Stirling close to completing remarkable turnaround

Stirling County need just two points from today's Premier B home tie with Peebles to secure Premier One rugby for next term.

If they do so it will complete a superb turnaround from last November when they were in the doldrums.

That month they lost out on a place in Premier A and then they threw away a 19-3 lead in their opening Premier B match to go down 23-22 to Aberdeen Grammar at Rubislaw. However, Eddie Pollock's men have bounced back with four wins on the trot to sit in top spot in the mini league with four places in Premier One for 2011/12 up for grabs.

Stirling County president Ray Mountford said: "The guys have done really well to knuckle down having lost that match against Aberdeen Grammar. It is just so important for the development of our young players that we stay in the top flight and with our seconds topping their league, the under-18s through to the youth cup final and the under-16s in their semi-final tomorrow the future is looking good.

"Now the first XV have to make sure they complete their job against a competent Peebles side."

Peebles travel to Bridgehaugh second bottom of Premier B and seemingly set to remain in Premier Two next term.

In the other matches this afternoon fourth-place Edinburgh Accies take on third-place Watsonians, second-place Gala travel to Selkirk and West host Aberdeen Grammar.

In the Raeburn Place clash Accies have young South African prop Senzo Ngubane making his debut, while Sam Atkin is given a place on the wing.

Watsonians are without Scotland Sevens man Andrew Skeen for the trip across Edinburgh. New man Tom Hart comes in to the centre and a host of others are back after being rested for last week's cup loss at Whitecraigs.