Stirling County aiming for 11th Youth title

STIRLING County return to the international pitch at Murrayfield seeking a successful defence of their Youth Cup title in tonight’s final against Gala Wanderers, victory in which would give County an 11th success in this showcase event for under-18 rugby.

Last year the Bridgehaugh team delivered a crushing defeat to Selkirk YC but that was achieved with an exceptional side that, as well as a clutch of Scotland under-17 and under-18 players, sported two from the Scotland under-20 side.

This season Stirling are expected to be mere mortals, as the club’s youth development officer and coach, Millan Browne, confirmed.

“This is a younger side this year and not full of superstars,” said the former Scotland A prop, adding : “It’s a real team. They work hard for each other. For me, I’ll be happy if they play to their potential. Clearly the boys want to win and if they can get their performance right then they can win.”

Stirling have the advantage that a number of their side played in last year’s final, among them scrum-half Kieran Woods, hooker Stuart Govan, No 8 Gregor Anderson and talented centre Archie Russell, who performed well for the Scotland under-18 team in the FIRA-AER tournament in Grenoble last month.

Their disadvantage might be a shortage of meaningful games this season. “The weather forced cancellations this season but the other reason is that most of our matches in the Caledonia league were too one-sided” stated Browne.

As Caledonia champions Stirling went into the Youth Cup as a seeded side, sweeping past Hamilton with a 57-5 win at Bridgehaugh in the first round before having to fight hard to overcome Highland by 18-10 in Inverness. Then in the semi-final at Bridgehaugh Stirling were again pushed all the way, this time by Ayr, but emerged winners by 30-24 in the final.

Stirling’s opponents, Gala Wanderers, come to Murrayfield on the back of a good set of performances in the yet-to-be-resolved Borders Semi Junior League and tonight will be seeking to convert that form into a fourth under-18 Youth Cup title.

Gala Wanderers last won the title seven years ago and many of that side have graduated to the senior ranks at Netherdale. Their coach, Shane Hawkins who played in Wanderers’ 1990 winning Youth Cup side, believes that against this year’s Stirling side, Gala have a good chance. “Last year’s County team was the best I’ve seen at under-18 level. We played them in the semi-final last year at Bridgehaugh and up to half-time gave them a good game.

“Stirling have a huge catchment area and can pick from at least seven high schools, whereas we’ve only got the one source and that’s Gala Academy,” said Hawkins, who nevertheless reckons his side will be strong enough to match County.

“We’ve worked hard of late and have played in four sevens tournaments as well as playing Peebles in a 15s game,” stated Hawkins, whose side contains three Scotland under-17 trialists in stand-off Ruairi Howarth, No 8 Josh Irvine, who is also a Scotland under-17 cricketer, and prop Gary Robertson, the younger brother of the Gala wing, Craig Robertson.

Wanderers have experience at scrum-half in the shape of Gavin Hamilton and pace at full back in Jamie Parker, who hails from Hawick. Other notable performers for Gala Wanderers are flankers Liam Scott and Harry Brown and centres Keith Young and Dan Nicholson.

Gala reached the final with a semi-final win over Melrose Wasps by 36-21, having had a walkover against Boroughmuir in the quarters and a 26-15 away win against Dumfries in the first round.