Biggar 27

Stirling 20

Al Stewart at Murrayfield

BIGGAR U15 made their third trip in a row to Murrayfield on Saturday for the Girls Club Cup.

And following a thrilling hour's play they came home with the cup.

There was, as usual, a magnificent touchline support to cheer the girls on.

Both Biggar and Stirling County showed great commitment and intent to run whenever possible and to apply themselves from minute one to the end of the match.

Determination, positivity and resilience are currently highly prised throughout education and sport and this match had it all in bucket-loads.

Biggar opened at a frantic pace and were soon deep in the Stirling 22 where they hammered at the line only to be denied by some stout defence.

A couple of tap penalties should perhaps have paved the way for an opening score but Stirling’s defence held firm.

A few minutes later and with some strong running, Stirling opened the scoring with a try from Rowan McPherson, which was unconverted.

At this level the restart is by way of a tap and go and means that the team which concedes the try has control and this enabled Biggar to take play back into the Stirling half.

After a few passes Emelia Knights crossed for a Biggar try which Katie McPherson converted to put her side ahead.

A second try, this from live-wire stand off Emma Orr, put Biggar ahead at 12-5.

This score the first of three tries as Biggar enjoyed a purple patch of play which took the score to 22-5 with some 20 minutes on the clock.

Strong running fullback Geraldine Kimm added both the scores.

The conversions proved too tricky for Biggar kickers Kaylee Fraser and Katie McPherson.

At this point Biggar threatened to romp away and had they added another try this may well have been the case.

To their credit Stirling had very different thoughts however and undeterred they came right back into things in what was now deep into the second quarter of the match.

Brooke McDonald was the next to cross, her try giving Stirling great heart.

A third Stirling try, this from centre Orla Proctor, took them to within a score of Biggar at half time of 22-15.

After several missed opportunities from both sides it was Stirling who again broke the deadlock after the restart.

Freya Walker powered over for a try which brought her side within two points at 22-20.

The U15s play over two 30 minute halves and as the game entered the last 10 minutes Biggar found themselves deep in their own 22 where they conceded several penalties.

Moving ball quickly, Stirling threw themselves at the line but, as has had been the case in the first half, it was the defensive side which triumphed.

It was clear that the next score would prove to the the match winner.

With just four minutes it was Biggar, in the shape of Rachel Phillips, who won through as her strong running took her round the Stirling cover defence from 50 metres and over for the try.

Sheila Begbie, head of Women’s Rugby, presented the Biggar Girls with their medals and Biggar captain Mason Cosh with the Cup.

There was added excitement when the Player of the Match was awarded to Kaylee Fraser.