Stirling County Under 18’s signed off their competitive season with a comprehensive win in the Caledonia Shield competition last Sunday in St Andrew’s when they met Perthshire. The match ended with a comfortable 48-0 win for the Stirling side, however, this followed a first twenty minutes when Perthshire looked the more likely side with comfortable possession and with the wind at their backs, were encamped in the County defence zone.
County were able to recover from this initial stumble and as the match progressed were able to establish some go-forward momentum with some good off-loads and linking play between forwards and backs. Stand-off Stuart Edwards made the breakthrough in 20 minutes with a thrust on the left after some good continuity. Some seven minutes later the exercise was repeated with another loop and feed with Edwards again finishing smartly. As the break was reached County went in 12-0 up with the promise of some dominance with the strong breeze behind them in the second half.
The pattern was established early after the break when prop Blair Craig used space well after the Perth defence was stretched, to touchdown. Flanker Robbie Boswell, who had a fine match, was quick to pounce on an opportunity again created by forward drive to extend the lead to 24-0 within five minutes of the second period.
County were now in command and were only troubled by sporadic drives from the large Perthshire pack. The extended lead allowed the County coaches to refresh the team with eager replacements. A setback occurred when Danny Gilmour was harshly yellow carded after a chase behind the defence which resulted in a high tackle as the defender attempted to avoid contact. County had to re-organise during this period but coped admirably, responding with a fine try from Stuart McIntosh off a short ball at pace which cut through the opposing defence to increase the lead. Three minutes later McIntosh again showing a killer touch with a run at pace leaving tacklers flailing as he scored under the posts. County up 38-0.
With the full complement of replacements on the field Stirling were able to play some very effective rugby with some excellent handling. Lock Grant Gilchrist capped a dominant performance with a deserved score after some great ball-carrying. The match concluded with replacement stand-off Mark Marchbank released, after some ambitious handling in the twenty-two, running almost eighty meters to score as the final whistle sounded. County running out 48-0 winners with the Edwards and Marchbank both completing two conversions.
County play their last match of the season when they are invited guests of Greenock Wanderers on the occasion of the opening of their new clubhouse next Saturday.
This has been an exceptional season for the County Under 18’s with the Scottish Youth Cup win the undoubted highlight. Hopefully, some of the players progressing to the senior level will emulate back-row Jason Hill who made his first team debut last Thursday against Heriots, in the near future.
