Saturday 19th September 2009

Caledonia League 1

Glensburgh Park

GRANGEMOUTH STAGS RFC 60 – 0 KINROSS RFC

Grangemouth Stags got their season right back on track with a resounding win over Kinross at the weekend. Having suffered back to back defeats after their promising start to the season, it was important that they gained some home form and regained their early season form.

In near perfect conditions at Glensburgh, the Stags were close to fielding their strongest starting fifteen with captain Caine McIntyre back from injury, and Dave Macfarlane back from work commitments.

The game started with both teams kicking away the ball from their own 22 and neither particularly showing any attacking flair. That was all to change with some good possession gained on the half way line, and Blair Skipper finding a useful touch deep in Kinross’s half. From the resulting lineout, the ball was turned over to the Stags, and  they sniped the blind side through Niall Chisholm at scrum half, probing for a hole in the defence. The ball eventually found its way in to the hands of hooker Billy Tulloch who showed some delicate footwork to avoid touch, and score on the right hand side. Skipper resumed his kicking duties, but fell short with is effort.

It was not long until Grangemouth notched their second score in the 15th minute. From a scrum, Skipper kicked speculatively to the right hand corner. The defence failed to gather the ball and some fast chasing by McIntyre, Graeme Mair and Graham Alexander allowed Mair to gather the bounce, feed Alexander, who cantered over out wide. Again the kick was found wanting, but the Port side were 10-0 up and beginning to look threatening with ball in hand every time.

The half settled in to a pattern of Kinross eager to run the ball out of defence, but coming up against a brick wall of the centre pairing of McIntyre and Tom Chapman. Again, from a Kinross crash ball on the centre line, the ball was turned over and found its way in to the eager hands of Skipper who danced his way through the defence to score under the posts. This time there was no mistake with his kick and the Stags took a 17-0 lead in to the half, and looking firmly in control.

The second half was to be one of the most entertaining in many a year at Glensburgh, as a further 7 tries were to be run in throughout the 40 minutes. First up was Anthony Hayes, playing his first game since coming back from a bout of pneumonia, who scored the first of his two try haul by showing he still had the capacity to wrong foot a defence with some great footwork, scoring under the posts.

Next up was Colin McInally, who scored a fine driving touch down, who then proceeded to take over kicking duties and total 11 points by the end of the game. It cannot be often that a 2nd Rower finds himself in the pressurised cauldron of place kicking, but showed that there was a good hoof on him as well as hands.

The forwards continued to contribute to the score spree with Dave Macfarlane cantering over after confusion in the away defence when all their players stopped when the whistle had not gone. He will perhaps not score an easier touch down as he practically walked under the posts.

Stand off skipper was to contribute a further excellent try as he broke from the half way line showing great pace, agility and vision to leave the defence in his wake and saunter over with the Kinross side now being run ragged. Graeme Mair was next in on the act with McIntyre drawing the defence unselfishly and feeding him on the 22 to dart over for his first of the season. The scoring was completed when Jordan Cuthbertson  broke the disheartened defence with a step and a burst.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the performance was that there was a solid and defined structure to both the Stags defence that did not concede a point the whole game, and the attack that continued to probe for a weakness with great ball retention, no sign of panic and a composure that was missing from the previous weeks. There was much more evidence of understanding the game plan than had been seen with the last home fixture to Orkney.  It was clear there was a strategy that the players were familiar and comfortable with, that brought an overall stability to the team.

There was a number of outstanding performances on the day with particular mention going to Graeme McNiff who returned to the 1st XV set up after his 4 year stint in the army. He tackled like he was on the front line again, and nothing was to get by him all day. Graham Alexander on the wing also looks like he is growing in to his position and gaining knowledge and confidence as the season progresses, and his first try for the senior team was no more than he deserved. Blair Skipper remained in control at 10, while Andy Whyte also ensure they would not pass by him that day.

It was a very good week all round for the club, as for the first time in living memory, the club planned to field 6 different fixtures over the course of the weekend with the 1st and 2nd XV representing the male senior set up, the ladies playing away to Morgans in Dundee, and the U18, U16 and mini section also fielding their respective teams. The youth set up is really exciting at the moment with many of the mens senior XV on show at the weekend having recently come through the clubs junior ranks.

Next week, the Stags get the chance to capitalise on their resounding success with a further home fixture against Madrass RFC. The kick off is 3pm, and the club would welcome any supporters keen to come down and see their local side on action. Keep an eye on their active website for further match details; www.grangemouthrfc.co.uk

Scorers:

Tries: A Hayes (2), B Skipper (2), G Alexander, G Mair, C McInally, D MacFarlane, B Tulloch, J Cuthbertson

Cons: b Skipper (2), C McInally (3)

Man of the match-

1st- Graeme McNiff  2nd- Caine McIntyre  3rd – Andy Whyte