Stirling County 30 - 43 Currie: Seven tries for Currie as Stirling defence crumbles

CURRIE coach Ally Donaldson was delighted after watching his side step up the challenge to retain their Premiership crown. "Scoring seven tries at Bridgehaugh is something not many teams will do," he said. "We had a couple of guys making their debut today and a couple coming back from long-term injury, so it was pretty positive."

Disconsolate County chief Eddie Pollock said: "Our defence was absolutely terrible."

Currie's Alan Whittingham Mark Cairns, Doug Fife and Ross Weston all scored tries before the interval. County's efforts were rewarded by a score for lock Grant Gilchrist, converted by Brian Archibald, who also scored a penalty. He clipped over two penalties after the restart. But Currie replied with tries for Stu Simonsen, Scott and Johnny Smith, with Hayen Abercrombie converting one. Gilchrist and Ross Aitken scored for County.

Scorers: Stirling: Try: Gilchrist (2). Con: Archibald (3). Pen: Archibald 3 Currie: Tries: Whittingham, Cairns, Fife, Weston, Simonsen, Scott, Smith. Cons: Scott (3), Abercrombie.

Stirling County: R McGowan; G Lindsay, B Addison, B Archibald, M Doneghan; J Hope, G Calder; M McDonald, A Moffat, C Black, T Edwards. G Gilchrist, C Eadie, N Bersanti, T Clarke. Subs: G Mountford, A Simpson, C Deacons, R Boswell, R Aitken.

Currie: M Scott; A Whittingham, J Johnston, A McMahon, D Fife; A Binikos, R Sneddon; R Merrilees, F Scott, A Hamilton, R Wilson, A Best, M Cairns, R Weston, M Entwhistle. Subs: S Simonsen, N Scobbie, J Smith, D Pech, H Abercrombie.

Referee: A Campbell.