Stirling County 34 - 3 Edinburgh Accies

County’s thumping win and its attendant bonus point could be crucial to their hopes of retaining a top-eight position at the mid-season split, a fact acknowledged by head coach Eddie Pollock.

“It’s massive for us to get the bonus point. We’ve got four games left now, and we know what we have to go and do.”

The win extends Stirling’s unbeaten run to four games, and they never looked likely to have any other outcome.

An early try for Bengy Barsanti started the scoreboard ticking over, Brian Archibald then adding a penalty. Graham Lindsay was next to cross for County, Archibald converting, before Ruairidh Bonner cut the deficit.

Thereafter it was all County. Archibald added a touchdown of his own that he also goalled, before Barsanti barged over for his second and the bonus point.

Struan Robertson rubbed salt into Accies’ wounds with the try of the match from a sweeping move, Archibald again contributing the extra points.

Scorers: Stirling County – Tries: Barsanti (2), Lindsay, Archibald, Robertson. Cons: Archibald (3). Pen: Archibald. Edinburgh Accies – Pen: Bonner.

Stirling County: P Murchie; G Lindsay, D Gilmour, B Archibald, R Aitken; S Edwards, S Kennedy; M MacDonald, A Moffat, G Mountford, C Deacons, R McAlpine, T Clarke, B Barsanti, R Boswell. Subs: R Kennedy, S Raby, S Robertson, S Swindall, D Maw.

Edinburgh Accies: J Sole; M Coupar, R Browne, I Berthinussen, J Pecqueur; R Bonner, A Black; D MacLeod, M Liness, D Morrison, G Campbell, A Graham, D Teague, T Drennan, J Taggart. Sub: J Hitchins, C Murray, N Pike, H Watson, S Evans.

Referee: P Allan