Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership – Division Two
Stirling County 36 – Haddington 13
County expected a hard match against relegation-threatened Haddington and that’s how it turned out. County fresh from their demolition of Aberdeen the previous week brought in Struan Robertson and Graham Lindsay for Bruce MacFarlane and Ben Addison. The visitors, who ran County close at Neilson Park in October, arrived at Bridgehaugh keen to take something from the match in their fight for survival.
County took the match to Haddington from the kick-off, with a barn-storming run from Garry Mountford just failing to provide an opening. Haddington re-gained possession and worked their way upfield. The visitors secured an early penalty after County were penalised for not binding in the scrum, which Ross King scored to give Haddington an early lead.
County responded, and on 8 minutes were awarded a penalty, when the visitors’ defence strayed offside. Brian Archibald converted to tie the scores at 3-3.
From the re-start, Haddington secured possession, and County were immediately penalised for not rolling away from the tackle situation, with King restoring the visitors lead. County were forced into an early change with the injured Colin Eadie being replaced by Ian McLaren.
Haddington began to exert pressure on County, and kept the home-side on the back-foot. However on 20 minutes and against the run of play, a kick from half-way by Stuart Edwards found a Ross Aitken in space, whose clever fly-kick ahead found a chasing Robbie McGowan who dived on the ball over the line for County’s opening try Archibald converted to put the home-side 10-6 in front.
The remainder of the half was error strewn, punctuated by the referee’s incessant whistling, with neither side able to put together any meaningful attacking moves.
Craig Black was brought on for Robertson to add more bulk to County’s pack, and just before half-time Haddington’s No. 8 tested the referee’s patience and was sin-binned for diving over the top. From the resultant penalty and line-out County mounted an attack, but a dropped ball allowed the visitor’s to clear.
County began the second-half in more determined mood and pinned Haddington back for the first ten minutes, but despite being a man-down for most of this period, the visitor’s resolute defence kept County at bay.
Edwards came close to scoring following slick hands across the backs, but the stand-off put a foot in touch. Bengi Bersanti was also unlucky as he charged through the visitors defence with the line at his mercy only to have been adjudged to have taken a forward pass.
On 52 minutes, County centre Danny Gilmour broke through the visitors’ defence, but his loose offload to the on-rushing Aitken was instead taken by Haddington’s outside centre, who quickly moved clear before passing to Mike Legget who sprinted home from 70 yards to score Haddington’s only try, converted by King to give the visitor’s a 13-10 lead.
This was a wake-up call for County who brought on Robertson for Black, and Lyle for an injured Gilmour. On 57 minutes, Archibald took the ball inside the Haddington 22 and muscled his way over the try-line to restore County’s lead, which he duly converted.
County were now in the ascendancy, and moved the ball from side to side to stretch Haddington, but the home-side couldn’t find a way through until the 70th minute, when a looping pass found Bersanti on the wing, and a deft kick-ahead and chase resulted in a try by the No.8 to give County a 22-13 lead.
County kept up the pace and a break by scrum-half Gordon McRorie and pass to the overlapping McGowan put the flying full-back in to score his second and the bonus point try for County. Archibald converted to give County a commanding 29-13 lead. John Graham came on for Alex Moffat, and the home-side wrapped up the victory in style with Aitken taking a Bersanti pass to sprint over and score a try close to the posts. Archibald converted to make the final score 36-13.
County coaches were happy with the way this match turned out, although if a number of missed chances had been taken earlier in the match, the victory would have been more convincing.
John Graham (Metals) man of the match was Brian Archibald with 6 votes. Gordon McRorie received 1 vote.
Scorers: County – Tries: McGowan (2), Archibald, Bersanti, Aitken. Conv.: Archibald (4). Pen.: Archibald.
Haddington – Tries: Legget. Conv.: King. Pens.: King (2).
Stirling County: McGowan, Lindsay, Gilmour, Archibald, Aitken, Edwards, McRorie, Hunter, Moffat, Mountford, Robertson, Deacons, Eadie, Berstani, Clarke. Replacements: Black, McLaren, Graham, D Lyle.
Haddington: Watt, Scott, Mark, Dykes, Cockburn, King, Haenga, Orr, Elliot, Glass, Martin, Caulfield, O’Riorden, Paris, Rodger. Replacements: Laidlaw, Hansen, Bell, Legget.
Referee: D Crudge (Hawick).
Next Saturday County are at home in a re-arranged league match against GHA – kick off at Bridgehaugh is 3pm. A victory for County in this match would secure promotion straight back to Premier One.
Thanks to County’s main sponsor Ondeo Industrial Solutions and all others who continue to support the Club.
Rugby Round-up:
Stirling County’s 2nd XV recorded a narrow 12-9 win over Boroughmuir in a try-less encounter at Meggatland to remain unbeaten and in pole position in the 2ndXV National League One. Jonnie Hope scored all the points from 4 penalties. The 2nds next match is home to Ayr on Saturday – kick-off at Bridgehaugh is 3pm.
The Scottish apprentice professionals who make up Gael Force are playing Plymouth Albion in the British & Irish Cup at Bridgehaugh on Friday evening, with a 7pm kick-off. Admission is free and provides an opportunity to see some of the Scotland stars of the future.
Thanks to Ally Logan and Jim Richardson for organising an excellent and well attended Sportsmans’ Dinner in the Bridgehaugh Marquee last Saturday in support of Stirling County Rugby Football Club.
Report by Kevin Robertson
