96-0 loss sees Jed-Forest slip a point closer to foot of rugby’s Arnold Clark National League Division 1
Jed-Forest have slipped a point closer to the bottom of rugby’s Arnold Clark National League Division 1 after a 96-0 battering away to table-toppers Stirling County on Saturday, but with seven points separating them from basement side Gordonians and 15 left to play for, avoiding a second demotion in three years is still in their own hands.
Taking a last-gasp four-try bonus point out of their 14th defeat in 15 games so far this season, by 61-24 away to Musselburgh on Saturday, edged Gordonians a point closer to second-from-bottom Jed, potentially setting up the two sides’ season-ending meeting at Aberdeen’s Countesswells playing fields on Saturday, March 21, as a relegation decider, depending on their relative fortunes in the interim.
The Borderers’ run-in prior to that trip north consists of a derby at home to Gala at Jedburgh’s Riverside Park this coming Saturday and a visit from fifth-placed Musselburgh on Saturday, February 28, both 3pm kick-offs.
Gordonians meanwhile are at home to seventh-placed Biggar this Saturday and away to Gala on the 28th, with kick-offs at 2pm and 3pm respectively.
Gala, though not yet mathematically safe, took another step in that direction with a 31-28 win at home to sixth-placed Boroughmuir at the weekend, lifting them up one place in the table to eighth, on 24 points from 15 fixtures.
Their tries, three of them converted by fly-half Hamish Seggie, were scored by loosehead prop Gavin Fisher, right-winger Ben Gill, lock Glenn McCrum and replacements Cameron Brydon and Rory Wilson.
Jed No 8 and captain Garry Young is hoping for a reaction from his team to their near-three-figure drubbing by Stirling, following on from a 104-24 defeat in October’s reverse fixture, teling Borders Rugby TV: “We’ll take that on a chin and we go into a massive game against Gala next weekend.
“We’re into our last three games and this is our time to try and knuckle down and set our sights forward on those last few matches.”
Maroons No 1 Fisher was happier with his side’s showing at the weekend, saying: “It was a fast-paced game, especially in the first half. We knew what Boroughmuir would bring – they’re a ball-moving team and they’re a good team as well.
“We stuck in really well. We just dug in and we got back on top.
“Now, as a team, we’re on an absolute up. We’ve got the heart needed to go out and win games.”