Stirling women ready for final crunch
Stirling County’s women are gearing up for their biggest ever test as they compete in the tennent’s women’s Premiership Final this weekend.
County take on Edinburgh outfit Corstorphine Cougars at Bridgehaugh on Saturday in their first ever final.
Ahead of the big match, head coach Mark Ainsworth is looking forward to ending the campaign with silverware and reflected on a memorable season.
“We started the league campaign back in August with great anticipation tinged with some trepidation, ”ainsworth said.
“We were a newly appointed coaching group, Megan Kennedy, Kenny Craig and I and we had introduced 10 players from U18 rugby – nine from Stirling County. The huge unknown was could the young girls make the step up to the challenges of senior rugby and would we be able to integrate so many new players into a strong established squad?
“Thankfully, both of those fears proved unfounded and we finished the league campaign with 11 wins from 12 securing top spot by nine points.
“As other teams bolstered their squads with Scotland players returning from the World Cup in New Zealand, we looked to our County U18 squad and brought up three new players who have played a big role in getting us to the final. I look forward to this being the continuation of young talent moving seamlessly into this already fantastic squad.”
Having finished top of the league, County faced
Heriot’s in the playoff semi-final at the weekend, sealing their spot in the final with an impressive 28-5 victory.
Ainsworth added:“the prospect of beating an ever-improving Heriot’s outfit on an unfamiliar artificial pitch at Edinburgh Uni, with the added pressure of knock-out rugby, was daunting and was a potential banana skin. The team showed huge character and survived a barrage in the first half hour to win, with some great rugby.
“We now play Corstorphine Cougars in the final at Bridgehaugh on Saturday in what should be a highly entertaining and tight final. I think it’s only fitting that the two stand-out teams from the regular season are contesting the final and the whole squad are looking forward to playing in front of our fantastic support at Bridgehaugh.”