County secure their status

Stirling County 27 Melrose 20 Tries - Fraser, Parlane, MoffatPenalties - Noble Conversion - Noble 2 Tries - Carlos, Weir , B Ruthven Penalties - S RuthvenConversion - SRuthven 2 It was a simple sum: a Stirling win meant definite survival, for Melrose there was little at stake except pride. The relief for the home side was almost palpable, although there were times in the last 10 minutes when Melrose fought back with cutting skill out wide which brought the Borderers to within one score of drawing level.

Fans quite literally whooped with joy as County enured their survival. "Next Sunday it's Hawick at home." said captain Colin Eadie. "And we want to prove we deserve to stay here." Coach Gary Parker was more blunt. "We were ordinary." he said.

In the first quarter it was County's immense pride - weakened as they were by four players away in the under-19 FIRA tournament - which helped them race to a ten point lead. Ian Noble slotted a penalty, then a Melrose attack went badly wrong when the electric Murray Fraser went up the left wing from fifty yards and, after a kick and chase, he was over.

Melrose's riposte was a belter of a try, created by a poor County lineout, an eruption by Tom Weir aiding things down the right, Alec Clark drawing men in midfield, and Cash Carlos ran in on the left to demonstrate Melrose's greater ability to create space.

A high tackle on Fraser drew a penalty which Noble converted. It was immediately followed by a Malcy Norval lineout win, a dart forward by Kevin O'Brien, more yardage from Noble, and then the final run in by Sam Parlane who flopped beneath the posts for a 20-7 half- time lead.

And a word for referee David Changleng, who had a great game and took no lip at all other than a few barbs from the home support.

Melrose had the sun and wind behind them in the second half, with a Scott Ruthven penalty an immediate indication of an advantage in the face of forceful Stirling play. Tom McLaren's strength on the ball was an asset, as was O'Brien's service, and a short pass, after Fraser's break, found Alec Moffat charging like a rhino and over the line. Moffat was a stand out in both attack and defence. 27-10 ahead for County, and the wags were starting to think that it was all over.

But Melrose fought back. A scrum close to County's line paved the way for a Graham Thompson blind-side sneak which was finished by Weir who romped over the line for Melrose as County made things difficult for themselves.

County are certainly well drilled up front, and their rucking is exemplary and done in numbers. Melrose passed the ball out wide with ease, but there was such security in County's defence with Noble. He is strong and hard to break down, allowing his teammates to drift, however County always took the more direct route with pop and pass, McLaren, Norval, and Moffat all involved.

Try of the day came from Melrose who put together a passage of play from heaven, Bruce Ruthven instrumental as the play ranged left to right until he trusted his pace, and his chip and chase produced the touch down.

The home side, with Eddie Pollock giving them their orders, are a good young side and with Hawick to play next Sunday they have an opportunity to prove they have real potential after this life-giving win. Yes, a good win for County, and this young team can be stars of the future.

Stirling County M Fraser (D Adamson 60); D Frame, M McGrandles, S Parlane, S McAllister, I Noble, K O'Brien; C Reid, A Moffat (A Smith 73), G Blackburn (M Browne 60), M Norval, A Kellock (A Boyd 54), T McLaren, C Eadie, C McPhail.

Melrose J Blackwood; C Carlos, R Brown, C McRae, B Ruthven; S Ruthven, G Thomson; H Fraser (I Cornwell 57), W Mitchell (J Robertson 54, M Munoz, J Henderson, S Aitken (K Brown 57), J Dalziel, A Clark, T Weir.

Referee D Changleng (Gala).

Copyright 2002
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