Home Success Continues

After successive games on the road it was back to Glensburgh for the Stags last weekend as they welcomed Blairgowrie for week 6 of the league campaign. The visitors were sitting mid table but had won both their away games and the Stags knew this would be a tricky encounter. With skipper McInally still missing through injury the local side were happy to see the return of Sangster at stand off with Stangoe moving to centre to replace the injured Dalgleish. Grangemouth started well and opened the scoring after just 3 minutes. From a scrum in midfield number 8 McFarlane picked up and made 20 metres before being brought to ground. Blairgowrie were offside at the ruck and Sangster kicked an easy penalty. The visitors replied with a penalty 5 minutes later when the Grangemouth backs were also offside. The sides were level for only 2 minutes as Grangemouth moved upfield to score their opening try. Once again McFarlane picked up from a scrum and the move was carried on by Jamieson and McPherson before the ball was moved wide for Parsons to score an unconverted try. Blairgowrie however kicked another penalty a few minutes later. This was to prove the visitors last score and the Stags dominated the rest of the half. First Stangoe looked to have scored but was brought back for a forward pass and then pressure by the forwards allowed Sangster to dive over under the posts. Grangemouth were well on top at this stage and Risk had a good run upfield but was unable to re-gather his own chip kick and the chance was lost. With 30 minutes gone the Stags had a chance to kick another penalty after a high tackle on Stangoe. However they decided to go for the lineout and were rewarded with a try from Mncube who peeled off the back of the maul to score. Just on halftime the bonus point was secured when Jamieson bulldozed over from short range after good lead up work by Mncube and Dempsey. Half time 25 – 6

For the second week in a row the second half was a disappointing affair. Blairgowrie dominated the opening 10 minutes but their attempts at driving mauls from the lineout were held up by good defence. The Stags then had a spell of pressure but were unable to score as they conceded a number of penalties in attacking positions. Finally with 15 minutes to go the Stags scored their fifth try. Gowdy made the break in midfield and fed back inside to Mallinson to score near the posts. Sangster kicked the conversion. Blairgowrie finished on the attack but again were denied by strong home defence. Full time 32 -6.

This was another good win by the Stags and this result maintains their position at the top of the league. Next week the Stags take the road and the miles to Dundee to take on Harris with a 3pm KO