Ugly Win Produces Max Points

Grangemouth were at home last Saturday as newly promoted Crieff were the visitors to Glensburgh. The Stags were forced into making 4 changes from the opening day starting lineup due to injury/unavailability with Cunningham and Skelton being promoted from the bench and Howe and Howie having their first outings of the season. On another perfect day for rugby the local side made a strong start and scored after just 2 minutes. The Stags worked their way into the Crieff 22 from a series of penalties. They won a lineout 5metres from the line and drove for the line. As the backs joined in the drive it was the unlikely figure of Pedyo who peeled off the back of the maul to dive over in the corner. Fisher was wide with the difficult conversion. A few minutes later the visitors were wide with a 40 metre penalty as the Stags were caught offside. However from the resulting drop out the home side were again penalised and this time the much easier kick was successful. Grangemouth continued to dominate possession and territory. They had another driving maul towards the Crieff line but this time the visitors somehow managed to disrupt the drive on the line and the chance was lost. At the end of the first quarter Fisher landed a penalty to restore the 5 point lead. The Stags continued to press throughout the second quarter. Fisher, Skelton and Allan made a number of line breaks but these openings were not converted into scores due to lack of composure, some poor options and some excellent scrambling defence from the visitors. With five minutes to go in the half Fisher was wide with a penalty attempt. HT Stags 8 Crieff 3.

Coach Deacons made some changes at the interval but, after the Stags failed to clear their lines at the kick off, it was the visitors who made the better start to the half as they finally had some possession in the Stags half. Crieff missed one kick at goal before landing their second kick on 55 minutes to narrow the lead to 8-6. Grangemouth finally got their act together and turned pressure into points. Crieff dropped the ball in midfield and the Stags kick and chase took play deep into the opposition 22. The visitors tried to clear their lines with a kick but this was charged down by Cunningham and the second row followed up to dive on the ball for the score. Fisher was again unsuccessful with the extras. Crieff continued to look dangerous on the break and were unlucky to put a foot in touch as they moved the ball from deep. As the game entered the final quarter the home side finally extended the lead with a well worked team try. The forwards set up a driving maul from a lineout and drove 20 metres into the Crieff 22. When the ball was moved along the backs Fisher made the initial break before switching with Denny who strolled in under the posts. Fisher added the conversion. From the kick off Scott had a storming 40 metre run but the final pass was intercepted and the chance was lost. Hind and Stangoe then combined to take play from one 22 to the other as the Stags looked for the bonus point score. After a spell of pressure on the Crieff line following a five metre scrum it was Hind who picked up from the ruck to dive over near the posts. Fisher was again on target with the kick. With the bonus point secured the Stags seemed to lose concentration and Crieff hit back with a try. Grangemouth were penalised in their 22 and the Crieff forwards drove over the line for a consolation score. FT Stags 27 Crieff 13.

An ugly win was how coach Deacons described the victory. He was happy overall with the result although the Stags will clearly have to be more clinical in their finishing in the weeks to come. Skelton had a steady game at stand off while Hind and Cunningham showed up well around the park. This week the Stags travel to Dundee to take on Morgan with KO 3pm