Stirling County get win over Kelso

Nov 11 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING County reached the halfway point in the league programme with a bonus-point victory over second-bottom Kelso at Bridgehaugh.

A try in the closing minutes gave them vital bonus point and keeps them six points clear of Hawick at the top.

The scoreline may look emphatic but it was a hard-fought encounter with the Borders outfit.

Colin Eadie returned at No 8 in place of the injured Benji Bersanti and young centre Fraser Lyle was rewarwed for some excellent 2ndXV performances with his first call-up to the bench.

County put Kelso on the back-foot from the start, with a sustained 12 minutes spell of pressure within the visitors 22. The referee penalised Kelso for a succession of infringements, granting seven penalties in as many minutes.

But with County’s pack clearly on top, the home-side couldn’t breach the Kelso defence and they finally managed to get the ball clear.

Stuart Edwards continued to pinKelso back, making good use of the spaces behind the visitors’ defence, with excellent diagonal touch-finding kicks and eventually after 20 minutes a try came when the youngster found a gap in the Kelso defensive line and sprinted through for the opening try, converted by Brian Archibald.

Stirling stayed well in control and Kelso forays upfield were rare. One led to a missed penalty by Utterson but points were only going to come at the other end.

With half-time approaching, an Archibald break from half-way supported by Ross Aitken left Ben Addison in the clear, and he side-stepped the Kelso full-back before scoring under the posts. Archibald converted to give County a deserved, but hard-earned 14-0 half-time lead.

County continued to apply the pressure from the start of the second half and should have scored a try on 50 minutes when with the forwards in control and the ball over the try-line, a Kelso forward came in from the side to steal the ball.

The referee awarded County a penalty when this should have been a penalty try or at least a yellow-card for the offender.

Undaunted, County’s forwards continued to press, and Alex Moffat was driven over in the corner on 55 minutes, with Archibald converting to increase County’s lead to 21-0.

Kelso to their credit refused to lie down and the powerful Mee Kaa-Eel Hartley proved a handful, with some strong ball carries. County were making heavy weather of it, and the flowing rugby of previous weeks was becoming unstuck on the heavier ground.

With two minutes remaining, a kick and chase by Edwards from inside the visitors half ended with the stand-off beating the Kelso centre to the ball to score the important fourth bonus-point try. Archibald missed the kick.

Seconds later, with the line at his mercy, debutant Lyle dropped the ball, bringing the curtain down on a merited workman-like win.

John Graham (Metals) Man of the Match was Grant Gilchrist with four votes. Alex Moffat picked up two votes and Brian Archibald one.

Stirling County: Addison, Bryce, Gilmour, Archibald, Aitken, Edwards, Kennedy, Hunter, Moffat, Mountford, MacFarlane, Gilchrist, Clarke, Boswell, Eadie. Replacements: MacDonald, Lyle, McMillan (all used) and Graham.

Kelso: Ponton, Mulroy, Ford, Utterson, Hartley, Keen, C Riddell, Glendinning, Wallace, Szkudro, Barrie, Moody, G Riddell. Replacements: Morris, Wichary, Grahamslaw, Caenegie.

Referee: G Tweedale.

On Saturday, County face the long trip to meet third-place Aberdeen Grammar. Kick-off at noon.

Stirling County’s 2nd XV continued on their winning way at the top of National Reserve League Division 1, with their 10th win out of 10, beating Edinburgh Accies in the capital 39-8. Try scorers were Graham Lyndsay (2), Graham Gilliland, David Lyle, Robbie McGowan and Gordon McRorie with Jonny Hope scoring three conversions and a penalty.

The 2nds next match is at home to Dundee on Saturday – kick-off 2pm.

The 3rd XV beat Hiilfoots 53-0 in the Caledonian Reserve League Midland Division. On Saturday the 3rds play Morgan Academy at home.The Under 20’s match was cancelled and their next game is at home to Strathclyde University also on Saturday.