Stags take the Honours

The students from Stirling made the short trip to Glensburgh last week for game 8 of the league campaign. The Stags fielded the same back division as the previous week but made 4 changes to the pack with Stirling, Carrie, Neill and Mncube returning to the starting line up. On a perfect day for rugby Grangemouth were quickly on the attack and only a last gasp tap tackle stopped Dempsey close to the line. Shortly afterwards Sangster missed a penalty as the local side pressed for the opening score. After 7 minutes Grangemouth scored their opening try. Stangoe made the initial break and the move was carried on by Jamieson. The ball was moved wide to Parsons who was brought down on the line allowing Dempsey to pick up the ball and dive over for an unconverted score. The University were rarely out of their own half as Grangemouth continued to dominate possession. The second try came after 15 minutes. The Stags stole a lineout and after a series of phases including a Sangster cross kick, the ball was moved wide to Dempsey who skipped round his man to score under the posts. Sangster added the extra two points. The third try followed soon after as the forwards stole another lineout and the ball was set up in midfield. Neill broke blind and found Jamieson loitering on the wing and the big prop barged over from short range. The students had rarely escaped their own half but finally had some possession in the Stags 22 and kicked a penalty after 30 minutes. Grangemouth finished the half strongly and scored two more tries before the break. Firstly Jamieson and Brough peeled round the front of a lineout and after the ball was moved out to the wing, Neill was on hand to score in the corner. Just on half time the Stags added try number five. Mncube collected a pass just outside the visitors 22 and broke a couple of tackles. Despite being stopped on the line he managed to slip the ball to Sangster who scored near the posts for an easy conversion. Half time 29 – 3

Grangemouth were determined not to let their performance slip in the second half and again were quickly on the attack. The home side attacked on both flanks and finally the students ran out of defenders allowing Sangster to score his second try. However once again the Stags failed to press home the advantage and for much of the rest of the half failed to do the basics and were penalised for indiscipline. Sangster was forced to make a try saving tackle but the students were unable to add to their score as again the Stags defended strongly. Finally as the game entered the last 10 minutes Grangemouth added two more tries. A loose kick from the Stirling stand off dropped over the head of Risk but the young winger turned to collect the ball before outpacing the chasers and burst through to score his first try for the 1st XV. McInally added the conversion. With the last moves of the game Grangemouth scored try number eight as the forwards and the backs linked up well to allow Jamieson to rumble over for his second try. Final score 46-3

This was another good win for the local side despite some looseness creeping into their second half performance. Next week the league reaches the half way point as Grangemouth have another home match against Madras with a 2pm kick off.