Stewartry Sirens win the BT Women’s Plate in style

Stewartry Sirens lifted the BT Women’s Plate for a second time following a close encounter with Stirling County at BT Murrayfield.Both sides came out hungry for the win having tasted BT Women’s Plate glory before with Stewartry winning the competition in 2015 and Stirling collecting the silverware in 2010.This was also their second clash this season, with Stewartry coming out on top in their maiden season in the BT Women’s Premier League.With vocal support on the sideline for the Plate decider, the match was a tense affair but Stewartry were able to keep up the pace for the full 80 minutes to lay claim to the silverware with five tries to three.RUN OF PLAYStirling were first to put points on the board with the backs creating a well worked try finished off by full-back Jess McGurk under the posts (5-0).Five minutes later, Stewartry answered back to equal. A quick tap and go by scrum-half Claire Manson caught the opposition off guard with Manson carving through the defence to cross the whitewash (5-5).Stirling enjoyed several patient phases featuring a stunning break from captain Rachel Shankland.However it was Stewartry who got the sideline support revved up with a turnover and slick passing out wide to wing Hannah Sherlock, who had the pace to add to the tally.  A successful conversion by stand-off Lisa Ritchie nudged Stewartry ahead with 15 minutes gone (5-12).Not to be left behind, Stirling continued to play with intent which resulted in a score a few minutes later via scrum-half Jodie Hutton. A try by centre Siobhan Cattigan, who also nailed a difficult conversion, at 35 minutes gave them a five- point lead as the clock wound down for the break (17-12).Just before the half-time whistle, Stewartry equalled the score as full-back Jenny Yates secured one last try before the break (17-17).HALF-TIME | Stirling County 17 – 17 Stewartry SirensWith all to play for in the second half, both sides continued to pile on the pressure but it was Stewartry who were able to finish off opportunities.At 50 minutes, the Stewartry stand-off and Player of the Match, Lisa Ritchie, added to her points tally after kicking her side’s only successful conversion in the first half with the first of two tries (17-22).She went on to score again ten minutes later followed by a successful conversion to put her side 12 points clear of Stirling (17-29)But the red and white stripes continued to fight and enjoyed some stunning breaks which went unfinished to allow Stewartry to claim the BT Women’s Plate for 2017.FULL-TIME | Stirling County 17 – 29 Stewartry Sirens Player of the Match: Lisa Ritchie (Stewartry Sirens))Referee: Kelly Mitchell Stirling County: 15. Jess McGurk 14. Lee Hannah 13. Rachel Shankland CAPTAIN 12. Siobhan Cattigan 11. Lara Flint 10. Lindsay Macnaughton 9. Jodie Hutton 1. Georgia Henderson 2. Tracy Scott 3. Eilidh McNab 4. Kerry Johnson 5. Diane Christie 6. Nikki McLeod 7. Heather Davis 8. Gemma Brown Subsitutes: 16. Dayle Park 17. Teresa Grobler 18. Jenny Menday 19. Amber Bax 20. n/a 21. Katie McIlwraith 22. Victoria GrayStewartry Sirens: 15. Jenny Yates, 14. Donna Burnett 13. Iona St Joseph 12. Chloe Johnstone 11. Bethan Cameron 10. Lisa Ritchie Claire Manson 1. Dawn Currie 2. Alana McWilliam 3. Shannon Nicholson 4. Clare Dooley 5. Tamsin Tyeson 6. Rachel Bragg 7. Sammy Durnan 8. Ali Henderson Subsitutes: 16. Joanne White 17. Lorna Tracey 18. Hannah Sloan 19. Hannah Sherlock 20. n/a 21. n/a