12th September 2009

Away

Caledonia League 1

ST ANDREWS UNI RFC 39 - 12 GRANGEMOUTH STAGS RFC

On Saturday Grangemouth Stags travelled to St Andrews University looking to rectify last week’s poor performance at home to Orkney. The season had got off to a flier with a fine battling win against Stirling University, but looked to have hit the skids straight away as they were outplayed against a powerful Orcadian outfit. Training had been solid all week as the Port side looked to redeem themselves with an away trip to St Andrews for the third match of the league season. It was a glorious day in the beautiful grounds of the university and the Stags were bolstered by the return of Blair Skipper to stand-off after his misdemeanours against the Stirling team..

From the kick off, Grangemouth sustained some early pressure and looked to be bedding in to the game nicely. However, the pressure finally led to the university being awarded a penalty which was easily converted.  The stags responded positively with some good phase play in the opposition 22 combining both forwards and backs in a series of moves. In a mirror image of the first 5 minutes, the tables were turned as the Stags were awarded their own penalty, but Skipper, resuming his kicking duties, was unable to convert.  This seemed to have a motivational effect on the uni side as they changed gears and increased the pressure. It wasn't long before they scored a well worked try by their backs, breaking through the defensive line but missing the extras to keep Grangemouth still well within reach. Grangemouth replied once more with their own sustained pressure on the University for much of the first half with only the bounce of the ball going against the stags- some pin point kicking by Skipper and great chasing by Jordon Cuthbertson desperately unlucky not to pick up and the loose ball and bundle over. However this didn't stop the university scoring a second try again by the backs with some slick handling which was a sickening blow to the travelling side. 

Once play resumed the Stags again found themselves exerting pressure on the home team.  They were hitting up well through the middle of the pitch with the backs attacking the openside. This eventually culminated in a set phase releasing Brian Scott to show his eye for a gap blitzing through the home defence with pace and power and touching down. This was a great try by young Scott, who was starting his first game for the Stags first XV having come through the youth and 2nd XV ranks.  The try was not converted however, and kept a large margin separating the sides, but the try was nothing less than was deserved considering the amount of possession by the away team.

Half time came with the stags still in the hunt for the win, the score being 15 - 5.  Once some much needed liquids were taken on the Port Side kicked off the second half.  After some early exchanges the university added a further penalty for what was judged a deliberate infringement at the base of the scrum increasing the deficit to 18-5.  However, the Stags stuck to their game plan well playing patient rugby with the backs and forwards interlinking well, which was eventually to pay off once again. First to have a snipe was no.9 Daniel Ward who was to be held up short of the line.  Stags continued pressurising the home team putting in hard work in the hot conditions, and again they were unlucky when Johnny Campbell thought he had scored but had been held up over the line.  However it wasn't long before the Stags eventually made the break through when some quick footwork saw Blair Skipper waltz through untouched between the posts, and converted his own try.  It appeared the comeback was back was on with the score now much more evenly poised at 18-12 and just a score in it. However, the young university team were far from finished with again the score seeming to awaken them and make them realise the threat they were under. It wasn't long before they had went further ahead with some good support play leading to score under the posts.

For the next ten minutes there was stalemate between the 2 teams with some good scramble defence by the Stags thwarting the uni's attacks.  Numerous changes due to injury and tiredness were made as the conditions, fitness and game tempo began to take their toll, It seemed that with these changes the Stags lost direction and conceded a further try with the Sterling defence in the early parts of the game a distant memory as unfamiliarity and lack of communication began to surface. The younger fitter uni team started carving out opportunities resulting in 2 more scores.  The final whistle blowing at 39 - 12. Which seemed a trifle unfair given the balance of territory and possession ion the game, but also giving the away side plenty to think about as they return to training in the coming week.

The Stags are at home next week looking to get their season back on track against Kinross, kicking off at 3pm.  The team isn't far away from achieving the desired results with some hard work on the training field required and the imminent return of some injured players who had seriously weakened their starting line-up including club captain Caine McIntyre, and last year’s player of the season, Dave MacFarlane.