STEWARTRY RFC 10pts GARNOCK RFC 30pts.
The New Year usually starts with exciting firework displays but for the hardy crowd of Stewartry supporters this game fizzled out after only fifty minutes of rugby in 2018.
The first half failed to ignite for the Blacks but Garnock were rewarded as the first footers at Greenlaw with a penalty in front of the posts with only two minutes played. The ball toppled off the kicking tee but the sharp witted Garnock number nine picket it up and rocketed a drop goal over the bar 3-0 Garnock.
Minutes later Davidson made a cracking try saving tackle to stop Garnock going further ahead.
Milligan was first to spark for Stewartry with a kick into the Garnock 22. Garnock were soon back on the attack with a number of explosive attacks into the Stewartry half. At scrum half Picken was making the best of the scraps he was claiming with Hogg and Cannon were like roman candles banging through the Garnock defence. Austin was like a jumping jack as he made it to five metres from the Garnock try line.
Garnock finished the first half as they started with another penalty rocketed over the bar. Half time 6-0 Garnock.
Stewartry found some ignitors at the half time chat and Mosey converted a penalty within two minutes.
Within five minutes Garnock had turned Stewartry like a Catherine wheel and fired the ball out to their backs who broke the Stewartry duds defence for the first try of the game .The conversion failed Garnocks first misfire of the game. Two minutes later Garnock performed a similar scrummage performance ending with a second try this time between the posts. The conversion rocketed over 18-3 Garnock. The fireworks were not over for Stewartry as Garnock set of a barrage of attacks to score two more tries to gain the bonus point. A fourth rocket kick gave them one more conversion 30-3 to the visitors.
It took Stewartry to the last play of the game to find some of their own fireworks but too little too late to cheer up their enthusiastic support. Hogg banged his way over after a number of phases on the Garnock line. Mosey sent the final rocket over for the conversion. Final score Garnock 30 Stewartry 10 for Ayrshire team to consolidate second place in the league.
A third defeat in a row over the festive period leaves Stewartry mid table on 22pts with the visitors this week Saturday 13th January kick off 2.00pm Kilmarnock who are in fourth place on 35pts after losing 5-50 to East Kilbride last week.
