Ben lifts spirits at County

Jan 9 2009 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Friday

BEST moment of 2009 so far for local rugby fans came on Tuesday evening, when Ben Addison strolled back through the entrance doors at Bridgehaugh.

The former Scotland 7s star is going to be available for the rest of the season, having been absent until now due to working commitments in England.

Delighted coach Ian Jardine said: “Ben hasn’t been playing rugby but he has been keeping himself in great shape.

“He was looking very sharp on Tuesday and I’m thinking about putting him straight back into the team this Saturday.”

With their scheduled cup opponents as yet undecided, County have arranged a friendly match at Bridgehaugh (kick-off 2pm) against Hillhead-Jordanhill, who are challenging for promotion from Premiership Three.

Having had no games since the hammering at Ayr on December 20, County are in serious need of match practice prior to the January 17 showdown with Glasgow Hawks.

Addison’s return will be a psychological boost for a squad which is reeling at the loss of skipper Alex Moffat, who suffered a recurrence of an old groin injury while training with the Scottish Clubs International squad just before Christmas.

Moff is out this week and could be struggling to be fit in time for the Hawks game.

Powerhouse prop Garry Mountford, another long-term absentee with shoulder damage, was out on the artificial turf at the university campus on Tuesday.

But Jardine knows that a few sessions on the scrummaging machine are required before he can make a top team return.

However, the festive break has done Bruce McFarlane a power of good and he will be challenging Grant Gilchrist and Paul Wilson for a place in the boilerhouse.

This weekend could also see the 1st XV return of back row man Tim Clarke, although Stirling are fairly well served in that department with Deacons, Eadie, Bryce, Faill and Hill all available.

In the backs Graham Calder will be hoping to get the nod over current incumbent Alan Robertson at scrum-half. Fit again after his battering at Ayr, Robbie McGowan is in the number 10 shirt.

An in-form Alan Auld could press the regular Archibald/Lyle centre pairing while four players – Addison, Ross Aitken, Graham Lindsay and Jonny Hope – will vie for the back three places.

The County 2nd XV are also in action at home, with a 2pm league match against Aberdeen GSFP.