It's rock bottom form by County

Oct 8 2008 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Wednesday

EVENTS such as Alan Armstrong’s premature death put sport into proper perspective so disaster isn’t appropriate when describing this County performance.

Put a swearword before “disaster”, however, and that accurately describes how most County fans were feeling about the team’s display.

Until Saturday, every match of the season had seen Stirling in control of a game for spells – only to throw it away through poor judgment or schoolboy errors.

At Anniesland, a Stirling side that’s not far short of full strength struggled to put two passes together, was outplayed in both scrummage and line-out, and, most worryingly, lacked the will-to-win of their opponents.

County played into the teeth of a blustery wind in the first half. The wind’s strength was shown in the opening exchanges when a Brian Archibald penalty was pushed out to the right while Stephen O’Donnell banged a couple over from halfway and then 40 metres.

Desperate defence kept Hawks at bay and, on the half-hour, another certain try looked to have been thwarted just a few yards from the line.

However, County lost their own scrummage put-in and former Bridgehaugh favourite Ian Noble, who was the home skipper, was able to take his scrum-half’s pass and breeze over.

It went from bad to worse five minutes later. County had put together their first concerted attack and were well placed with a centrefield scrum on Hawks’ 22.

However, Archibald grasped fresh air instead of Graham Calder’s pass and Hawks stormed downfield. A couple of missed tackles later, Stevie Gordon had scored at the other end and O’Donnell was making the half-time score 20-0.

Perversely for County, the weather had been improving during the course of the first half and, at the start of the second, the sun was shining and the wind had dropped.

The conditions still favoured Stirling, however, and the expected comeback should have started a couple of minutes after the restart.

A super break by Robbie McGowan was taken on by Brian Archibald who provided new boy Aca Ratuva with what seemed a certain scoring pass.

The County contingent were stunned, however, when the experienced Fiji international knocked it on.

You knew then that this was not going to be Stirling’s day.

Misplaced passes, balls lost in contact – you name it, Stirling did everything wrong at this stage and they were punished with another penalty.

In the 45th minute, Stirling were pressing hard on the Hawks line only to lose possession. Twenty seconds, and a few missed tackles, later, right winger Jono Wright sealed victory for Hawks with a try to make it 28-0.

Graham Calder snatched a try for Stirling at this stage and a subsequent Archibald penalty meant that County needed three converted tries to win with 20 minutes to go.

It sounded a tall order because of the way that County were playing and so it proved.

Before the final whistle, Hawks had added two more converted tries, one by the Glasgow professional Mike Adamson who, of course, learned his rugby at Stirling.

For the last 10 minutes, in a switch planned by the coaches before the kick-off, Robbie McGowan and Brian Archibald swopped places.

This must be tried again. The match was dead and gone by that stage, of course, but, for the first time, County’s backs were set moving.

And Robbie’s display at No 10 was enough to earn him two votes in the man of the match competition for the John Graham (Metals) Ltd prize.

However, votes were also cast in favour of Colin Eadie (2), Mark Hunter (2) and one for Kevin Bryce. On the president’s casting vote, Colin Eadie was the winner.

Scorers: Hawks - tries - Noble, Gordon, Wright, Adamson and McDonald; convs - O’Donnell 3, Adamson; pens - O’Donnell 3. County - try - Calder; pen - Archibald.

Glasgow Hawks – M Adamson; J Wright, S Gordon, G McDonald, S O’Donnell; I Noble, P Boyer; G Strain, J Maclay, G McFadyen, N Caddell, A Kelly, G Harkness, A Jackson and G Strang. Reps - G Mories, N Nyemba, A Kirkland, C Gossman and S Murray.

Stirling County – R McGowan; G Lindsay, G Gilliland, D Gilmour, R Aitken; B Archibald, G Calder; M Hunter, A Moffat, W Davies, P Wilson, G Gilchrist, C Deacons, K Bryce and A Ratuva. Reps – G Mountford, J Graham, C Eadie, B McFarlane and J Hope.

Referee – Gary Gordon, Hillfoots.

There’s a change of kick-off time this Saturday to 2pm when County entertain West of Scotland at Bridgehaugh.

Reason for the switch is that forwards coach Jocky Bryce is getting married again. The ceremony and reception are in the clubhouse marquee after the match.

Let’s hope the Stirling players can give him the victory that would be a perfect wedding present.

As ever, the winners of the match will receive the Hamish Logan Memorial Trophy, presented in memory of the former prop forward from Blairmains, Blairlogie, who played for both clubs before his tragic death.