Mixed fortunes for Stirling County sides as women celebrate final berth

It was a mixed weekend for Stirling County’s top men’s and women’s sides as they both wind down towards the end of their seasons.

For the women’s first XV, they finished off the final match of their Premiership season under the Bridgehaugh lights and the BBC Alba cameras with a home clash with bottom club Stewatry.

County turned on the style by running in 17 tries in a 107-0 romp, with Sky Phimister scoring four times, three tries each for Ceitidh Ainsworth and Fi Keys.

There were also braces for Heather Davis and Rachel Cox, with more scores from Sophie Murphy, Brogan Henderson and Paige Aitken-Robinson - the points were finished off with nine Ainsworth conversions and two more from Cox.

That win meant the women had a nervous wait for the match between leaders Corstorphine - who had already secured their spot in the final - and Watsonians at Myreside.

Watsonians got out to an early lead but Corstorphine came back to secure a 21-15 win which means that despite Watsonians having a game in hand next week to finish off, they cannot overtake County and move into the final.

County head coach Mark Ainsworth - who will now prepare his side for a trip to Union Park on December 14 for the final - said: “As the score suggests it was an emphatic victory against Stewartry under the lights on Friday night.

“I was pleased that we achieved our record score in very difficult conditions and was impressed with the way that the team continued to play to the structure that we practice week in week out and with the level of intensity that we will need in two weeks time against Cougars.

“It’s been a bit of a circuitous route to the final with some dazzling record -breaking displays and also some big disappointments. The aim at the start of