County bites the nails with amazing revival

Dec 10 2008 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Wednesday

THE message is reverberating around Scottish rugby – never write off this battling Stirling County side.

Looking down and out at 26-nil in arrears in pre-interval injury time at Goldenacre on Saturday, they came storming back with 32 unanswered points to record what is surely the club’s best-ever comeback win.

Every Stirling player was a hero, especially during a frenzied, 10-minute period at the end when the Nails threw everything but the kitchen sink at County but Alex Moffat’s men refused to let them through.

There were plenty candidates for the John Graham (Metals) Ltd man of the match award and I was pleased there was a majority for my own choice, young centre David Lyle.

Surely it can’t just be a coincidence that Stirling’s current run of three wins began with his debut in the starting line-up at Myreside last month.

Lyle is benefiting from having as his inside partner the professional John Houston, whose silky skills are a joy to watch. The Houston-Lyle combination could be County’s best since the halcyon days of Wright and Jardine.

Full marks also to the never-say-die spirit of the County pack which had to be re-cast after Bruce McFarlane was led off injured after just 20 minutes. Teenager Jason Hill came on with Craig Deacons switching to lock.

Heriot’s started the match like an express train and County were quite fortunate to be just 12-0 down after a whirlwind first quarter.

When Stirling at last got a foothold on the game, they made a series of unforced errors and slack defence led to the concession of another couple of tries.

With their bonus point in the bag, one expected Heriot’s to shut up shop and play out the remainder of the game.

However, Stirling were thrown a lifeline in the fourth minute of interval injury time with their first concerted move of the match. And it was a cracker.

Skipper Alex Moffat was twice involved as passes were swept first right and then left for Roly Reid to make amends for some earlier missed tackles with the touchdown.

This lifted the spirits of the County camp and a few words of encouragement from coach Ian Jardine at half-time saw a revitalised Stirling re-start the game.

And they should have had a try in the opening minute when Jonny Hope scooted over only for a touch judge to intervene, claiming an earlier forward pass. From my perfect angle, he was wrong.

However, the comeback was merely delayed by two minutes, David Lyle making a super break for Robbie McGowan to score a try.

Lyle himself got on the scoresheet in the 50th minute, handing off his opposite number and ghosting home from outside the Heriot’s 22.

Jonny Hope had converted both tries to reduce the deficit to 26-19 and when he added another pair of penalties, County were within one point of their hosts.

Heriot’s were battling hard to re-establish their first half dominance but a huge tackle by David Lyle in midfield was a further boost to Stirling’s all-round confidence.

With 10 minutes left, Robbie McGowan, who had started rather shakily, was at his imperious best as he surged through the Heriot’s defence, kicked ahead and re-gathered in a sliding swoop over the line.

Hope’s conversion, his fifth successful kick out of six attempts, made it 32-26 and sparked an Alamo-like siege by Heriot’s on the Stirling line which heroically stayed intact.

Scorers: Heriot’s - tries - Bell 3, Gray; convs - Wilson 3. Stirling – tries - Reid, McGowan 2, Lyle; cons - Hope 3; pens - Hope 2.

Heriot’s – J Thompson; S Bell, G Thomson, R Mill, C Goudie; G Rutherford, G Wilson; A Dymock, S Burnett, W Blacklock, T McVie, I Nimmo, J Parker, R Gray and J Syme. Reps - I Brown, K Blyth, M Reid, B Walls and M Short.

Stirling County – J Hope; G Lindsay, D Lyle, J Houston, R Reid; R McGowan, G Calder; M Hunter, A Moffat, W Davies, B McFarlane, G Gilchrist, C Faill, A Ratuva and C Deacons. Reps – J Hill, K Bryce (both used), J Hutton, C Adams and S Wilson.

Referee – David Jack, Madras College FP.

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

Can County maintain the remarkable run of victories that has seen them rise above the dreaded two relegation slots?

This question will be answered at Bridgehaugh this Saturday when Currie are the visitors.

Another win is needed. County’s main rivals for the drop, Hawick and Hawks, both had matches ko’d by the weather.

Re-arranged fixtures regularly go the way of the more motivated side, often the side fighting for survival. See Friday’s edition for the latest team news.