Edinburgh University Rugby Club began their SUSA campaign with a hard fought win away to Stirling.

The Capital side started the game promisingly, but it was Stirling who took the first points of the game after a soft penalty was given away under the posts.

However, this did not deter a young and exuberant Edinburgh XV, who were rewarded for their free-flowing, expansive play through flanker Jamie Clegg’s try, on the quarter hour mark. The score remained 3-5 to the away side as McGonigle was unable to convert from wide range.
After half an hour, winger Mathew Bennett landed a speculative drop goal attempt, before Stirling replied with a second successful penalty.

Bennett then added to his personal points tally for the day by grabbing a try minutes from the break, which McGonigle duly converted, taking the half-time score to 6-21 with Edinburgh comfortably in the driving seat.

The pressure to claim a valuable away victory was clearly playing on the minds of the Edinburgh players after the break, with frustration arising as a result of a number of penalties being dubiously awarded to the home side.

Stirling took full advantage of the conditions by grabbing the first of their duo of seven point second half tries after just 45 minutes.

An impressive individual try by full-back, Michael Johnson and the subsequent McGonigle conversion settled a frantic Edinburgh side; though, it was not enough to prevent a Stirling resurgence after the home team scored a third penalty and a try in the final ten minutes.

Despite a valiant effort it was not to be Stirling’s day and the Edinburgh side played out the game in style as fly half Ian McGhee calmly slotted a drop goal to secure victory for the visitors.