Sarah Murdoch has fond memories of the last time Stirling County played a top flight final at Bridgehaugh and the run of events that it started off – and she is keen to make more memories this time around.
In the 2022/23 campaign, the final was played in the January at her club’s home ground against Corstorphine Cougars and they won.
A few months later, in September 2023, Murdoch, the 32-year-old second-row now playing on the wing, got married to team mate Jodie Murdoch.
The good times continued on and off the pitch into 2023/24 when County travelled to Myreside and came from behind to defeat Watsonians in the final to defend their title.
That run of events is still fresh in Murdoch’s mind and, although they lost the final last year away to the Cougars, she and her team mates are very much looking forward to hosting Watsonians in Saturday’s Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership final (4.10pm, live on BBC ALBA).
“I’ve been involved in all of our recent finals and 2023 was a pretty special year for us,” Murdoch explained.
“We won the league for the first time in January, Jodie and I got married in September and then we won the league again in December so it was pretty decent year all round!
“And 2025/26 has been a really special season for me so far too. This is set to be my last season before hanging up the boots, so to finish my career with Stirling County and securing a home league final feels like a huge achievement.
“We still have the Sarah Beaney Cup to come after new year, but playing on home ground in such a big game as there is coming at the weekend in my signing-off season makes it even more meaningful. I’m proud of what the team has accomplished together and, personally, I’m just grateful to have contributed to getting us to this point.
“As a team, I think we can be really proud of what we’ve achieved so far this season. We’ve shown consistency, resilience and a real hunger to grow each week. Everyone has stepped up on and off the pitch and that’s what’s helped us win 13 regular season games out of 13 with bonus points and got us into a home final.
“It’s been a true team effort and we’re excited to give everything in this last game.
“The most pleasing thing has been seeing how everyone has stepped up, both individually and collectively. So many players have developed their skillsets and really pushed themselves this season. We’ve had people playing out of position, taking on new roles and just embracing whatever the team needed from them. That’s given us so much more depth and versatility throughout the squad.
“In a one-off game like a final, it’s really about doing everything we’ve already done and talked about all season. We don’t need to reinvent anything, we just trust our systems, trust each other and stick to the basics that have got us here. If we keep doing the simple things well and stay connected as a team, we’ll put ourselves in a great position.”
We hear often that rugby teams and clubs are like one big family, so what is it like to play in the same team as your wife?
“It is special, but to be honest, I don’t really know any different,” Murdoch stated.
“Rugby has pretty much been part of our relationship since day one. We met when I joined Stirling County, so Jodie’s been stuck with me ever since.
“We’ve got a good system worked out, I handle the glamorous jobs like cleaning the kit and keeping us fuelled and Jodie provides all the rugby brains… whether I ask for it or not!
“But, honestly, getting to share recent rugby successes and this season together has been brilliant.
“Living with the captain in the lead-up to a final is a whole different challenge, however. Let’s just say the ‘game face’ comes out early, the analysis starts taking over the living room and I know better than to touch the TV remote when she’s in ‘finals mode’ – It definitely keeps things interesting.”
Murdoch grew up on Isle of Bute and started playing rugby at the age of 25 when she was looking at getting back into sport and fitness again.
“I played football at university and went straight into full-time work after my studies so at that time I was keen be part of a team again. I had never played rugby before, but was persuaded by a friend to give rugby a go and, as they say, the rest is history,” the pub manager concluded.
Sarah Murdoch is pictured – thanks to ST Photography
From November 14 to December 14, GH Media will be featuring on all aspects of women’s rugby in Scotland including the exciting conclusion to the domestic Premiership, news on Scots playing down south and lots more during a busy month.