Stags bounce Back

The Stags were back at home last Saturday as Hillfoots made the short journey across the river. While Storm Babet had battered much of Scotland over the previous few days the worst effects were further north and the Glensburgh pitch while soft was in remarkably good condition. Grangemouth again made a host of changes from the previous week. In the backs Wieczorek returned to skipper the side and there were starts for Balfour and Christie with Harvey moving to centre. Up front Sloan, Spence and Thomson all started and there was a 1st XV debut for Gardiner in the second row. Hillfoots started brightly and had the early pressure. They were wide with a long range penalty attempt on 4 minutes and would have had another shot soon after but the penalty was reversed for foul play. Gradually the home side started to take control up front with the set scrum dominating. The opening score arrived on 10 minutes. A Stags lineout was overthrown but Sloan was first to react and make ground. Further carries from White and Clark took play close to the visitors line and when the ball was recycled Wieczorek was able to touch down from close range. The scrum half was unable to add the extras. Grangemouth remained on top and Wieczorek missed with a penalty attempt as the game entered the second quarter. The Stags pack continued to dominate at scrum time and after 3 penalties in a row the referee lost patience and awarded a penalty try. The Stags continued to press but were unable to convert their pressure into points. With 5 minutes left in the half they finally added try number 3 Thomson and White combined to take play close to the Foots line and when the ball was recycled Skelton darted right and cut through the defence to score. The stand off took over the kicking duties to slot the conversion. Straight from the kick off the ball was collected by Gardiner who passed to Harvey. The centre made ground to halfway before a superb offload found Clark. The prop raced upfield before cutting inside the covering player for a fine individual score. The conversion was missed. HT Stags 24 Foots 0

Hillfoots were helped by some indiscipline from the Stags at the start of the second half. After just 4 minutes Sloan was shown a red card for foul play and then a series of penalties by the home side allowed the visitors a spell of pressure in the Stags 22. They were rewarded with a converted score as they forced their way over from short range. This seemed to rouse the Stags from their slumbers and they were immediately back on the attack . Watson was almost through and then a tap penalty saw Harvey angle his run to slice through the defence to score under the posts. Skelton added the simple conversion. Hillfoots were living on scraps and trying to run from deep and it was no surprise when the next score came from their mistake. Siddiq was first to react to a loose pass in midfield and the winger showed his football skills to hack through and control the bouncing ball for the score.Skelton was unable to add the extras. As the game entered the closing 10 minutes the Stags added 2 further scores. Firstly White picked up from the base of a scrum 15 metres from the line and met little resistance as he powered over for the score. Then with 2 minutes to play a driving lineout maul from the 22 was halted illegally by the visitors and the referee awarded a second penalty try of the match. FT Stags 50 Hillfoots 7.

This was a much improved performance by the Stags. They were dominant up front and their big forwards carried well. The backs also ran with more purpose this week. There is still plenty of work to be done on the training pitch in the next few weeks. This week the 1sts travel to face Kinross with KO 3pm.

The 2s game against Strathmore was cancelled due to the weather. This week the 2s are also on their travels as they head to Anstruther to face Waid. The KO is likely to be 2pm to give the players plenty of time to return to watch the World Cup final in the clubhouse.