Rugby: Currie steered to Cup glory by Stachan

IT was a dream come true for Currie Colts scrum-half Joe Stachan as his second-half try helped the Malleny Park youngsters to the silverware in last night's National Under-18 cup final on the main pitch at Murrayfield.

Stachan's performance in the 27-13 win over a gutsy Dumfries side earned him the man of the match award and brought to an end an injury nightmare that had kept him out of action for a year.

He offered a first glimpse of his kicking accuracy when he steered a penalty between the sticks as Currie capitalised on their supremacy early in the game. And they stretched further ahead when Irving Hastie capped a series of drives by plunging over at the corner for a try.

Having struggled in the opening 20 minutes, Dumfries raised the pace and deservedly clawed their way back with a try by Chris Wickes, converted by Jordan Kerr.

Currie clung to their lead with a gutsy defensive effort and skipper Fergus Scott powered through two tackles for a try, converted by Stachan for a 15-7 interval lead.

Kerr landed a penalty for Dumfries before Stachan picked up at a close range scrum and darted over for the try that turned the game, played in front of more than 1,000 supporters, among them Currie's senior side who will be looking for a similar result when they meet Ayr in a Scottish Hydro Premiership showdown on Saturday.

"I dreamed about scoring a try – maybe not quite like that, from my own try line or something," said Stachan. And, after Kerr had booted another three pointer, Stachan capped his comeback when he converted the fourth try, by Calum Ormiston to set the seal on a fine all round performance by Currie.

With a try apiece from their respective sons, it was a high note for Currie coach Sean Scott and team manager Bob Ormiston to sign off, each having spent more than a decade with the side.

"These guys have been bridesmaids for the last three or four years – a couple of semi-finals, a final last year – but they finally got over the line," said Scott. He paid tribute to the players, adding: "They have been a great bunch to work with – really positive boys and nice young men too.

"They are all decent human beings and that's part of the culture we are trying to create at Currie."

Scorers: Dumfries Colts: Try: Wickes; Con: Kerr; Pen: Kerr (2). Currie Colts: Tries: Hastie, Scott, Stachan, Ormiston; Con: Stachan (2); Pen: Stachan.

Dumfries Colts: J Kerr, T Hyslop, C Auld, N Armstrong G Lipton, R Austin, S Steele, S Graham, L Moorehead, R Middelton, B Thompson, C Wickes, J Graham, E miller, C Templeton. Subs used: B Paterson, D Lewis, M Green.

Currie Colts: G Porteous, M Halliday, B Brown, L Watt, R Buchanan, S Mullins, J Stachan, D Pech, F Scott, A Philp, C Ormiston, A Ferguson, A Black, I Hastie, M Peacock. Subs used: J Girvan, M Smith.

Referee: C Samson.