The Youth Club travelled to Murrayfield last Saturday to play in the final of the Under 18 National Youth Cup. The original team selection during the week had to be adjusted before the game as skipper Callum McColm , had come into the match with a shoulder injury that forced Coach Cameron Cochrane to play him at full back.
This changed the balance of the backs bringing Josh Welsh into stand off from centre and adjusting the wingers.
The Youth Club started brightly against a Stirling team that had a massive group of forwards with the bulk of them having Scotland age grade experience. Straight from the kick off Stirling worked their way into the Youth Club half and in within 3 minutes went ahead when their centre Matthew Lamb was given too much space out wide and touched down in the corner to make it 5 points to Nil. The Youth Club fought back and after 7 minutes clawed their way with a well struck penalty from Josh Welsh. The Youth Club were finding it tough going against a well organised Stirling team but after 11 minutes had a chance to go ahead when awarded another penalty but this time Welsh’s kick drifted narrowly wide. For the next 10 minutes the Youth Club managed to hold their own and looked dangerous when they managed to get the ball and exciting move involving Callum McColm, Allan Smith and Callum McEwan came to a halt against a solid defence. After 20 minutes Stirling were awarded a penalty and from the lineout despite some courageous defending by the Youth Club they were unable to stop the giant Scotland lock Adam Sinclair and stand off Jack Urquhart converting. This knocked the Youth Club back and 2 minutes later Stirling centre Lamb powered his way through some desperate Youth Club defending. It was now 17 points to 3 but the Youth Club dragged themselves back into the game even though both scrums and lineouts were under extreme pressure and centre Allan Smith showed some of his football skills before picking up the ball and evaded a number of Stirling tackles to sprint near the posts to touch down, with Welsh converting to make it 17 points to 10. Stirling worked their way well into the Youth Club 22 and McColm carried the ball over for a 5 metre scrum but was injured in the process and took no further part in the game and was replaced by Thomas Duncan. After a few minutes delay from the resulting scrum the Stirling & Scotland No 8 plunged over to touch down, Urquhart converting. Just on half time Wesh made the score a bit more respectable with a well struck penalty. Half time 24 – 13.
The second half was a bit scrappy with the Youth Club trying their hardest to break through the well organised strong Stirling defence and managed to stay in the Stirling half for 10 to 15 minutes with Harry Aynsley and Allan Smith trying their hardest to find a way through. Props Michael Waldron and Fraser Irvine were doing a power of work along with the rest of the Youth Club forwards. The back row of Jamie Haughey, Ross Purves were tackling well against the experienced Stirling back rowers. Both teams were guilty of making mistakes. It however took Stirling until the 56th minute to increase their lead against a tiring Selkirk team who had played valiantly throughout. It was from a lost ball in a scrum that let in Stirling stand off Urquhart to touch down. The Youth Club made a number of substitutions to give them all an experience of playing at the National Stadium as did Stirling. The constant pounding by Stirling had taken its toll on the Youth Club who had defended doggedly throughout the second half but could not hold off a further two tries which came from flankers Chris Arnold on 67 minutes and Shaun MacDonald on the full time whistle with one conversion fro Urquhart to make the final score 41 points to 13.
Considering the size of Selkirk compared with the Stirling catchment area the Youth Club although disappointed can be proud with their performance against a formidable Stirling County team.

Report George Lyall

Other reports on the final
http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby/Stirling-add-to-stash-of.6764508.jp

http://www.scottishrugby.org/content/view/1882/2/

http://www.stirlingcounty-rfc.co.uk/go/news/news.aspx

Photo gallery
http://www.grantkinghornpics.co.uk/portfolio177990.html

http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby/Stirling-County-U18-41-.6764974.jp