Stags Take Spoils in Local Derby

The Stags were back at home last Saturday as Alloa made the short trip to Glensburgh for week 10 of the league programme. The visitors had claimed the win at home in the first match of the season and were sitting in second place in the league. Grangemouth were able to welcome back skipper Weir, Jamieson and Parsons to the starting XV while the Alloa team contained ex Stag Stevie Jack in their side. Alloa started brightly and had most of the early territory as the Stags failed to exert any control and conceded too many penalties. The visitors ran a kickable penalty on 7 minutes but did manage to open the scoring 5 minutes later. They kicked a penalty into the corner and from the lineout a missed tackle saw the forwards drive up and over the line for an unconverted score. Grangemouth were already dominating the scrum and they opened their account on 24 minutes. Cunningham claimed a clean catch in the lineout and the forwards drove 15 metres into the Alloa 22. Jamieson peeled off to drive close to the line and when the ball was moved wide Innes was tackled just short of the line. The Alloa backs were penalised for offside and Innes took the quick tap penalty to score under the posts. He duly added the conversion. Straight from the kick off Gibson was put into space and the big flanker surged 40 metres upfield to put the home side back on the attack. However the Alloa defence held firm and the home side had to wait until 35 minutes before adding try number 2. Alloa failed to clear from a defensive lineout and substitute Hind was able to turn over the ball. Once again the visitors gave away a penalty and the quick tap was passed to Innes on the blind side and the centre crashed over for his second try. He was also successful with the difficult conversion from out wide. Once again the Stags attacked from the kick off with Herron making a strong run up to the Alloa 22. Soon after from a scrum the ball was moved blind to give Herron enough space to burst up the line and score near the corner. This time the conversion was off target. HT Stags 19 Alloa 5

Once again it was the visitors who were on the scoreboard first at the start of the second period. They kicked a penalty into the corner and drove on from the lineout. When the ball was recycled the Alloa scrum half sold an enormous dummy and darted through a huge gap to score under the posts. The conversion narrowed the lead to 7 points. Soon after Innes increased the lead with a simple penalty. On 55 minutes Grangemouth collected the bonus point try. Alloa tried to run out from defence but Pedyo intercepted to run in from 40 metres for the score. Innes added the extra 2 points. Innes added his second penalty as the home side stretched their lead. With 10 minutes to go Parsons collected a clearance kick on the half way line and jinked his way up to the |Alloa 22. He passed to Innes who pulled in the last defender before giving the ball to Herron for an easy run in under the posts. Innes was again on target with the kick. Alloa continued to press and after some pressure on the Stags line they ran a tap penalty to score under the posts. However it was Grangemouth who claimed the last score with 2 minutes left. The forwards drove a lineout in midfield before releasing the ball to the backs. Innes dragged in the cover before passing to Parsons to run in for a well worked score. Innes was off target with the conversion.
FT Stags 44 Alloa 19

This was a very good team performance for the Stags and an excellent victory. Innes was man of the match while Herron was dangerous with ball in hand. Up front the scrum was dominant while the back row of Gibson, Scott and Aspinall showed up well in the loose. The win takes Grangemouth up to 4th in the league. This Saturday the Stags are again at home against Madras with KO at 2pm