NEWTON STEWART 17 STEWARTRY 14
The annual match to compete for the Sandy Irving Memorial Trophy took place at Bladnoch last Saturday..
Stewartry started the game off sending the ball down into the home 22 where Newton Stewart knocked on. Winning the scrum Newton Stewart kicked deep into the visitors 22. Loose defence saw the ball knocked on giving the home team a 5 metre scrum. Hooking their own put in, the ball came out the back of the scrum quickly.
Taking crash ball at speed the home full back McMillan went over for a try which he converted giving Newton Stewart a 7 point lead.
The home side went on the attack again and with good handling they were soon inside the Stewartry 22 and going for the try line. However the Stewartry’s full back Fingland was on hand to stop the attack 5 metres from the line. A knock on by Newton Stewart allowed Stewartry to clear their line.
In the twelfth minute from a scrum on the halfway line the home side picked up the ball. Running up the right wing the ball came back inside to James Wallace who touched down right of the posts. McMillan converted.
After a lineout on halfway Newton Stewart made ground up to the visitors 10 metre line but knocked on. At the scrum the ball came back to the home side who kicked it over the Stewartry defenders into their dead ball area. Once again Fingland managed to save another try giving the visitors a 22 drop out.
Midway through the first quarter the home team got a turnover on the Stewartry 22. The low kick forward was caught by John Kerr who charged forward up to halfway but he was stopped.
The visitors took the ball against the head in a scrum on the home 22. Sending the ball out wide to McCarney he jinked past two home defenders to get Stewartry’s first try. Mosey converted.
The restart kick went straight out. From the halfway line scrum Stewartry secured the ball sending it to left wing McCarney but the ball went forward 10 metres from the home line.
Newton Stewart were penalised for handling in the ruck and then for not being back 10 metres. Stewartry went for a 5 metre lineout but loose play allowed the home side to clear their line and get back to halfway.
Both sides had penalties before the break but nothing came of them. Half time score 14 – 7 to Newton Stewart.
The home team kicked off the second period. Going into a ruck Henderson took a knock to the head and was replaced by Broll. Five minutes later Middleton replaced John Kerr
For most of the third quarter the game went from end to end with neither team managing to score. On the hour Stewartry drove deep into the home 22 but were stopped short. Smith picked the ball out of the ruck and drove in for a try. Mosey took the conversion taking the score to 14 points each.
Into the last quarter both sides tried to put the pressure on with some good running rugby but it produced no tries.
With 4 minutes left Newton Stewart managed to get deep into Stewartry territory when the visitors were penalised for handling in the ruck. Russell who had come on as an injury replacement slotted the winning kick taking the final score to Newton Stewart 17 Stewartry 14.
Newton Stewart squad:- G McMillan, S McAllister, L Brawls, James Wallace, F Morton, J Muir, Robbie McCornick, I Matier, Martin Wallace, K Wright, M Adams, C Johnstone, Willam McCornick (captain) A Gaw, Mark McCornick, I Russell, R Fiskin, D Montgomerie, J McWhirter.
Stewartry squad:- J Fngland, S Carson, David Kerr, R Austin, T J McCarney, C Mosey, R Wallace, K Amos, D Burton, T Cannon (captain), L Henderson, K McMinn, H Sainsbury, M Smith, John Kerr, S Broll, R Middleton, I McMorrin, D Steele.
