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)