ALEX BLAIR was the star man for Edinburgh Accies as the Raeburn Place men took all five points from a hard-fought 29-25 Scottish Hydro Electric rugby premiership victory over Stirling County.
The teenage brother of Edinburgh pros Mike and David
bagged one of his side's four tries – the others came courtesy of Dan Teague, Lewis Niven and Nathan Pike – and added three conversions and a penalty.
Accies led 17-10 at the break but County battled back and led going into the final minute of a tense encounter before Accies grabbed the win in spectacular style when Pike crashed over for the vital score.
In Division Two, only three teams have two wins from two starts. Aberdeen Grammar have a full ten-point haul leaving them one clear of Stewart's Melville and Haddington, who both posted handy successes in potentially troublesome fixtures.
Stew/Mel were on the road to face Gala, seeking to build on an impressive opening day win over another Borders side, Peebles. With an unchanged line up, the Inverleith men found the going tough against the elements in the first half and trailed 12-0 at the break. However, with the wind at their backs in the second period, Stew/Mel raised the pace and, with their heavier pack dominating up front, had tries by Stuart Clark, Alex Edmonstone and Phil Hendry, with Sam Hendry converting Edmonstone's score as they squeezed home 17-15.
It was equally tight – and just as windy – at Neilson Park, where Haddington hosted Dundee High, a side they had never beaten on league duty. The visitors led 7-6 at the break with Haddington's points coming through a Neil Watt drop goal and a penalty from Greig Taylor but a third successful kick of the match, this time a penalty by Jamie Peters, proved enough to see Eddie Pollock's men home 9-7.
However, while the Scarlets enjoy life at the top of the table, Musselburgh are still seeking their first points after a youthful side travelled to face Aberdeen Grammar and were on the wrong end of 52-0 drubbing. 'Burgh will have a chance to open their account on Saturday when fellow strugglers Hamilton visit Stoneyhill.
It is already looking likely that Livingston will face a battle to survive in Division Three after losing 32-5 away to Ardrossan Accies.
The Almond Park men have the dubious distinction of becoming the first side in the three Premiership divisions to concede more than 100 points.
The full article contains 432 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
