Scottish Hydro Electric Cup - 2nd Round
Stirling County 25 – Selkirk 12
Kevin Robertson reports from Bridgehaugh
In a classic game of two halves, County came from behind to record a stunning win over Selkirk, and book a place in the quarter finals of the national cup competition. Having disposed of Glasgow Hawks in the previous round County were confident of disposing of a second Premier One side at Bridgehaugh. County welcomed back Bruce MacFarlane to strengthen the pack and brought in Graham Gilliland at outside centre for the injured Danny Gilmour
County opened the scoring with a Brian Archibald penalty after 7 minutes, when the visitors were penalised for off-side. Every loose ball was fiercely contested, with Selkirk putting the home side under pressure. MacFarlane limped off after 20 minutes, with Craig Black coming on in the second row. The visitors attacked the County line and only a knock-on prevented them scoring.
Selkirk continued to have the better of the first half, and eventually found an opening following swift handling along their backs, to put Nixon over under the posts for the opening try on 35 minutes, converted by Cassidy.
Selkirk continued to press up to the break, but County’s resolute defence held out with the score at 3-7 to the visitors at half-time
Into the second half, and both sides continued to play at pace. Only a last ditch tackle by Gilliland prevented the visitors increasing their lead, and at the other-end a break and kick-ahead by Robbie McGowan almost unlocked the Selkirk defence who scrambled the ball clear. Ben Addison replaced Ross Aitken on the left wing, and Archibald missed a penalty on 50 minutes, as County began to play with more purpose.
However, on 60 minutes, from a scrum in the County 22, Selkirk moved the ball wide and their stand-off Craig squeezed over the line in the corner, but appeared to drop the ball before grounding. The referee consulted the touch judge and to the bemusement of the home support awarded the try, to give Selkirk a 12 – 3 lead.
This appeared to galvanise County and straight from the kick-off County were awarded a penalty for Selkirk straying off-side. Which Archibald scored from 40 metres to reduce the leeway to 12-6. Robbie Boswell came on for Black, and in 65 minutes a break by the strong running Addison from half-way split the visitors defence and he scored a try in the corner, to bring County to with a point of Selkirk.
Two minutes later, a kick ahead by Graham Lindsay was partially charged down by Selkirk , and bounced straight into the hands of Archibald, who made 30 yards before being tackled under the posts, the ball was quickly recycled and moved left to Colin Eadie who crossed the line to give County the lead. Archibald converted the try to make the score 18-12 for the home-side.
With 10 minutes remaining, Bengi Barsanti was sent to the sin-bin for dangerous use of the boot in the ruck. However 14-man County stuck to the task and kept the visitors at bay.
The comeback was sealed on 76 minutes when Addison took a pass on his own 22 and made 50 metres before off-loading to the supporting McGowan, who finished off the move by scoring under the posts. Archibald converted to complete the scoring and bring an enthralling match to a conclusion.
County await with anticipation the draw for the quarter finals.
Final score: Stirling County 25 Selkirk 12.
Scorers: County – Tries: Addison, Eadie, McGowan. Conv.: Archibald (2). Pens.: Archibald (2).
Selkirk – Tries: Nixon, Cassidy. Pen.: Cassidy.
Stirling County: McGowan, Lindsay, Gilliland, Archibald, Aitken, Edwards, McRorie, Hunter, Moffat, Mountford, MacFarlane, Deacons, Eadie, Barstani, Clarke. Replacements: Black, Simpson, Boswell, Addison.
Selkirk: Harkness, Hendrie, Cassidy, Nixon, Claperton, Craig, McVie, Murray, Forrest, Taylor, Aglen, Willet, Gray, Renwick, Smyth. Replacements: Banks, Paterson, Marshall, Grieve.
Referee: M Gray.
County are back to league business on Saturday with a re-arranged match against Dunfermline at McKane Park, kick-off 2:30pm. County need one more win to secure promotion back to the top flight.
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 hard-fought 30-15 win over Watsonians to remain at the top of National Reserve League Division 1. Try scorers were Glen Bryce, Dan Jackson, Harry Russell and Duncan Fisher, with Jonny Hope scoring two conversions and a penalty and Jackson adding a conversion. Next up for the 2nds is an way trip to West of Scotland on Saturday – kick-off at Burnbrae is 2:30pm.
The 3rd XV lost by 30 points to Dundee at home in the Caledonian Reserve League – Midland Division.
