Students enjoying success over Stags

For the second week in a row Grangemouth faced a university side with Aberdeen University making the trip to Glensburgh last Saturday. Once again the local side showed a number of changes due to injuries and unavailability with Scott and Benji Russell making their first starts of the season in the backs and veteran prop Balmer returning in the front row.

Aberdeen opened strongly and were rewarded with a try in 5 minutes. They chose to take a quick tap penalty on the 22 and the ball was moved wide to the right winger who beat the cover before running round behind the posts for a converted try. The Stags hit back and almost scored after a series of drives by the forwards but were held up over the line. From the resulting scrum a try was denied with the referee penalising the midfield for crossing. Aberdeen returned to the attack after Grangemouth turned the ball over in midfield and an attempted clearing kick was charged down. Initially good defence kept the students out but another poor clearing kick was fielded on the 22 and simple passing saw another try by the visitors in the corner. Aberdeen continued to press and were denied another score by a covering tackle by Chapman in the corner. Having survived this spell of pressure the Stags finished the half on top. Another series of drives by the forwards resulted in a penalty which was converted by Jason Russell. Just on half time Inglis made a great break from a scrum and chipped the fullback. The Stags recycled the ball and looked certain to score but were again pulled back for crossing and the chance was lost. Half time 3 -12

Grangemouth went straight on to the attack at the start of the second half when they turned over the student’s ball and Russell kicked an easy penalty for offside. Aberdeen continued to try and run the ball from deep and Benji Russell made a great covering tackle on his opposite number to force him into touch. Mcinally missed a penalty for the Stags and Tucker and Chapman made breaks from deep. However the local side were unable to turn possession and territory into points and Aberdeen restored their lead with a penalty. With the game still in the balance as it entered the closing 15 minutes Grangemouth conceded 2 quick tries. First a scrum was lost against the head in midfield and the student centre sliced through the defence to score under the posts. Shortly after another scrum close to the line was lost and the back row worked a move for another 7 points. With the game now lost the Stags finally turned some pressure into points. Carey and Inglis were denied out wide but Russell was able to make a break to score under the posts before adding the conversion himself. Aberdeen scored their 5th try when the right winger again showed his power and pace to step round the defence and score under the posts. The Stags did score the final try when Chapman made a break to score. Russell again converted. FT 20 – 36

This was another disappointing result for the local side with the key difference between the sides being the ability to turn pressure and chances into points. This week the Stags are again at home against Ross Sutherland. KO 3 pm