Aberdeen show a cutting edge

Stirling County 19

ABERDEEN put their recent run of bad results behind them, recording a comprehensive win over a limited Stirling team who had put their good form on hold for the day.

Indeed had it not been for the prodigious boot of Ian Noble, and a generous award of a penalty try the margin of victory would have been greater, leaving Stirling coach Eddie Pollock to ponder on the fate of his team. Pollock said: "We didn’t play as a unit, and our defence was poor. They wanted it more than us" he conceded.

Grammar coach Damian Reidy was understandably upbeat about the victory which gave his side a double over the Bridgehaugh side. "We deserved this one in our real team performance." Aberdeen skipper and full-back Rod Seib was an inspiration and wing David Millard a revelation with two tries out of the top drawer, both from the halfway line.

After a tentative opening quarter in which Noble scored two penalties to the one of Grammar kicker Keith Oddie, the game exploded into life after 21 minutes when Millard scored the first of his tries . Rory McKay then plunged over after fine work by Colin Philips.

County allowed Millard to ghost through but Noble landed penalties on either side of the break.

Grammar centre Luke McCann and flanker John McKenzie combined to send over Rod Seib at the corner, but County were then given a penalty try for collapsing the scrum. Flockhart converted before Grammar centre Paul Coward released Philips to complete a good away day.

Scorers: Stirling County: Pen try. Con: Flockhart. Pens: Noble (4). Aberdeen GSFP: Tries: Millard (2), McKay, Seib, Philips; Cons: Oddie (4); Pen: Oddie.

Stirling County: W Barr; S Parlane, I Noble, C Sangster, R Lewis; D Adamson, M McMillan; G Blackburn, A Neilson, G Foster, B McFarlane, A Kellock, C Deacons, G Flockhart, C Eadie. Subs: C Harris for Parlane 59mins, C Hunter for Blackburn 70, C Collins for McFarlane 70.

Aberdeen GSFP: R Seib; C Philips, L McCann, P Coward, D Millard; K Oddie, T Patterson, M Done, T Dinnen, D Massie, J Officer, C McCall, J McKenzie, D Teague, R McKay. Subs: J Henderson for Done 65, I Stanger for Dinnen 48, A Thompson for McCall 64.

Referee: G Davies (Fettes).