Stags Win on the Road

For the final time this season (and the 4th game in a row ) Grangemouth were on their travels last Saturday as they made the trip to Broughty Ferry to take on Panmure. With several regulars unavailable the Stags made wholesale changes with a new look front row of Reid, Rutherford and Keighan, Buchanan and Gibson in the back row, a first start for several years for Stratton at full back and an unlikely looking halfback partnership of Ward at scrum half a rare start for the elder Innes twin at stand off. On a perfect day for rugby Grangemouth were quickly on the attack and opened the scoring after just 5 minutes. Herron had a determined run down the wing before linking with Hind. When he was stopped on the 22 the ball was recycled for Denny to burst through the defence and use his speed to outpace the cover to score under the posts. DJ Innes popped over the conversion. Straight from the kick off a break from the younger Innes was once again carried on by Hind before the second row slipped the pass to Herron for a well worked score. Again young Innes slotted the extra 2 points. The Stags were then guilty of wasting possession over the next 15 minutes as they kicked away the ball for no obvious reason. As the game entered the second quarter they did increase their lead after a tap penalty was moved wide and Herron collected his second try. Innes again kicked the conversion. On 30 minutes the Stags collected the bonus point with a good team try. The forwards demolished a home scrum on halfway The ball was won at the breakdown and moved wide where substitute Polland went round his man before feeding back inside to the supporting Buchanan for the score. Innes made it 4 from 4 with the kick. Next up Gibson had a run up the touchline before being stopped just short of the line. The ball was popped up to the supporting Reid who crashed over for the try. This time the kick was wide. Once again from the kick off young Innes sliced through the defence before his well timed pass allowed Allan to stroll in under the posts. Innes added the extras. Innes also made the next try as he side stepped through the defence before finding Aspinall in support and the number 8 dived over under the posts to leave an easy conversion. With half time approaching the Stags moved the ball the length of the field with Hind starting and finishing the move. Innes again was on target. HT Panmure 0 Stags 54.

The one way traffic continued at the start of the second half. The backs ran a move on the 22 and Hind was on hand to receive the scoring pass. Innes popped over another kick. Old man Innes set up the next score with a quick throw in on half way which was collected by Allan and he raced up the touchline to round the cover and score under the posts. Innes junior added the conversion. From the kick off the ball was again moved wide to Allan who had another run in from halfway. This time young Innes missed the conversion from in front of the posts. The centre made up for it by splitting the defence with another run from deep to glide in under the posts. This time his dad’s attempted conversion from directly in front of the posts hit the bar. Panmure finally mounted an attack and their forwards drove over the line for a consolation score. This produced a rant from Binnie and the Stags duly collected another try from deep. Aspinall stole a lineout ball in midfield and raced upfield before passing to DJ Innes for the try and conversion. Finally on 60 minutes a burst by Whitelaw took play up to the 22 before passing to young Innes. With no defenders in sight he held on to the ball until his old man caught up with play to give him a try. Young Innes slotted the conversion and the referee ended the game with 20 minutes still to play. FT Panmure 5 Stags 92

This was as one sided a contest as the score line suggests with Grangemouth in complete charge throughout. Once the Stags stopped kicking the ball away Panmure had no answer to the powerful running of the backs and forwards. Young Innes caused havoc with his running while Hind was prominent in support and with ball in hand. This week the Stags are at home for their last game of the season when Madras are the visitors for a 3pm KO