Stirling County 13, Boroughmuir 9
THE champagne came later but Stirling's championship winning
performance was hammered into shape on the hard anvil of resolute
defence and a blunt refusal to accept second best.
Champions are fashioned from sides which win games when defeat is
staring them full in the face, and for long periods at Bridgehaugh on
Saturday Stirling were eyeball to eyeball with the spectre of having to
take their title challenge down the road awhile yet.
Understandably, this was a nervous and diffident Stirling. No
derring-do, but guts in abundance as Boroughmuir piled on the pressure
in the second half and Stirling were forced to tackle, tackle and tackle
again.
Stirling's points all came in the first half. Thereafter, it was a
case of hanging in there for grim death and championship glory. The home
side were whitewashed on the touchlines and survived on meagre rations
elsewhere as well.
But the only try of the game was Stirling's. The scorer was right
winger Gus Turner but the hallmark was stamped on it by his counterpart
on the left flank, Kenny Logan.
Logan's run, to borrow a phrase from the cinematograph, came on the
stroke of half-time as he shot from deep within his own half to scatter
the Boroughmuir defenders like ninepins. Logan scythed between Lineen
and Stark before setting Jim Brough off on a sprint for the line. The
Stirling No.8 didn't quite have the legs to make it himself but he
passed out right to Turner and the wing-threequarter was over at the
corner flag.
Stirling had an early opportunity to take the lead when stand-off Mark
McKenzie put a penalty attempt wide of the posts. In the eleventh minute
Boroughmuir's Bryan Easson made no such mistake when he slotted home a
simple effort from just outside the 22.
After 25 minutes, Logan put Stirling back on level terms with a
penalty goal after Peter Wright -- again in storming form -- was
adjudged to have late-tackled the Stirling stand-off. Three minutes
later Easson put 'Muir back in front after Stirling conceded a line-out
penalty.
Mark McKenzie and Logan each failed with shots at goal before Logan
equalised with a penalty effort. As he lined up for the kick white smoke
billowed from the car-park hamburger stand. It was a smokey omen for
Logan.
A couple of minutes later he was off on the careering run which ended
in Turner's try. He converted for good measure and at the interval
Stirling were 13-6 in front.
In the second half Boroughmuir launched wave after wave of attacks on
the home line. It was to the great credit of Stirling that they were
able to keep 'Muir at bay.
After 54 minutes Easson kicked his third penalty goal and, on the
touchlines, Stirling supporters were sending out for fresh nails to
bite, but Boroughmuir could not penetrate the brave County defence, and
there was an audible sigh of relief from the touchlines as Eddie Murray
blew for no-side.
Later, an immensely relieved Stirling coach Brian Edwards admitted
that he had been on tenterhooks throughout. ''It wasn't the greatest of
games but it did the business. To scrape through against Boroughmuir and
then to have West beat Watsonians away from home is quite unbelievable.
''It wasn't as if we went out and grabbed it on today's performance
but the championship is sweet nevertheless. This is what it is going to
be like next season with the eight-team leagues. Every game is going to
be a nail-biter like this.''
Brother Henry, Boroughmuir's coach, was disappointed that his side had
not capitalised on their chances but he was delighted that the win had
been kept in the family.
''It's great for Brian, great for Stirling, and great for Scottish
rugby. Stirling thoroughly deserve their championship.''
Stirling County -- C Sangster; A S M Turner, R D Kennedy, M N
McGrandles, K M Logan; M McKenzie, J G M Harper; J T Gibson, K D
McKenzie, G B Robertson, J S Hamilton, M Norval, G N Flockhart, J
Brough, B Ireland. Replacement -- S Cameron for Robertson (52 minutes).
Boroughmuir -- N R Mardon; D A Stark, S R P Lineen, D Laird, B Miller;
B R Easson, A Knight; G D Wilson, N G B Dickson, P H Wright, D G Burns,
P T Jennings, G Hepburn, S J Reid, G J Drummond. Replacement -- D Macrae
for Mardon (50).
Referee -- E Murray (Greenock Wanderers)
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