Rugby Union: Stirling stay up

Stirling County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Boroughmuir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

STIRLING COUNTY rounded off an enigmatic season in which they were the only team to defeat the champions, Melrose, by clinching the win over Boroughmuir which enabled them to avoid relegation.

Dropping down with Dundee High are Glasgow High/Kelvinside whose fate was sealed by a penalty goal eight minutes from the end of their 18-20 defeat at Currie.

Grievances over the way key matches were required to be fulfilled while leading players were on a three- week Scottish Sevens tour look sure to be aired at the Scottish Rugby Union's annual meeting in June.

Selkirk, who narrow avoided the drop despite the fact that some of their main rivals were able to take advantage against under-strength opposition, have protested.

John Rutherford, Selkirk's coach, estimated that relegation would have cost the club pounds 20,000 in lost sponsorships and the same would apply to Stirling.

'We have come too far to start going backwards now. Beating Melrose was an indication of our capabilities and the performance against Boroughmuir was the best since then,' Kenny Logan, Stirling's only international, said.

Some are arguing, however, that Stirling's task was made easier by the absence of the Boroughmuir pair, Murry Walker and Derek Stark, at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Stirling County: Tries K McKenzie, M McKenzie, Blues, Logan. Conversions M McKenzie 2. Penalties Logan, M McKenzie. Drop goal M McKenzie. Boroughmuir: Penalties Reekie 2.

Stirling County: K Logan; A Turner, J Wright, I Jardine, R Mailer; M McKenzie, A Blues; J Gibson, K McKenzie (capt), B Robertson, M Norval, S Hamilton, D McVey, J Brough (C Brown, 60), D Elliot.

Boroughmuir: D McCrae; C Gillan, C Finnie, S Lineen, R Smith; B Reekie, M Hall (capt); G Wilson, B Brown, P Wright, P Jennings, G Torrance, A Nisbett, D Burns (L Graham, 70), D Wharton.

Referee: K Harrower (Forrester FP).