Stags Finish Off League Campaign with win at Fife

Grangemouth made the short trip to Rosyth last Saturday for their last league game of the season against Fife Southern. With the cup final next week the Stags selected a strong squad but mixed up the starting line up and leaving the likes of Jamieson, Connor McFarlane, Neill and Dempsey on the bench. There was a welcome return too for McPherson after his neck injury earlier in the year. Grangemouth started strongly and were on the scoreboard after just 4 minutes. Innes took a crash ball into the Fife 22 and simple hands created the overlap for Parsons to score out wide. Sangster was off target with the kick. A few minutes later the Stags doubled their lead. Craig had a strong run and Fife conceded a penalty. David McFarlane took the quick tap and the ball was moved along the line for Serafini to score in the corner. Again the kick was unsuccessful. Try number three followed on 12 minutes. The ball was moved wide to Allan who made 20 metres before passing back inside to Parsons for a simple score. This time Sangster added the extra 2 points. Fife used their big forwards to dominate territory over the next 10 minutes but the Stags defence was solid and indeed it was the visitors who increased their lead on 25 minutes. The forwards drove a lineout close to the Fife line and when the ball was moved along the back line Sangster found Innes on an angled run to split the defence and score under the posts. Again Sangster added the conversion. With the bonus point secured Grangemouth added try number 5 on 32 minutes. From a lineout in midfield the ball was moved wide to Allan who made ground before passing inside to Sangster who slipped the ball to Innes to stroll in under the posts. Sangster again added the conversion. Half time Fife 0 Stags 31.

Grangemouth used their bench at the start of the second half and the one way traffic continued. On 43 minutes the forwards won a scrum against the head and the ball was moved out to Dempsey who rounded the defence to score with Sangster kicking the conversion. A few minutes later a Weir run took play into the home 22. The ball was moved to the wing where Denny initially cut inside before beating the cover on the outside for a fine score. Sangster again found the target with the conversion. On 50 minutes a long kick from Sangster failed to find touch. Fife tried to run the ball out of defence but lost the ball and Dempsey pounced for a simple run in to the line for his second try. Sangster duly added the extra points. The game became very scrappy before Grangemouth finished the game with three more scores in the closing 15 minutes. The Stags took a quick tap penalty and Dempsey outpaced the defence before leaving the full back for dead with a sidestep to complete his hat trick. Again Sangster kicked the conversion. A few minutes later the forwards won another scrum against the head and Aspinall picked up and with a hint of a dummy was over for the try with Sangster adding the conversion. With 5 minutes to go Dempsey collected his fourth try as he finished off another good handling move after a tap penalty with Sangster adding the conversion. However in the closing seconds Parsons fell awkwardly chasing back and dislocated his shoulder to rule him out of the final next week. Final score Fife 0 Stags 73.

This was another comfortable win for the Stags to complete their league fixtures for the season. The only disappointment was the injury to Parsons. Rivals Glenrothes know they need a bonus point victory or a win by 20 points against Harris next Saturday to clinch the title and move into the play offs for promotion. However Grangemouth now turn their attention to Murrayfield and the final of the National Bowl as they take on Oban next Saturday with a 12 noon KO. The team will be announced on Tuesday. Tickets for the game are still on sale at the club on Tuesday and Thursday.