Stirling touch

The pace was frenetic but our defence was solid and the communication outstanding we repelled a number of attacks before a change of possession and well worked move released Si Trevis-Smith for a score on the wing. This settled us down and we started to run through a few more moves Colin Jardine jinking through the defence for a second and Gordon Kerr sprinting on to the end of a long pass for the third. This merely riled the lads from up North and they hit back with a score before half time and a quick second after the break; 3:2 Game on!

Desperate not to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory we started throwing the ball about a bit too freely, this freestyle champagne stuff is fine for the Baa Baas but we needed structure. Larry settled the side down and we scored again with Stuart Imrie touching down from a well worked move in midfield. However the Sheep Lovers struck back swiftly to keep the gap to a nervous single score. Campbell taking the opportunity to wipe out the Stirling number 12 in the process (purely accidental but made for a comedy moment all the same)

With the crowd going wild (thanks Yvonne) Colin ran in his second score and ‘Chopper’ Kerr sliced through for a controversial score on the wing. Tim Hollis claiming a touch but the referee judging the touch to have been made prior to the receiver getting the ball. Nothing worse than being premature Tim! It was awarded and a final late score from Aberdeen was not enough to deny Stirling their first ever victory at this level.

The crowd went berserk! (Thanks again Yvonne)

Unfortunately our two toughest games were to come. We had the reigning champions next. Edinburgh Blue had run 20 past us last year and we were determined to show them how far we’d come. The game started at a blistering pace and did not relent throughout. The Edinburgh players were skilful, quick and very well drilled. Repeatedly dragging our defence from side to side and we had to defend like tigers. The Stirling defence was excellent, this time last year we would have crumbled but the work ethic was fantastic and a number of diving touches, particularly from Iain Ross and Phil Leeks saved our bacon.

The pressure had to tell though and by halftime they were two scores up and we were feeling the pace. Larry extolled the virtues of maintaining our structure and utilising the option curves we’d trained for. These were the teams we had to do it against he replied between sucking in huge lungfuls of air.  Ding-Ding, seconds out; round 2!

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