County too streetwise and clinical for Currie

Scorers: Currie – Tries: Kerr (2), Peacock, Main. Pens: Reynolds (2). Con: Reynolds. Stirling County – Tries: Hughes, Swanson (2), Addison, Lamb. Pens: Archibald (2). Cons: Archibald (4). Drop goal: Edwards.

Referee: G Gordon

The Bridgehaugh side arrived at Malleny Park after an opening day home defeat to Ayr and they really took this match by the scruff of the neck early on.

With Currie captain Mark Cairns out injured the visitors could sense they could ruffle the young home side’s feathers. Although credit to the new-look hosts and the promptings of skipper Richard Snedden for keeping themselves in the encounter for as long they did, indeed scoring late on to snatch a crucial losing bonus point.

Young said: “We knew Currie were missing a couple of key men and we wanted to get on the front foot early on. The early try was just what we wanted and the forwards did well at the set piece. I was also pleased with the way the guys took chances when they came along and whenever you get a win away from home in the Premiership you have to be happy.”

When winger Rory Hughes, who scored a devastating seven- minute hat-trick the last time County were at Malleny, went over for a converted try after six minutes the Currie faithful feared the worse. However, as the first quarter came to a close Currie were 10-7 up, one of their eight home debutantes in the starting XV Callum Kerr having grabbed a try and stand-off Joe Reynolds kicking five points.

The second 20 minutes was end-to-end, County eventually going in at the break 23-18 up and they extended that to 30-18 in the 48th minute when centre Ben Addison scored from 70 metres out after an interception.

That could have knocked the stuffing out of Currie, but they kept going and scored two further tries through Kerr and impressive No 8 Karl Main.

The Scotland under-18 cap was called in late on in Cairns’ absence and looks one for the future.

County too added two more tries through replacement Matt Lamb and No 8 Jamie Swanson, his second of the afternoon, in what was a streetwise showing.

Currie: G Horne; C Kerr, E Pollock, J Broadley, R Smith; J Reynolds, R Snedden; J Cox, D Cherry, A Hamilton, G Temple, E Mitchell, M Vernal, K Main, M Peacock. Subs used: I Miller, F Watt, G Carson, H Elms.

Stirling County: J Hope; G Lindsay, B Addison, B Archibald, R Hughes; S Edwards, C Turnbull; J Bhatti, A Moffat, C Hutton, R Leishman, M Larsen, S Swindall, J Swanson, S McDonald. Subs used: B Barsanti, R Kennedy, M Lamb.