Beaten by Ayr power

Dec 23 2008 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Wednesday

SADLY there was more than a hint of men v boys in this match, especially when County started to run out of steam in the second half.

It would have been interesting to have had access to the respective weights of the two sides, as they have in international matches.

The Ayr pack were all heavily muscled, big lads and even their stand-off and inside centre looked as though they could have turned in a useful shift at No8 if called upon.

It is an international combination that has been assembled at Millbrae, with Kiwis, Aussies and a couple of Frenchmen for good measure. Their man of the match was the very mobile Glasgow professional flanker James Eddie.

Little wonder therefore that Ayr are running away with the league this season.

It didn’t take them long to make their presence felt, with a Climo cross kick catching out Stirling’s defence and Eddie snaffling the chance.

I began to wonder if Ayr had sneaked on a couple of extra men a few minutes later when County seemed desperately short of defensive cover and AJ McFarlane took full advantage.

Thankfully, however, County then settled down and mounted a few attacks of their own. A fine catch and half-break by Graham Lindsay forced the home side to concede a penalty but Brian Archibald’s penalty dropped just short.

And there was a penalty miss at the other end in the 18th minute when Ross Logan was censured for collapsing a Stirling scrummage that was much under pressure throughout. This was to prove Frazier Climo’s only kicking lapse of the afternoon.

A few minutes later, however, County again applied pressure on the Ayr line, with Grant Gilchrist prominent, and Graham Lindsay crossed for a score. Archibald’s conversion made it just 14-7 in arrears and there was a period when one began to wonder whether this was going to be another glory day for County against all the odds.

Such fond hopes evaporated just after the half-hour when Robbie McGowan, such a key figure this season, was helped off. The backs had to be rearranged, with Ross Aitken coming on, but Ayr were back on top and they added two further tries before half-time.

A fifth try quickly followed after the interval and, with the score at 35-7, a cricket score was beginning to look on the cards.

The physicality of the homesters was taking its toll. Alan Robertson required a lengthy spell of treatment then young Jason Hill had to retire with a heavy knock to the shoulder/neck area.

However, County deserve credit for never giving up and, although another four tries were added before the end, Stirling’s bravery in defence was very commendable.

Graham Lindsay finished the match in the centre, putting in thumping tackles at every opportunity and he gained my man of the match vote.

This struck a chord with some of the other judges, Lindsay gaining three votes, Alex Moffat two and Jonnie Hope one.

Scorers: Ayr - tries Eddie, McFarlane, McCallum, Kelly, Wilson, McArthur 2, Burke, penalty try; convs Climo 9. Stirling - try Lindsay; conv Archibald.

AYR: A Wilson; S Magorian, J Montoro, R McCallum, R Holland; F Climo, AJ McFarlane; G Reid, P McArthur, S Fenwick, S Sutherland, D Kelly, J Eddie, A Dunlop and G Tippet, F Marin. Reps - G Sykes, J Wilson, S Nimmo, P Burke.

STIRLING COUNTY: J Hope; G Lindsay, D Lyle, B Archibald, D Jackson; R McGowan, A Robertson; R Logan, A Moffat, M Hunter, G Gilchrist, C Deacons, C Eadie, K Bryce and J Hill. Reps - C Black, A Simpson, C Faill, P Wilson and R Aitken.

Referee: Andy Ireland, Grangemouth.

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

Club rugby goes into hibernation for the festive period and County’s next match is in the cup on January 10, away to either Cambuslang or Lenzie, whose third-round tie was postponed on Saturday.

The next league game will be the relegation showdown on January 17, at home to Glasgow Hawks, who leapfrogged County into third bottom by beating Currie 33-20 on Sunday.