Stirling County 24 - 18 Gala: Stirling all but end Gala’s title dream

There is a palpable – and wholly justified – air of satisfaction about Bridgehaugh at present, and it was considerably enhanced by Saturday’s win over Gala, as coach Graeme Young acknowledged.

“I’m pleased with the result and the way we closed out the match. It was a hard game and there were a lot of mistakes from both sides – and we let in a try late on – but to close out as we did was excellent,” he said.

“The team are growing week on week. I was pleased with the forwards and Alex Moffat [captain and hooker] is still grinding away with a try every week at the moment. ”

Indeed, Moffat was again on the scoresheet with a trademark touchdown after half-time when he forced his way over the line, Brian Archibald converting. Graham Lindsay and Danny Gilmour had earlier breached Gala’s defence as County led all the way through this compelling encounter. A brace of tries from Craig Robertson and one in injury time from Lee Millar, were not enough to trouble an excellent Stirling outfit.

Gala coach George Graham was sanguine enough to recognise that the better team won, and that the defeat makes their championship ambitions difficult to sustain. “We were well beaten,” he said. “It was a very disappointing Gala performance and it pretty much ends our title bid. All we can realistically play for now is to finish in the top three and a place in the British and Irish Cup.”