Stirling Wolves travelled to Meggetland on Friday evening, for their eighth match of the 2022 FOSROC Super6 Championship.
Boroughmuir struck first in the match, with Jack Bergin’s penalty giving them the lead just five minutes in. [3-0]
The hosts extended their lead in the 15th minute when Joe Jenkins found himself free out wide to score in the corner. Bergin’s kick from out wide was converted. [10-0]
George Breese came on for Wolves in the 27th minute, replacing Adam Wood.
Stirling began to threaten towards the end of the half, with Callum Norrie making it over in the 33rd minute, only to be held up by the Bears defence.
HT: Boroughmuir Bears 10-0 Stirling Wolves
Wolves made a double change at half time, bringing Murphy Walker on for Callum Norrie and Finlay Burgess on for Gregor Christie.
The hosts began the second half the brighter of the sides, starting it just as they did the first, with Bergin hitting over a penalty from distance five minutes after the restart. [13-0]
Euan Cunningham was brought on for Stirling in the 48th minute, with Craig Robertson making way.
Wolves got their first try of the match in the 56th minute when Angus Fraser barged over following a flurry of attacks on the Boroughmuir try-line. Duncan Weir converted successfully. [13-7]
Stirling continued to put pressure on the Bears defence and were ahead just a few minutes later, with Ryan Southern being released out wide following some well-worked Wolves play and Weir converting his try. [13-14]
The home side retook the lead in the 66th minute with Bergin’s third penalty of the night. [16-14]
Hamish Ferguson was replaced by Harris McLeod following the penalty.
An attacking Wolves line-out saw the visitors pin the Bears to their own try-line and the move was finished off by the captain Marcus Holden in the 73rd minute, after the ball was worked back out wide. Weir was again successful with his conversion. [16-21]
Stirling continued to push on and got themselves a bonus point try through Gregor Hiddleston in the 79th minute, with Weir getting his fourth conversion of the night. [16-28]
Wolves made a triple substitution following the try, with Angus Fraser, Jack Hill and Duncan Weir all being brought off. Rhodri Tanner, George Arnott and Liam Brims were brought on in their place to see out the victory.
FT: Boroughmuir Bears 16-28 Stirling Wolves
HEAD COACH
Ben Cairns was asked his thoughts on the match:
“That game was almost a microcosm of our championship – we made it way too easy for them in the first half but I thought the way they stuck together at half time, solved the problem, then the way they played in the second half showed outstanding character.
We talked about respecting the ball and that we don’t need to force it, and I thought we did that second half.”
Match report by Andrew MacInnes
TEAMS
Boroughmuir Bears: 15. Tom Brown, 14. Kerr Johnston, 13. Duncan Munn, 12. Scott Robeson, 11. Joe Jenkins, 10. Jack Bergin, 9. Ruairidh Swan; 1. Mikey Jones, 2. Jerry Blyth Lafferty, 3. Callum McFeat Smith, 4. Jack Fisher, 5. Callum Atkinson, 6. Liam McConnell, 7. Scott McGinley, 8. Craig Keddie (C).
Replacements: 16. Iain Carmichael, 17. Brandon Sweet, 18. Marcus Goodwin, 19. Luca Alessandri, 20. Trystan Andrews, 21. Murray Johnstone, 22. Paul Bogie, 23. Adam Scott.
Stirling Wolves: 15. Craig Robertson, 14. Logan Jarvie, 13. Ryan Southern, 12. Marcus Holden (C) 11. Walter Fifita, 10. Duncan Weir, 9. Gregor Christie; 1. Adam Wood, 2. Angus Fraser, 3. Callum Norrie, 4. James Pow, 5. Hamish Ferguson, 6. Jack Hill, 7. Gregor Hiddleston, 8. Benedict Grant.
Replacements: 16. Rhodri Tanner, 17. George Breese, 18. Murphy Walker, 19. Harris McLeod, 20. George Arnott, 21. Finlay Burgess, 22. Liam Brims, 23. Euan Cunningham.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Ruairidh Campbell
AR1: Samuel O’Neil
AR2: Calum Worsley
SCORERS
Boroughmuir Bears: TRY: Jenkins; CON: Bergin; PEN: Bergin 3
Stirling Wolves: TRY: Fraser, Southern, Holden, Hiddleston; CON: Weir 4
FOSROC Player of the Match
Angus Fraser (Stirling Wolves)
