Stags keep up Pressure at Top

After their cup triumph the previous week it was back to league action last Saturday as Carnoustie travelled to Glensburgh for the Stags last home game of the season. Grangemouth made three changes to the starting line up with Weir and Binnie starting in the pack and Allan coming in on the wing. There were also places on the bench after long term injuries for Stirling and Parsons. On a perfect day for rugby Grangemouth were quickly on the attack and scored after 5 minutes. The forwards drove a lineout up to the visitor’s line but somehow the Carnoustie defence managed to hold the ball up. From the scrum 5 the forwards had another couple of drives before Craig peeled off the side of the maul to power over for the score. McInally was unsuccessful with the conversion. Despite dominating territory and possession the Stags were unable to break down the Carnoustie defence and increase their lead until the second quarter. On 28 minutes Innes made the initial break and kicked ahead before being tackled without the ball. The penalty was kicked into the corner where Connor McFarlane secured the lineout bal before being driven over the line with Aspinall collecting the try. Once again the kick was unsuccessful. A few minutes later, after another lineout take, Johnstone found Dempsey on an angled run and the centre split the defence to score under the posts to leave McInally the simple conversion. Straight from the kick off the ball was taken by McInally before a sweeping move saw Craig involved twice before Dempsey outpaced the defence to score his second try and secure the bonus point. The difficult conversion from wide was missed to leave the half time score Stags 22 Carnoustie 0.

The Stags made a number of changes at the start of the second halfand duly increased their lead on 44 minutes. A couple of penalties took play into the visitors 22. The lineout was won and substitute Wieczerek made the initial run before being tackled just short. The forwards were on hand to set up the maul and Aspinall again collected the score from short range. Five minutes later good linking play between the forwards and backs gave Dempsey enough space to break the line and run in under the posts. McInally added the extra 2 points. Grangemouth emptied the bench for the closing 25 minutes and lost some of their shape and focus which allowed Carnoustie back into the game. The visitors scored 2 trys from some loose play by the Stags to reduce the lead but the home side held on for a comfortable victory.
Final score Stags 34 Carnoustie 10.

This was a below par performance by the Stags as they completed their home league campaign with a 100% record. Dempsey was man of the match for his all round play and three scores while Connor McFarlane again dominated the lineouts. Meanwhile rivals Glenrothes thrashed Panmure 78 nil in Dundee and were then also awarded a 28 nil bonus point win by the Caledonia Championship committee against the same opposition for a cancelled game earlier in the season. The 10 points gained allowed Glens to leapfrog the Stags to go 1 point clear with just 1 game to go. The Fife side know that a bonus point win in their last game away to Harris will clinch the title. This Saturday Grangemouth travel to Rosyth to take on Fife Southern in their last league game of the season with KO 3 pm. Tickets for the cup final are now on sale at the club. Please check the website for details.