Dundee HSFP 34 - 37 Stirling County: Stirling flex their muscles

STIRLING COUNTY coach Eddie Pollock proclaimed in the build-up to the season that his task was to help his players prove they are good enough to reach - and remain in - the upper echelons of the game.

On the evidence of events at Mayfield, he is already well on the way to achieving his aim. In terms of endeavour, guts and determination, County were hugely impressive and ultimately deserved their morale-boosting success.

A draw had looked on the cards as the contest drifted into its dying seconds, but up strode stand-off Stuart Edwards to bang over the clinching penalty. Matt Smith had notched a try-treble for the home troops, but his joy was short-lived.

The other High scores went to Neil Dymock and Andy Linton, while James Fleming slotted three conversions and a penalty.

The County counters were supplied by Colin Eadie, Sean Kennedy, Gordon McRorie, Graham Lindsay and Mike Doneghan. However, it was Edwards who stole the show with a total of five goals, including the one that mattered.

Scorers: Dundee: Tries: Smith 3, N Dymock, Linton. Con: Fleming 3. Pen: Fleming. Stirling: Tries: Eadie, Kennedy, McRorie, Lindsay, Doneghan. Cons: Edwards 3. Pen: Edwards 2.

Dundee HSFP: P J Fleming; M Smith, H Duthie, F Clark, A Hay; A O'Connor, A Dymock; N Dymock, S Forrest, A Brown, R Hawkins (capt), A Linton, C Cumming, R Cessford, D Levison. Subs: C Kerr, D Russell, R Milne, R Gray, B Jones..

Stirling County: R McGowan; G Lindsay, B Addison, D Gilmour, M Doneghan; S Edwards, S Kennedy; M Hunter, A Moffat (capt), G Mountford, C Deacons, G Gilchrist, T Edwards, S Robertson, C Eadie. Subs: A Simpson, D Morrison, B Barsanti, G McRorie, J Hope.