County taste victory at last

Nov 5 2008 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Wednesday

COUNTY finally won their first game of the season in a must-win match against fellow strugglers Hawick.

The scoreline may look close, but Stirling were well worth their win against the once-mighty Greens.

For this match, County brought in Gregor Hamilton to beef up the midfield and in the pack, with Kevin Bryce joining the Scottish Sevens squad, Aca Ratuva returned after injury to form a strong back row alongside Craig Deacons and Colin Eadie while Ross Logan deputised for the unavailable Mark Hunter.

Graham Calder was added to the bench to replace Edinburgh pro Roland Reid who failed a fitness test. Also on the bench were two newcomers from the SRU Academy, prop Gavin Cameron who had been with Boroughmuir and centre Stevie Wilson from Heriots. Hawick were without Rory Hutton and Graham Hogg also on Sevens duty while that bane of Stirling from the past scrum half Kevin Reid was an interested spectator.

In perfect conditions Stirling started well with Craig Deacons and Graham Lindsay going close and a Robbie McGowan drop goal attempt sailing wide.

Although Stirling had all the play, it was Hawick who took the lead when Hedley fed Scott who ran under the posts. Wear’s successful conversion made the scoreline 7-0.

Advantage

County continued to have the territorial advantage and eventually put points on the board courtesy of an Archibald penalty. From the kick off Brian Archibald burst through and Craig Deacons was stopped just short. The ball was moved out right and it needed the cover tackle to stop Lindsay going over.

After the ball was moved back infield there was a prolonged skirmish which ended with a yellow card for Hawick prop McNeill, a penalty for Stirling and another three points for Stirling, courtesy of Archibald.

Just on the 40-minute Stirling conceded a penalty which Wear landed to increase the Hawick lead to 10-6. But in the five minutes of injury time played by referee David Jack, Hawick lost their discipline and conceded three penalties, two of which were successful while Archibald’s third from long distance just dropped under the bar. Stirling, therefore, went into the half time break with a lead of 12-10, a lead which five minutes earlier looked unlikely but which should have been a lot more on the balance of play.

This lead was extended from the kick off. Stirling regained possession and Aca Ratuva’s drive into the 22, forced Hawick to slow down release and Archibald slotted his fifth penalty.

Then a McGowan half break put Archibald through and a link with Ross Aitken should have brought a score but the winger delayed the pass to Lindsay and another chance went a-begging. Eight minutes into the half the try eventually came.

Quick ball was moved right through the hands of Alan Robertson, Hamilton and Lindsay to put Allan Robertson in at the corner. Archibald’s conversion attempt fell agonisingly just under the bar but he redeemed himself 10 minutes later, following County’s second try.

Hawick passed back into their 22 for a clearance kick which was brought back for a Stirling lineout under the experimental law variations. From the resulting lineout Ratuva bulldozed down the blindside for a try which Archibald converted from the touchline to put Stirling into a comfortable 27-10 lead.

Weakness

The visitors then lost Petrie to a yellow card as they chased the game. Despite this, Stirling’s old weakness of failing to make tackles cost them when Robertson broke out of no fewer than three tackles before linking with scrum half Campbell whose inside pass let centre Scott in unopposed. Wear added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 10.

County wrapped up the points with three minutes to go. Hawick dropped the ball in their own 22, Stirling gained possession quickly and moved the ball right through several pairs of hands to put Lindsay in at the corner. Brian Archibald again converted from the touchline.

It wasn’t the rest of the action, though. Ratuva and Murray of Hawick received yellow cards following a second stramash and Hawick centre Hedley ran through for a try converted by Wear to bring the final score to Stirling County 34 Hawick 24.

Although tackling deficiencies have not been eliminated this much better all round performance by County was reflected in the votes for the John Graham (Metals) Man of the Match award. Robbie McGowan, Craig Deacons and Allan Robertson each got one vote while Aca Ratuva and Brian Robertson each got two votes. President John Clarke’s casting vote went to Aca.

Stirling County: Allan Robertson, G Lindsay, G Hamilton, B Archibald, R Aitken; R McGowan and Alan Robertson; R Logan, A Moffat, W Davies, B MacFarlane, G Gilchrist, C Eadie, A Ratuva and C Deacons. Replacements: P Wilson, G Cameron, C Adams, G Calder and S Wilson.

Hawick: J Coutts; C Murray, K Hedley, R Scott, S Anderson;A Wear and B Campbell; G Scott, M Landels, B McNeill, G Petrie, K Millar, D Lowrie, R Hogg and M Robertson. Replacements: G Johnstone, N Little, S Cummings, B Keown, N McTaggart

Referee: David Jack.

County supporters should note that the next three games will be played on Sundays. This weekend’s match at Boroughmuir will kick off at 3pm and will be shown live on BBC Alba. The Selkirk game has been rescheduled to Sunday, November 16 at Bridgehaugh with a probable kick off time of 2pm and the away game at Watsonians on Sunday, November 23 has a 2.30pm kick off and is also being shown live on BBC Alba.

See Friday’s Observer for team news.

Both the 2nd XV and 3rd XV had comfortable wins at the weekend. Kirkcaldy opened the scoring with a penalty against the 2nds, but that just annoyed the Stirling lads who raced away to a 73-6 win.

In a local derby, the under 20s, masquerading as the 3rd XV, went behind to Hillfoots 2nds but levellled at 5-5 at the break before going on to win 25-5 in the second half.

Stirling County RFC is grateful to main sponsors Simpson Donald and Ondeo Industrial Solutions.