AFTER a quiet first half which was about as dull as the weather, the spectators at Bridgehaugh were treated to an exciting second period in which the players conjured up five good tries.
The scores sat level 13-13 at half-time with Graham Lindsay having crossed for County and Jamie Blackwood, back from a sojourn in English rugby, for Watsonians. Brian Archibald kicked the other points for the hosts with two penalties and a conversion
while Michael Ker replied with a penalty, conversion and drop-goal for Watsonians.
After swapping penalties early in the second half, Watsonians began to raise the tempo as the match moved into the final quarter and found a finish to match good forward work. They then threw down the gauntlet to County with three tries in ten minutes after ripping open the home defence.
Jon Pelter, Jeff Nicholson and Ben Di Rollo were the scorers as Watsonians put on a display of how running rugby should be played.
There was no way back for the bedraggled County side, underlined when Andy Fisher added a fifth try three minutes from time, but the young home side did give their coach Ian Jardine and loyal home supporters some late succour with a try from winger Ross Aitken in the final seconds.
Scorers: Stirling County: Tries: Lindsay, Aitken. Pens: Archibald 3. Cons: Archibald. Watsonians: Tries: Blackwood, Pelter, Nicholson, Di Rollo, Fisher. Pens: Ker 2. Cons: Ker 4. DG: Ker.
Stirling County: R McGowan; R Aitken, A Auld, B Archibald, G Lindsay; A Robertson, G Calder; M Hunter, A Moffat, G Mountford, G Gilchrist, C Deacon, S Robertson, K Bryce, J Hill. Subs used: R Logan, G McGorie, G Gilliland.
Watsonians: A Nash; R Minto, B Di Rollo, D Brown, T Saena; M Ker, J Blackwood; A Fisher, G Wood, K Coertze, T Callander, J Nicholson, J McKinally, G Hills, J Pelter. Subs used: A Rowe, E Clarke, N Tunnah.
Referee: I Heard. Attendance: 320.
The full article contains 337 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
