
Knights could feel pleased with the efforts having forced their way back into the game but any feeling of pride in performance was punctured in the form of a red card shown to Jacob Henry after the winger had upended his opposite number in the air following a box-kick from Murray Redpath.
Sensing that their one man advantage could quickly inflate their lead, County piled on the pressure close to the Knights’ line and after a series of forward drives, prop Lewis Skinner drove over for his side’s third try to give Stirling a seven points advantage.
Knights then suffered a further injury loss, this time Rudi Brown limping off the field with a leg injury leaving the home side’s forward pack somewhat dismembered.
Stirling wasted little time in pressing home their advantage up front with nonstop scrum pressure close to the Knights’ line.
The Greenyards men held out until the ball was given to the Stirling backs who grabbed the bonus point try when Innes scuttled through a gap, Holden’s conversion sealing a sumptuous win.
Stirling County: Trotter; Mcknight, Innes, Holden, Fifita; Cunningham, Russell; Macmillan, Hiddleston, Skinner, Pow, Mcleod, Ferguson, Gordon, Grant. Subs: Fraser, Mckenna, Breese, Norrie, Spurway, Burgess, Beckett, Gray.
www.theoffsideline.com
After two wins, Stirling County are hoping for a big crowd at Bridgehaugh on Friday night for the latest FOSROC Super6 Sprint Series game.
Boroughmuir Bears are the visitors - and fans can see the match free with tickets available at www.stirlingcounty-rfc.co.uk/.
In their opening match at Bridgehaugh, 1500 turned up to see County defeat last year’s Super6 winners Ayrshire Bulls.
Friday’s match - which kicks off at 7.45pm - will have music and entertainment, cheerleading, street food and bar and half-time minis game.