Callum Kerr @ The Hive Stadium
The Stirling Wolves picked up their first FOSROC Super Series Championship this afternoon with a 19-29 victory over the Ayrshire Bulls at Hive Stadium.
It was the Super Series Championship Final’s third instalment and the Bulls’ appearance meant they’d featured in all of them. With a win and a loss in the previous two, victory would make them the most decorated team in the league with two Championships and one Sprint trophy.
(Photo – George McMillan)
Stirling Wolves didn’t care much for that storyline, with Ed Hasdell scorching through for a try under two minutes. Marcus Holden’s conversion made it a 0-7 hole for Pat MacArthur’s men right off the bat.
Playing in their first final hadn’t phased them and they stretched the lead after 20 minutes. Following a crafty break from hooker Gregor Hiddleston the Wolves spun wide for seasoned vet Glenn Bryce to breeze clear.
It was a third on the half-hour mark. From a counter-attack a long grubber into the try area was collect by the stampeding Ross McKnight. Holden’s conversion slid wide.
The Bulls’ first came just after. A penalty from the restart put them in touching distance for Bobby Beattie to wriggle between two defenders and score. Brad Roderick-Evans made it 7-17 from the tee.
Half-time: Ayrshire Bulls 7-17 Stirling Wolves
The Bulls needed to start with intention and they did just that. After a brief period of exchanging kicks Pat MacArtur’s men made in-roads to the Wolves 22. After numerous carries in close quarters Ed Bloodworth muscled his way over. Roderick-Evans made it 17-14 and suddenly it was game on.
The jubilation was short lived. A stray pass moments later was snatched up by Wolves’ McKnight who ran home from 70 yards.
The Bulls responded once more. It looked like Thomas Glendinning had lost control of the ball but the winger had the control to put it onto his foot, hacking forward for Ollie Horne to tidy up over the line.
Glenn Bryce had no intention of keeping it a five-score game. The Bulls’ had a long period of possession but didn’t manage to exit. Once the Wolves got the ball they had better fortunes. A line-out maul got them to the line before a pass launched out wide to Bryce put him over for his second and taking the win out of reach for the Bulls.
Full-time: Ayrshire Bulls 19–29 Stirling County
Stirling Wolves’ hooker Gregor Hiddleston was named FOSROC Player of the Match.