Samurai seven snuff out stars

Apr 29 2009 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Wednesday

KENNY Logan's RBS All Stars went tantalisingly close to successfully defending their Ondeo City of Stirling 7s title on Saturday but ultimately were put to the sword by the Samurai Seven.

The touring invitational team ran in five tries to three in the final to earn what was a reasonably comfortable 31-17 victory and prise the trophy from the team put together by former Bridgehaugh and Scotland favourite Logan.

Carl Murray started and ended the Samurais' try-scoring, with touchdowns also coming from David Smith, Calum Cusiter and Angus Martyn. Murray added three conversions.

The RBS All Stars responded with tries by Roddy Grant, Grant Anderson and Jim Thomson, but they were always chasing the game.

Indeed, having turned round at the break 24-0 in arrears, they did well to make a contest of it in the second period.

The Stirling County A side, with speedsters like Ross Aitken and Dan Jackson in their ranks, were fancied for at least a semi-final place. But they didn’t make it, being ousted by the visitors from Gloucestershire, Old Patesians.

However, the Stirling B side, a rich mixture of youth and experience with the likes of Grant Gilchrist, Craig Deacons, Alan Auld and Ian Letton, did make it to the last four, upsetting the more fancied Boroughmuir in the quarter-finals.

The crowd was a bit disappointing, given the lovely weather, but those who did turn up were provided with some great entertainment.

Full marks, therefore, to main sponsor Ondeo Solutions and other sponsors such as RBS Private Banking, Data Space (Scotland), Dsigns, H and F Drilling, Blairmains Farm Shop, Nando’s, Central FM and William Grant and Sons.

Others that should take a bow are the hard-working young organising committee made up of club skipper Alex Moffat, Sarah Bennie, Graeme Logan and Tim Clarke.

Results: First round - Murrayfield Wanderers 26, Kirkcaldy 14; Samurai Seven 22, Dunfermline 7; Boroughmuir walk over v Glasgow Titans; Rodents 5, Stirling County B 26; Stirling University 5, Old Patesians (Cheltenham) 17; Stirling County A 28, Dollar Academy FPs 10; Hamilton 0, RBS All Stars 54; Howe of Fife 21, Cartha Queens Park 17.

Quarter-finals - Murrayfield Wanderers 0, Samurais 53; Boroughmuir 14, Stirling County B 26; Old Patesians 24, Stirling County A 20, RBS All Stars 53, Howe of Fife 0.

Semi-finals - Samurais 41, Stirling County B 7; Old Patesians 10, RBS All Stars 24.

Final - Samurais 31, RBS All Stars 17. Plate Competition (first round losers) Final - Hamilton 21, Kirkcaldy 19.