Hard Won Victory

Grangemouth were back at home again last Saturday as Kinross travelled to Glensburgh for the latest league fixture. The Stags made 3 changes to the pack with starts for Christie, Gibson and Clark while the backs remained unchanged from the trip to Kirkcaldy. On a good day for rugby the local side started well and were quickly on the attack. After just 3 minutes they had the chance to open the scoring but unusually Fisher was wide with a relatively easy kick at goal. Grangemouth continued to press and a kick from Fisher saw Gemmell, Sloan and Denny link to take play close to the Kinross line. From the scrum Hind picked up and made the initial yards. The ball was recycled through several phases before Brooks picked up close to the line and dived over near the posts for the opening score. Fisher was on target with the kick. A couple of minutes later a clash of heads between Binnie and Fisher saw both players leave the field with Shaw and Noble coming in off the bench. On 15 minutes the Stags picked up their second score. Shaw secured a lineout 30 metres out before Denny came in on an angled run to burst through several attempted tackles and crash over near the corner flag for an unconverted score. Try number three came on 20 minutes. Forrest took another scrum against the head and Hind picked up and squeezed over in the corner. Kinross tried to hit back and had a spell of pressure inside the Stags 22 but they were unable to break down the home defence. As half time approached Grangemouth collected the bonus point score. A long kick downfield from Gemmell pinned the visitors deep in their 22. From the scrum the ball was moved along the back line with Noble coming in from full back to score under the posts. Gemmell added the conversion. Two minutes later Kinross tried to run out of defence but were turned over. Jardine was stopped just short and Hind was in support to collect his second try. Jamieson stepped up to slot the simplest of kicks. With the last play of the half another run from Hind took play up to the Kinross line but Kinnear was held up over the line and the chance was lost. HT Stags 31 Kinross 0

The game was held up early in the second period after a neck injury to one of the Kinross players. The players switched to the second team pitch while the ambulance attended to the injured man. Soon after Hind completed his hat trick. Gemmell darted down the blind side and found Christie in support. When he was held just short of the line Hind was again on hand to score. Gemmell added the extras. From the kick off Stangoe made the initial run to the Kinross 22 and when the ball was recycled Jamieson burst through the initial attempted tackle to score under the posts. Again Gemmell was successful with the kick. As the game entered the final quarter the scores continued. Whitelaw was stopped just short of the line and the visitors conceded a penalty at the breakdown. Hind took the quick tap penalty and found his back row partner Brooks in support to collect his second score. Gemmell added the extras from in front of the sticks. With 10 minutes to go a sweeping move from deep saw Gibson collect the pass on the Kinross 22 and with a hint of a dummy crash over for an unconverted score. Kinross continued to try and run the ball and were rewarded with 2 late consolation scores. First some sloppy defensive work by the Stags allowed the centre to run round under the posts. And with the last play of the game another break from deep saw the Kinross full back in support to round the cover and score under the posts. Unfortunately Jardine dislocated his shoulder as he attempted to tap tackle the scorer. FT Stags 57 Kinross 14

This was a much improved performance by the Stags. They were solid in the tight and there was some good link play and powerful running from backs and forwards. Jardine will obviously miss the rest of the season but the two head injuries and the Kinross player were all discharged after treatment. There is no game for the 1sts this week with the next game therefore the National Bowl semi final against Millbrae on 26 March with a 3pm KO