Stags Beat Frost and Rack UpTries

The Stags were in action for the first time in 2017 last Saturday when Panmure were the visitors to Glensburgh. Grangemouth fielded a strong side with Fisher back at centre and starts for Keighan and Gibson in the pack. With the main pitch frozen after the overnight frost smart work by groundsman Jim Forsyth made sure the second pitch was playable on a bright but bitterly cold day for rugby. The Stags started well and pinned the visitors in their own 22. After 5 minutes an attempted clearance kick from deep was fielded by Parsons close to the touchline. He linked with Jamieson who released Allan on the opposite wing. The winger stepped round his man and outpaced the cover to run round and score near the posts. Fisher was on target with the conversion. A few minutes later a kick and chase by Gemmell took play back into the Panmure 22. The ball was recycled through several phases before finally being moved wide to the left wing for Parsons to have a simple run in to score in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. The Stags soon added try number 3. Another loose clearance kick was collected by Jamieson in midfield. He kicked to the corner and Parsons showed his pace to collect the ball and score in the same corner. Once again the conversion was missed. As he game entered the second quarter Panmure tried to hit back and were unlucky with a penalty attempt which hit the post. The Stags were soon back on the attack and collected the bonus point score. From a lineout in on the visitors 10 metre line Kerry made the initial drive. When the ball was recycled Hind took off on an angled run to beat the cover and score in the corner. Fisher added the conversion. Grangemouth continued to dominate possession and should have increased their lead soon after. A huge scrum drive by the pack shunted the visitors back 20 metres. Hind picked up but his pass was intercepted and the chance was lost. On 35 minutes Parsons completed his hat trick. The backs worked a move in midfield with Skelton looping round his centres. Gemmell joined the line at pace and his perfectly timed pass released the veteran winger for a simple run in. Fisher slotted the extras. Just on half time the visitors mounted a rare attack and almost scored in the corner. Their winger burst up the touchline but was stopped a yard short by Gemmell and Forsyth and the Stags were able to clear their lines. HT Stags 31 Panmure 0

Grangemouth were soon back on the attack at the start of the second period. The backs ran another loop move and this time Skelton cut through the defence to score under the posts. Fisher added the simple conversion. Next up the forwards drove a lineout 20 metres deep into the Panmure 22. When the ball was moved wide Denny was held up just short of the line but McNiff was on hand to pick up and and dive over. Fisher slotted the kick. Try number 8 came from a kick to the corner. Allan chased hard, played some football before picking up to score his second try. This time the conversion was wide. Grangemouth brought on all of their replacements for the final quarter and play became a bit disjointed. Hind was held up over the line before in the closing few minutes the visitors were finally rewarded for their efforts. Panmure took a quick tap penalty and were only stopped by a last gasp tackle by Fisher. However they retained possession and moved the ball wide to squeeze in at the corner for an unconverted score. Grangemouth responded immediately and after another lineout drive Fisher came off his wing to cut through the defence and score. He converted his own score. There was just time for Panmure to collect the final score. This time it was the Stags with a loose clearance kick which resulted in the forwards being offside. Panmure took the tap penalty and drove over for a converted try. FT Stags 57 Panmure 12.

This was a very comfortable win for the Stags. The forwards dominated the set pieces while the backs ran strongly with ball in hand. Skelton pulled the strings while the back 3 of Gemmell, Allan and Parsons caused havoc in the visitors defence. With all the other games in the league cancelled due to the weather the win extends the Stags lead at the top of the table. This week Grangemouth make the short trip to Sunnyside to take on local rivals Falkirk with KO 2pm.