Stewartry Sirens came up just short in their bid to make next season’s Tennent’s Women’s Premiership.
They made the long trip to Inverurie on Sunday to take on Garioch in the National One play-off.
And it was the home side who came out on top, their 19-10 win sealing promotion.
Sirens head coach, David Thomson, said: “I’m very proud of the team and all their efforts this season. It was always going to be a task to travel that distance and put up a fight, but that’s exactly what they did.
“It wasn’t the result that we wanted but it was a massive achievement in itself getting to the playoff.
“We continue, we build and we grow and look forward to what this fantastic group can achieve in the future.
“The team would like to thank the travelling supporters who made the journey up the road to cheer the girls on and also to everyone who has continued to come and watch each week. It is very much appreciated.”
The Sirens started playing into a strong head wind. The first 20 minutes saw both teams playing with strong running centres and forward packs looking to dominate the set piece.
The Sirens scrum, which has been the strongest in the league all season, were able to push the Garioch pack backwards. Some good work from the set piece saw the Sirens ship the ball out to Phaedra Snailham, who scored out wide. The conversion attempt was blown well wide of the post.
The game swung back and forth with Garioch getting the next try, breaking through the battling Sirens defensive line to score under the posts with the extras being added. The Sirens didn’t let this get them down and won a scrum five meters short of the try line. The classic No 8 pick up at the back saw Tamsin Tyeson crash over to put the Sirens back into the lead, with the wind again taking the ball past the posts.
That try put them 10-7 in front at half-time and they hoped to use the wind blowing from behind to their advantage in the second half.
But Garioch were able to get the next score, a break seeing them run a penalty which broke the line. A quick pass out to the winger saw her score to put the hosts 12-10 in front.
The Sirens fought and battled for every ball at the break down, the whole team working hard to find a break though to get back in front. Two Sirens needing treatment at the same time led to a lengthy injury delay and prompted a reshuffle when the game resumed.
There was the same effort from the new pack who were dominated and winning scrums, but the killer blow came 10 minutes from time. The Garioch winger somehow managed to stay the correct side of the touchline and broke free to score under the posts with the conversion added.
Sirens team: Ballentine, Currie, Dooley, Cannon, Hogg, Barnes, Durnan, Tyeson, Mason, Ritchie, Cain, Johnston, Snailham, Sainsbury, Yates.
Subs: Milven, Stewart, Ramsay, Paterson (all used).
