BT Premiership BT Premiership Stirling County .......... 19 Currie...........................22 Stirling County’s losing run in the BT Premiership continued as they succumbed to an energetic Currie side who dominated the first half of an open match at Bridgehaugh.

County have now lost their last six league matches, four of which have been at home.

The Bridgehaugh side now face two vital away matches at Glasgow Hawks and Edinburgh Accies in the coming weeks, as they seek to avoid the relegation play-off place.

Currie started at pace and had the bulk of early possession and territory, and almost scored the opening try after a series of forward drives came to an end with the ball dropped by a visiting forward under the posts – a let off for County.

The incessant pressure eventually told, and Currie made the breakthrough with winger Chris Logan evading the County rearguard from 20 yards out to score a try to the left of the posts, converted by Joe Reynolds, giving the visitors a deserved 0-7 lead after 16 minutes.

County could not get hold of the ball, and Currie extended their lead to 0-12 on 21 minutes with an unconverted try from Malcolm Peacock, following a series of attacking phases down both flanks.

On 34 minutes, against the run of play, County turned the ball over 10 yards inside their own half, and centre Danny Gilmour took full advantage and sprinted 60 metres unchallenged to score a try under the posts.

The kick was converted by Jonny Hope to reduce the leeway to 7–12 at the interval.

Currie started the second-half where they left off before the break, forcing County to defend in their own 22.

The home side won a turn-over but dithered in clearing their lines and conceding a needless penalty for holding on to the ball on the ground.

Currie kicked to the right-corner, and from their line-out catch and drive, Robbie Nelson scored in the corner, converted by Reynolds, putting the visitors in the driving seat with a 7–19 lead after 45 minutes.

Colin Hutton came on for the hard-working Garry Mountford in the front row, before Currie conceded a penalty for infringing on their own try-line.

County kicked for the corner and secured their line-out to set up the platform for the home pack to drive over the line, with Jamie Bhatti touching down for an unconverted try, reducing the deficit to 12-19 in the visitors’ favour with 58 minutes on the clock.

County continued to press forward at every opportunity, but with five minutes remaining the home side conceded a penalty for coming into a ruck from the wrong-side, and Reynolds converted the kick at goal from 35 metres out to increase Currie’s lead to ten points.

County finished strongly, and secured what may prove to be a valuable losing bonus-point with a try in the last minute from hooker Cammy Fenton.

He touched-down under the posts following a succession of attacking phases across the visitors’ 22, before the controlled play exploited a gap in the tiring Currie rearguard.

Hope converted to bring the Bridgehaugh side to within three points of their opponents, but there was no time left to mount another attack, and Currie held out for a merited win.