STEWARTRY 21pts ANNAN 14pts.
There was a full house for pre match hospitality for this keenly looked forward to Chisholm Cup game between holders Annan and Stewartry.
Stewartry kicked off in the dry overhead conditions but on a heavy surface after the overnight rain. an early exchange of a kicking game saw Stewartry stand off Craig Mosey gain forty metres to give Annan a line out in their 22. Annan cleared to Danny Burton who charged forward with David Kerr and Rory Porteous towards the Annan line. Annan again cleared to half way from where Stewartry attacked with TJ McCarney releasing Stevie McCulloch to run clear in for the opening try in only four minutes. Mosey added the conversion. From the restart Stewartry continued to press forward with David Kerr making a forty metre run. In nine minutes Kerr went right through the middle of the Annan defence for a second Stewartry try. Mosey added the conversion. 14-0. Kerr and John Fingland continued to kick high balls into the Annan 22. Porteous was next to charge the Annan line but the visitors cleared to half way where Stewartry won a penalty. The previous nights leaving party at Newton Stewart proved to much for constable David Kerr and he was replaced by his brother Andrew in only sixteen minutes.
Two minutes later the winger Blacks Scott Carson was stopped just short in the corner. Another Porteous charge was followed by a Danny Boyd grubber kick to the corner. Annan knocked on at the line out and Stewartry had a scrum five metres out. The Blacks scrummed Annan back over the line and scrum half Jamie Farquhar dived in to touch down for a third try. Mosey again added the conversion for Stewartry to lead 21-0 in twenty two minutes. Annan came more into the game in the second quarter. They stole a lineout on halfway but knocked on winning another line out they again knocked on. Annan then kicked a penalty to the corner only to lose the ball in the midfield after winning the lineout. Jason McKie put in a big tackle to stop a certain Annan score. Five minutes from half time Stewartry at last got back into the Annan 22. Half time 21-0.
Annan kicked off but TJ took the game back to the half way with Stewartry winning the first lineout of the half. Stewartry were again having to defend and Annan were over the line but the try was disallowed. Annan continued to press but knocked on at the Blacks line. In fifty one minutes Annan at last broke through to score at the posts and added the conversion. The next Annan attack was stopped by a John Fingland tackle but Annan were back at the Stewartry line this time denied by Danny Boyd. Annan added a second try just three minutes after their first and again it was close to the posts. The conversion was added. 21-14. Annan upped their game as Stewartry started to tire and Mosey missed a penalty kick to the right of the posts on the hour. The game continued to be played either side of the halfway line before Stewartry played through the middle with TJ, Amos, Fingland, Kerr and Henderson taking the game to five metres out but were penalised for not releasing.
Stewartry knocked on from a scrum giving Annan the chance to clear their lines. McCulloch stole an Annan penalty lineout after they had cleared their lines from the 22 to halfway. John Muir tried a break down the left touch line but was held. A final scrum deep in the annan half after a sixteen man brawl brought the game to an end 21-14 to Stewartry. A typical local derby games sees both clubs now having won the Chisholm Cup seven times each.
Stewartry Squad. D Kerr, J Fingland, TJ McCarney, Danny Boyd, S Carson, C Mosey, J Farquhar, M McCulloch, D Burton,
T Cannon (Captain), R Porteous, L Henderson, J McKie, A Lindsay, S McCulloch, I McMorran, A McMorran, K Amos, A Kerr, G Dunlop
J Muir. All replacements used.
This week Uddingston v Stewartry ko 2.00pm. Next home game 6th December v McLaren ko 2.00pm.
Hannay Tully Cup now 27th December Stewartry v Wigtownshire ko 2.00pm.
