Stags lose to Glens

Grangemouth welcomed Glenrothes to Glensburgh last Saturday. Last season both sides managed to win the away fixture so a close game was expected. The Stags showed a number of changes in the forwards due to unavailability and were forced to make a late change on the wing when Noble called off due to illness. The opening exchanges were even but the visitors opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a simple penalty. Grangemouth then managed some good pressure with a series of attacks on both flanks and were rewarded with a try on 15 minutes. Mncube received a short pass 35 metres out and broke a tackle before racing round the fullback for a fine individual score. The conversion was missed. The Stags were unable to hold on to their lead for long. They turned over the ball in midfield and from the resultant kick downfield were forced to concede a 5 metre scrum. Glenrothes worked a backrow move to score in the corner. The game was becoming increasingly difficult to control with both sides involved in off the ball incidents at the breakdown resulting in a player from both sides being sent to the sin bin. Just before half time Chapman made a clean break in the centre and Glens were penalised at the breakdown. However Alexander was unsuccessful with the kick. Half time 5 – 8

Five minutes into the 2nd half Glenrothes were reduced to 14 with a player being showed the red card for punching. This seemed to motivate the visitors who continued to dominate possession and territory. Mncube was forced to make a try saving tackle after a break by the Glens centre but just a few minutes later another missed tackle saw the centre score under the posts. The game drifted into the closing 10 minutes with Glenrothes inside the home 22 and from another 5 metre scrum the blindside winger cut inside for an unconverted try. Finally Grangemouth managed to secure some territory and possession and put on some pressure of their own and good hands saw Alexander race over in the corner. Final score 10 – 20

Overall a disappointing performance and result from the home side in a game that they could have won. The set piece possession was poor and there were some crucial missed tackles all round the park. The side will need to improve its sharpness in the next few weeks. Next Saturday the Stags make the short trip to Stirling to take on the students with a 3 pm KO