Smooth running Stags share the tries

After a gap of five weeks Grangemouth were back at home last Saturday with Panmure the visitors to Glensburgh. Once again the Stags had to change the side due to player unavailability with Andy Whyte starting at hooker, Binnie and Jack teaming up in the second row, Ward starting at scrum half and a first outing for the season for last years coach Sangster at stand off. Grangemouth dominated the game from the start. In the opening minutes Dempsey made a clean break in the centre before stepping round the full back to score under the posts. Even Sangster couldn’t miss the conversion. Panmure hit back and were rewarded with a penalty which they successfully kicked. The Stags extended their lead after 15 minutes. Pedyo collected an attempted clearing kick and as the ball was moved through the hands Neill collected the pass to race in under the posts. There was another loud cheer from the crowd as Sangster added the conversion. Four minutes later Grangemouth added try number three. Sangster kicked a penalty into the corner and from the resulting lineout take the forwards drove over the line with Jamieson being credited with the score. Panmure were rarely out of their half at this point and after a scrum against the head Dempsey was held just short of the line and the visitors were able to clear the danger. However the bonus point try was only delayed a few minutes. Neill picked up from a scrum on halfway and made 30 metres before being tackled. The ball was recycled well and after linking play by McNab and Ward the ball was moved wide for Gowdy to stroll under the posts to leave Sangster another easy kick. Just on half time Panmure did exert some pressure on the Stags line but were unable to score any points due to some good home defence. Half time 26 – 3

The second period mirrored the first with Grangemouth immediately on the attack. Sangster was lucky after his attempted penalty punt to the corner was handled by the Panmure winger resulting in a scrum 5. Neill picked up and spun out of attempted tackles to crash over for his second try. Sangster added the extra points. A few minute later the stand off added his own try. The forwards worked a back row move and the play was carried on by Neill and Carey. When the ball was recycled Ward found Sangster with a good pass and the veteran was able to beat his man for an unconverted score. From the restart Aspinall and Curran made the initial burst upfield before the ball was moved back to the right where Neill was lurking on the wing to collect his third try. Once again Sangster converted. The one way traffic continued and from a quickly taken free kick the ball was moved wide to Pedyo who created the space for Parsons to score under the posts. Again Sangster converted. In the closing 10 minutes Jamieson had a run from the halfway as he bounced off several tacklers before the Stags closed with two further scores. First from another quick free kick the ball was slipped to Dempsey who scored under the posts. Then Sangster had a clever off load to Allan who was able to score in the corner. Final score 64 -3.

This was a good win for the Stags who, despite missing a number of regulars dominated all aspects of the game. They should have several players back for next Saturdays crucial home match against Harris, KO 2pm