How to Lose a Game

The Stag set off for Cupar hoping to bounce back from the previous week's disappointing league result. It was a much changed stags due to injury and unavailability which saw Reid, Shaw, Gibson, Howie, McPherson, Sloan and Clyne starting.

Vice captain Denny started at wing forward in an experimental move and this proved to be costly as the home team scored three converted tries in the first 20 minutes due to the unusual midfield lineup.

At 21-0 it was rather surreal as the stags pushed their opponents off the ball at scrums and took their fair share of lineout against the throw yet it was their lack of accuracy in the backs that led to turnovers.

The Stags did manage to score just before half time with Jamie Reid claiming the try from a catch and drive lineout, Denny missing the extras and the Stags were in the front foot but HT came at the wrong time.

From the KO a poorly fielded kick off was turned over and a missed tackle allowed the Fifers in for a 4th converted try followed by a penalty to make the score 31-5 with 35 mins to go.

The stags controlled the last 30 mins scoring a well worked try leading to Jamie McNab pouncing on a dropped ball in goal to score, Denny adding the extras. Shortly afterwards the referee had enough of the Fifers constant foul play and awarded a penalty try after they dropped a driven maul.

At 31-19 with 15 minutes to go there was an air of a potential great come back however a combination of dropped passes and good defence saw the home team hold out for the win.

This was a lesson in getting out the blocks after the damage was done in the 1st twenty minutes.

This week the Stags are in the road to play Arbroath in the Midlands Bowl quarter final, hoping to have a more settled look to the team. Kick off is at the early time of 1.30pm.