Stewartry Sirens put in a spirited challenge but found the going against premier side Stirling County too tough.
Their Sarah Beaney Cup visit to Bridgehaugh started well enough with some strong, purposeful running at the home defence.
And within three minutes they were rewarded with a penalty but the kick slid wide of the uprights.
For the next 25 minutes both teams were evenly matched with the Sirens’ defence holding strong.
Then full back Jenny Yates was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on, a dubious decision given she was facing her own goal posts at the time.
Stirling took advantage a couple of minutes later when their centre broke the defensive line to make it 5-0.
However, it had the effect of spurring the 14 Sirens on. They started to move the ball about and it was shipped wide to Hannah Sainsbury who managed to muscle her way over the line to level the score 5-5.
But on the stroke of half time County breached the battling Sirens defence to score out wide making it 10-5.
County followed that up with a quick try plus the extras immediately after the restart, 17-5,
After that the Sirens settled but a kick through from the opposition 10 saw the ball knocked back over the Sirens try line and touched down by County to take the score to 22-5.
The Sirens didn’t let that stop them from battling for every ball though with some brilliant steals from Kerys Milven and big tackles from Jade Stewart.
The next try saw County race through to take the score to 29-10.
The Sirens were not for giving up and the ball found its way to Phaedra Snailham who outpaced the County defence but was brought down by a last ditch tackle. However, some quick thinking from the winger saw her release the ball, regather and touch down.
County were reduced to 14 with a yellow card for a high tackle but it did not stop them from managing to score again with the Sirens’ defence tiring after putting in a huge shift.
That was to be the final score of the game with it ending 36-10.
The Sirens now have a well deserved weekend off before the next round game against West of Scotland on Sunday, March 27.
