Saturday 15th March, 2008

Glensburgh Park

Scottish Hydro Electric National Division 2.

GRANGEMOUTH STAGS RFC 7 – 37 DUMFRIES SAINTS RFC

Grangemouth Stags, forced to play on the international weekend due to this seasons fixture congestion, collapsed in front of their home crowd to waste a valuable game in hand to catch up on the pack above them in the league. On a very reasonable day for rugby, the players failed to match their recent cup form and slumped to a heavy defeat against a well drilled borders side.

The tone was set from the kick off when Dumfries opened their account in the first couple of minutes, carving open the home defence to break the line, scoring under the posts and go 7-0 up. Indeed, matters did not improve when Grangemouth found themselves in a potentially threatening position on the half way line with a penalty. Johnny Campbell failed to find touch, the ball was fielded on the Dumfries 22, spread wide, and romped down the wing through the hands to score their second after only 10 minutes. The kick missed, but 12-0 and looking comfortable.

The Port side were unfortunately looking all at sea at this point, with little continuity, and little penetration coming from the backs in the early stages. The Dumfries full back was able to control the game with some excellent defensive kicking turning the Stags on to the back foot repeatedly, using the wind to his full advantage.

Dumfries further stretched their lead with a further penalty (15-0) and then some neat interlinking hands through the backs to score in the corner, but again the kick missed. The half was closed out at 20-0. At this point, it was confirmed that the Stags starting hooker, Billy Tulloch was out for the remainder with a knock, forcing a shuffling in the backs and substitutes employed before the bench would have liked.

At the turn of the half, Grangemouth came out with some renewed vigour and began to show some good phases of play, movingaround the field with more consistency and purpose. Substitutes were again the call of the day with a number of knocks forcing key Grangemouth players in to medical attention and retrial from the fray, which perhaps curtailed the momentum.

The Dumfries scoring onslaught continued soon after the break and temporarily put a halt to the Grangemouth renaissance. A further try and conversion moved them 27 points clear and secured them the bonus point, with Grangemouth fast seeing their hopes of a losing bonus point slipping away at the same time. Grangemouth did rally once more however, with Tony Hayes making an excellent break from the half. Outstripping the defence, he stepped two defenders before being held up just a few feet from the try line, but found wing Jordan Cuthbertson on hand to take the pop and cross over.

Converted by Campbell, this at least avoided the white wash and put some respectability on the score line, but again, Dumfries were not done. They were to cross over a further two times, each unconverted in the swirling wind, to leave the border raiders well in control and a deserved win at the whistle. 37-7.

Grangemouth can have little complaint of the score line on this occasion, while there is little doubt that when the post mortem of this game is carried out, it will identify a weak tackling display, and a number of kicks for touch staying in bounds or not gaining the ground to make an impact. This was a young Port side who suffered from a number of late call offs and unavailability from the selected team picked on Thursday. Training was not helped this week with the problems caused once again by the deluge of rain that Glensburgh absorbed throughout the week. They battled hard, but were outclassed by a Dumfries team who have greatly improved since the narrow encounter on their home patch earlier on in the season. It will surely not be long before we see their talented and strong running 15 playing in a higher division.

Due to the adverse weather so far this season, there is still a lot of rugby to be played and plenty scope for a recovery from the Stags which is by no means a lost cause. However, they will need to find their cup form and focus to pull off the escape as we enter the last few games of the season.

Ends.