Stirling County Under 18’s finished the season with a friendly match against Greenock Wanderers last Saturday as the west club opened an impressive new clubhouse.
With this match the last a number of the players would compete in at Under 18 level it was an occasion that they wanted to complete in style. The opening of the match, particularly the first twenty minutes saw the Stirling side play some awesome rugby, scoring 28 points during this period with some outstanding continuity being rewarded with exceptional scores. Captain Craig Adams leading by example, opened the scoring in only three minutes with a typically belligerent drive after momentum had been created from a midfield break. This was quickly followed by fellow front-row Blair Craig blasting through the shocked Greenock defence to touchdown. Blair then showed another range of skills and fantastic mobility and as he sent two defenders the wrong way to release winger Ian Letton to push the score to twenty-one in fifteen minutes. Within five minutes Letton was once gain released with some superb back-line handling to drive in from halfway.
The County coaches were able to run the replacements early with the intention to allow all of the thirty-man squad a run during the match. Max McBeath had only been on the pitch two minutes before he broke two tackles to take the score to 35 – 0 with Stuart Edwards’ one hundred per cent kicking conversions. Just before the break Stuart McIntosh scored the try of the day, catching an exquisite chip through from replacement stand-off Mark Marchbank at full place to stun the home support who quickly acknowledged an outstanding piece of play.
It was always going to play such outstanding rugby after the interval with a replacement fifteen taking the stage. Nevertheless, County dominated possession and made the perfect start to the second period when McBeath again showing good strength to break through tackles to score. Marchbank’s conversions taking the score to 49-0. On three occasions in the second period, County were over the whitewash but either knocked-on or lost control. Greenock scored midway through the second half after a County attack was intercepted and their wing-forward showed good pace to run clear to score.
Surprisingly, this was the last score of the match. County can be well satisfied with this 49-5 win where they played some exceptional rugby and can look forward with confidence to next season where they will hopefully be involved in a proposed SRU organised National Under 18 League competition.
Report by Bob McGowan
