The Stags headed to Cupar last Saturday to face Howe Crusaders. Grangemouth made 3 changes from the win over County. Luke Quinn was in the second row and there were 1st xv debuts for Sloan at scrum half and Andrew Venter on the wing. The Stags made a strong start and pinned the home team in their 22. On 5 minutes a powerful drive by the pack at a 5 metre scrum allowed White to control the ball at the base for a pushover try. Coyle added the extras. A few minutes later Grangemouth added their second. Bell drove on from a lineout in the Howe 22 and when he was held short of the line White was on hand to dive over from close range. This time the conversion was off target. From the kick off a cross field kick was volleyed upfield by Coyle and the home side conceded a penalty deep in their 22. The pack went to work at the resultant scrum and White completed his hat trick with another pushover. Coyle added the conversion. The one way traffic continued into the second quarter and a break by Geldenhuys saw Johnny Venter cut the defence with an angled run for the bonus point score. Coyle kicked the simple conversion. Straight from the kick off Kerr made a break and raced 40 metres upfield before being tackled on the home 22. From there good hands by the backs created the space for Coyle to run in for the try. The winger added the extras. To their credit Howe fought back and were rewarded with a converted try after a spell of pressure in the Grangemouth 22. However the Stags added another try before the break after a fine run by White resulted in a penalty close to the Howe line. Once again the scrum drove forward and White picked up to crash over for his fourth try. Coyle slotted the conversion. HT Howe 7 Stags 40.
Grangemouth continued to pile on the points at the start of the second half. Johnny Venter made the initial break and from the breakdown skipper Clark received the scoring pass. Coyle kicked the conversion. Soon after powerful carries by the Grangemouth back row took play close to the Howe line and Watson was on hand to score from close range. The conversion attempt was off target. On 54 minutes the Stags stole a lineout deep in their own 22. Sloan set off on a mazy run and made 40 metres before linking with Johnny Venter for an unconverted score. The final quarter saw Grangemouth add 3 further converted scores. First Strathie made a half break before slipping the scoring pass to Ferguson for the try . Then Geldenhuys was rewarded for his efforts with 2 trys to complete the scoring. FT Howe 7 Stags 78.
As the scoreline suggests this was a very comfortable win for the local side. Howe had no answer to the power of the Grangemouth forwards. The scrum was dominant and the back row of White, Sikora and Geldenhuys created havoc with ball in hand. Geldenhuys was man of the match. This week the Stags have their first home game of the season when they welcome Perthshire to the club with KO 3pm.