Stirling County vs Dunfermline

The first half was very close. Very close to the River Forth, and the first half score suggested that gap between the two sides was a wide as the gap between North and South Queensferry. This of course was not the case, but it did take the Dunfermline side some time to get going. County posted their intent on racking up a good score as early as the 2nd minute when they scored a converted try to take a 7-0 lead. This was to set the standard for the rest of the first half as Dunfermline were rarely in County territory. In the 7th minute, Angus Thomson nearly got away with an intercept as did Neil Davidson two minutes later but both these attacks came to nought, as County overturned the ball and took it back into the Dunfermline half. County scored another converted try in the 10th minute to go into a 14-0 lead. County’s eagerness saw them give away 10 penalties through out the game, and in the 14th minute it nearly cost them 3 points as Connor Simpkins just missed with a long range penalty. County kept up their early pressure on Dunfermline and it was only County’s penalty generosity that allowed Dunfermline to clear their lines. In the 18th minute, County’s pressure paid dividends again when an unconverted try gave them a 19-0 lead. They increased their lead to 26 points with a converted try in the 20th minute. This time it had more to do with poor Dunfermline tackling rather than County flair, as loose Dunfermline cover gave the county backs an easy run to the try line. Three minutes later, County struck again with yet another converted try to end the game as a competition when they went into a 33-0 lead. Dunfermline tried to get back into the game, but were kept on the back foot by County who scored their final try of the half in the 32nd minute to go in at half time with a 38-0 lead.

The Dunfermline team that came out for the Second Half looked the same as the team that went in, but were clearly different side. This was a team that were up for the challenge, and took the game to County from the whistle with Angus Thomson chasing the ball from a good kick from Jamie Goodwin that ensured that the County receiver collected that ball and Thomson at the same time. This half was played in County territory, and in the 39th minute Connor Simpkins went off on a jinking run and, in the excitement, Simpkins forgot to pass. Had he passed at the earliest opportunity rather than going it alone, Dunfermline should have had points on the board given the squandered overlap! But two minutes later, Dunfermline got their just reward when, from a Penalty 10 metres out, Lliam Quarm collected the ball and burst through the County defence to open Dunfermline’s account. Unfortunately the usually reliable Simpkins was unable to kick the conversion. Dunfermline continued to keep up the pressure on County, but were unable to capitalise on this until the 48th minute. Thomson got the ball some 15 metres from the County line and had a good try scoring opportunity, but with two players bearing down on him, opted to pass to Darroch McKeague who only had to drop over the line to double Dunfermline’s score to 38-10. Again the angle was too acute for Simpkins to successfully convert. This was to end the scoring for Dunfermline who continued to camp in the County half, but County were to score against the run of play with two converted and one unconverted try in the 55th, 57th and 62nd minutes for a 57-10 win.

Had Dunfermline taken the game to County in the first half like they did in the second, the score-line would have been a lot closer. County were clearly rattled in the second when Dunfermline didn’t give them a chance to settle, and opted to kick to clear their line when, in the first half, they ran the ball. Dunfermline defended well in the first half, but failed to convert pressure into points in the second. Like previous games, there are still players more intent on racking up personal scores rather than ensuring that it is the team that scores. There was still some on-field spectating and at times, Dunfermline ball carriers resembled an old bra – no visible means of support! County, on the other hand always had options to offload. Had the Dunfermline support been present, Marcus salt could have been pushed over for a try and more ball could have been won from the kick off when only one player chased – this is a job for the back row. Having said that, this was always going to be a tough game against a well drilled County side that are unbeaten in this division. If Dunfermline take lessons from this game, there is no reason why they can’t finish as runners up in the Division to Stirling County.