STIRLING UNIVERSITY RFC 15 - 16 GRANGEMOUTH STAGS RFC

For the opening game of the new season, the Stags went in to this fixture on the back of some promising pre season results and looking to get off to a flyer in their new division. On a windy and wet afternoon at Bridgehaugh, Grangemouth were to have the wind advantage in the first half but failed to capitalise on the situation.

For the majority of the first half Grangemouth were camped in the opposition 22. An early penalty awarded to Grangemouth resulted in a missed opportunity as no.10 Blair Skipper pushed his first effort wide in the blustery conditions. Some good defensive work was shown in the early exchanges by the Stags forwards but when the wind kept an attempted defensive clearance kick to touch in field, Stirling Uni managed to recycle the ball and ran up the touchline for their first try after 12 minutes of play. However, the conversion was missed and the score remained at 5-0.

Again, Grangemouth spent the next 10 minutes playing rugby in Stirlings' 22. Following a Stags lineout and the resulting open play, the ball was fed out along the line through the backs, with captain Caine McIntyre bursting through the Stirling Uni defence and scoring a well deserved try to take advantage of the consistant pressure that had been applied. The conversion was missed out wide but the Stags were now back in the game with the score level at 5-5.

Within 5 minutes of the equalising try, Grangemouth scored their second following a lineout 5m out when the ball was smartly passed through the backs. The move looked to have stalled when Skipper tried a long, loopy pass that got held up in the wind, not finding Scott Noble on the wing. However, with some nifty footwork, Noble volleyed the ball forward, chased his effort, and touched down in the corner to put the Port Siders in to the lead just before the break. Again the tricky kick was found wanting from Skipper but the score now had a fairer reflection of proceedings with 2 tries to one.

From the restart however, Grangemouth immediately lost the ball and for the second time Stirling Uni managed to get into the oppositions half they came away with points when bad defence from Grangemouth allowed the opposition to run up the touch line and score a equalising try. Again the conversion was missed and the score was all level at 10-10.

Grangemouth gained a 3 point advantage making the score 10-13 when Blair Skipper successfully kicked a penalty which had been awarded against Stirling Uni for handling in the ruck.

From the restart Grangemouth kept the ball in hand and Blair Skipper attempted a drop goal which hit the cross bar and bounced back into Stirling Uni hands and they were off with the ball heading towards their own try line. . Grangemouth were penalised for an illegal tackle resulting in a yellow card and 10 minutes in the bin for Skipper who was having an eventful game. Some frantic play resulted in a Grangemouth scrum and when the next infringement occurred the referee blew his whistle for half time.

Grangemouth were just ahead 10-13 but it was a ceoncern that perhaps they had not capitalised enough when the elements were in their favour. Now they had the conditions to contend with and were a man down for the opening period.

Grangemouth were put under pressure from Stirling Uni at the start of the second half and the first 15 minutes of the game were all played within the Grangemouth 22. A slight change of fortune saw the game move to the other end of the pitch and a dangerous tackle this time on Blair Skipper resulted in Stirlings' no. 7 being binned for 10 minutes. Grangemouth were unable to take advantage of having an extra player with Stirling Uni looking the more likely team to score the next points. Silly play from Grangemouth saw the Uni side awarded a penalty in front of the posts. However, they decided to run with the ball and go for 5 points instead of opting for the easier kick. This poor decision making would come back to haunt them as they made some poor choices with the wind in their favour and being ligher in the pack. The result was they lost the ball to Grangemouth and ther move fizzled out. More controversy was soon to follow however when a second yellow card offence resulted in Blair Skipper being sent off for the remainder of the game leaving Grangemouth with 14 players and under increasing pressure.

However, a well placed kick from Tom Chapman made touch and play moved into the opposition 22. When a kickable penalty in front of the posts was awarded to Grangemouth it edged the team to a 10-16 lead with Chapman now taking over the place kicking duties. However, when the Stags had the opportunity to extend their lead to a 9 point gap with 10 minutes to go, Chapman missed a further penalty awarded in front of the posts not once but twice as the referee odrerd a retake when his intital kick was charged down by the errant Stirling defence.

It looked very gloomy for the Stags when with 8 minutes of the game left to play, Stirling Uni took a quick tap and go and poor defence from Grangemouth allowed their winger in over and behind the posts for a try. The score now was 15-16. Stirling Uni missed the conversion and Grangemouth remained in the lead but holding on by their finger nails at this point.

Grangemouth successfully managed to prevent Stirling Uni from scoring any more points by cleverly running down the clock in the opponants half, with some well drilled forwards retention. Needless errors by the uni team also allowed touch to be found and a solid platform set on a number of occasions with Uni mistakes and decision making seemingly playing in to the Stags hands. It was relief all round when the referee blew the final whistle and Grangemouth got their season off to a winning start with a solid, if unspectacular away win.

Next week the Stags entertain Orkney RFC with an earlier kick off than usual to accommodate the islanders extreme travelling schedule. The match will start at midday at Glensburgh, followed by the ladies team getting their season underway at 3pm. The under 18's also open their seasons account with a home league fixture kicking off at 1pm making for a very busy day at Glensbugh. Please feel free to come down to the ground and see both these teams in action.

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