A View from the Touchline – BT Premier League: 14.10.17.

Currie 30 pts (t 5, c 1, pg1) v Stirling County 24 pts (t 4, c 2)

The sun was trying to peep through the threatening clouds that occasionally produced a little misty rain, but as well as the unsettled weather, the assembling crowd was thinking about the unpredictability of a Currie team that can struggle to get things right or stun any opposition with sublime rugby that has a wow factor: would this be another cliff-hanger? Well it turned out to be just that. The Chieftains romped to a healthy first-half lead, but let Stirling back into a match which could have gone either way. It was not for the faint-hearted, but you cannot fault Malleny Park for eighty minutes of dramatic excitement.

Stirling has made a useful start to the season and they sit just below Currie in the League standings. Thanks to their powerful pack they were soon making ground and probing into the Currie 22, but too many errors and some fine defending left these opportunities wanting. Adam Hastings cleared the danger to start a period of Chieftains’ dominance. Currie went through the phases before Robbie Nelson broke into space near the Stirling 22. Following a penalty line-out the pack organised and drove forward; Callum Mackintosh timed his burst from the maul and crashed over for an unconverted try. Stirling came back fighting with good runs from both forwards and backs, but their progress always ended in failure. A well-judged Ben Robbins interception took play from one 22 to the other, and more Currie attacks then got underway.

Before the half-hour was out, the silky skills of Jamie Forbes, Harvey Elms, Ruairidh Smith, Thomas Gordon and Scott McGinley opened the way for Adam Hastings; he added a try, a conversion and a penalty goal to the Currie score. The Stirling cause was not helped when scrumhalf, Peter Jericevich was sent to the sin-bin. Currie made the most of their advantage as they proceeded to stretch the visitors’ defence. It was one-way traffic that ended in a try for Cammy Gray; the wing juggled with the ball, but gained control for an unconverted score near the corner flag. A gallant attempt by Stirling to get something out of the first half was thwarted by the efforts of Mike Vernel, Thomas Gordon and Campbell Wilson; Currie’s defence was terrific.

Halftime Score – Currie 20 pts, Stirling County 0 pts.

It all started to go horribly wrong for the Chieftains when the second half got under way. An extraordinary period of loose Mickey-Mouse rugby, from both teams, was certainly exciting, but you had the feeling that disaster was not far away. The home side were caught offside 10 metres out, and the resulting penalty line-out had the visitors driving for the goal line; Hamilton Barr’s try was not converted but the comeback was on. Stirling now had a spring in their step and they upped the tempo. There appeared to be a bit of shirt- pulling as Currie worked their way forward; something sinister caught the eye of the officials and play stopped. After some discussion, Vince Wright was shown a Red Card. There was still a hefty chunk of the match remaining, and the Chieftains would be in for a testing time.

Immediately Stirling started to control proceedings and hammered away inside the home 22. Ruairidh Leishman slipped at least three tackles as he danced over the line for a try that Logan Trotter converted. When the now dominant visitors bagged their third converted try, after loads of hard work from their pack, it was déjà vu for those who were at Malleny Park last week. The score left Stirling just one point behind Currie, who finally woke up and started to play with some conviction. The pressure that they exerted had centre, Ewan MacGarvie sent to the sin-bin for a sloppy tackle as Ben Robbins went close. A combination of excellent Stirling defence and some rash Currie passing denied any scores, until a determined Steven Ainslie took three Stirling tacklers over the goal line with him for the fourth try and a bonus point. Unfortunately Adam Hastings’ conversion hit the post; he was also off target with a penalty attempt.

These missed goal kicks could have killed off the opposition who were still only one score away from a win. Another forward effort brought up Stirling’s fourth try bonus, they too missed the conversion; it was neck- and-neck stuff. Currie’s lineout had been misfiring throughout the afternoon, but when they were awarded a penalty, Adam Hastings went for the corner. Steven Ainslie secured the throw-in and the pack rumbled for the line. John Cox’s try was not converted, but time had run out for any further play. We visit Marr next weekend to play the new boys in the Premier League who have been going very well; it will not be an easy outing. IJS, 15.10.17.