Biggar lose unbeaten record at Stirling County

Published 16 Oct 2009 10:21 0 Comments

See also:

Stirling County 30 v 21 Biggar

BIGGAR lost their unbeaten record and their lead at the top of Premier 2 on Saturday when they succumbed to this defeat by Stirling County.

Biggar took nothing from the game and didn't manage to collect a losing bonus which was disappointing because as while Stirling were the better side, Biggar competed well throughout and were right in the game until the last 10 minutes or so when a series of penalties and drop goals were enough to seal the Stirling victory.

Playing against the breeze Stirling gave early note of their power and pace in taking Biggar onto the defensive although Biggar, via a Chris McKeand penalty, drew first blood.

It was not long before Stirling replied to Biggar's opening score, a big scrum on the 5-metre mark allowing scrum half Gordon McRorie to pick up and dash over for an opportunist effort which kicker Brian Archibald very unusually failed to convert.

The Stirling pack was causing Biggar no end of problems at this stage and after further pressure within the Biggar 22 a penalty award was successfully converted by Archibald for 8-5.

Biggar did make ground via the pace of their game, quick tap penalties from Davy Reive and lineouts from Scott Cameron being used to good effect to break the County rhythm.

On another occasion a spoiled scrum ball saw the County backs in some disarray as Biggar harried their opponents. The result saw McKeand convert a penalty for offside.

Archibald replied with a similar effort following an obstruction.

Biggar had then to withstand a sustained passage of County pressure, however throughout this latest assault Biggar's close defence held firm a penalty award their reward as County No 8 Barsanti held on in the tackle. Half time then and the game finely poised at 11-6 to County.

Biggar were on the defensive from the restart which they failed to control the kick off, County stand-off Stuart Edwards striking the upright with a drop-goal attempt - a let-off for the visitors.

A quickly taken penalty from Reive to his pack saw several promising thrusts to the County line. With ball being moved right, an inside pass found flanker Alan Warnock at pace to cut through the defensive remnants and cross for a great try. Converted by Mckeand Biggar took a 13-11 lead.

Unfortunately this was short-lived as County pressed immediately from the restart.

On this occasion a driven line, with the bulkier County forwards in control, proved to be more successful than those prior to the break, their replacement Mark Hunter given the credit. Archibald converted to put his side back in charge at 18-13.

County fullback Robbie McGowan was then immersed in an all encompassing tackle by Renwick, the ball braking free from the ensuing ruck and bouncing toward the County line.

Steaming up in support was David Robertson who beat the cover for another cracking score and one which tied the scores at 18 a-piece, McKeand just wide with the conversion.

Renwick pulled off another excellent tackle as the County backs sped down the stand-side before Mark Fowler incurred the displeasure of touch-judge and referee following retaliation for a piece of unnecessary handiwork.

Not to be outdone Biggar replied but with 9 points now separating the sides a losing bonus was all they could realistically aim for, although this was nothing less than they deserved.

McKeand put that point within grasp with his 3rd penalty but as full time approached it was Edwards who once again put the bonus beyond Biggar with his second drop goal.

Biggar - Chris McKeand; Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Alistair Browning; Aaron Reid, David Reive (captain); Scott Cameron, Kevin Anderson, Scott Cameron, David Robertson, Stuart Coubrough, Hugh Green, Alan Warnock, Grant Owens. Replacements - Stuart Wright, Ian Renwick, Mark Fowler, Lewis McLachlan.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 16 Oct 09

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.

Peeblesshire News Poll

Are you in favour of wind farms?

This Poll is now closed.

Yes (70.0%)

No (30.0%)

Follow @peeblesnews