STRATHENDRICK 38 STEWARTRY 18
Stewartry’s second last away game was at Fintry to play Strathendrick in the BT West League Division Two.
In very windy but dry conditions Strathendrick started the game off into the wind but straight away they gave away a penalty for offside on the halfway line. The kick gave Stewartry a lineout. Catching the ball the Blacks pushed forward into the home 22 but knocked on.
At the scrum 15 metres from the Strathendrick line Stewartry spoiled to take the ball but the home pack managed a turnover to send the ball down field.
Muir caught the clearing kick and broke up the left wing into the home 22 but he was stopped. Home players went offside again allowing Mosey to take 3 penalty points.
After the restart it was the Blacks who were offside giving Strathendrick a penalty kick and lineout 10 metres from the Stewartry try line. The home pack caught the ball and pushed the Blacks back to touch down for a converted try to give them a 4 point lead.
Chasing the restart ball Strathendrick went offside again on the halfway line. Stewartry took a quick short kick passing the ball out to Muir. He attacked up the right wing but was pushed into touch on the home 22.
The Blacks forwards stole the ball at the lineout and attacked up the middle. Once more Strathendrick were offside in front of their posts. Mosey’s kick reduced the gap to 1 point with 15 minutes gone.
Stealing another lineout ball 10 metres from the Strathendrick line Stewartry were penalised for not releasing. The home team made 40 metres with the penalty sending the ball up the right side of the field. Following up Strathendrick got a turnover giving them an opening to go in for a second converted try.
Another restart and home players were offside again giving the Blacks a lineout on halfway. The home pack managed a turnover but were penalised for not rolling away giving Stewartry a lineout on the Strathendrick 22. J P Thomson replaced Cunningham.5 minutes before the interval.
Stewartry went into a ruck from the side giving away a penalty. This gave the home team a lineout on the Blacks 22 just on the stroke of half time with the home side leading 21 – 6.
In the third minute of the second period Strathendrick got a lineout on the Stewartry 10 metre line. They secured clean ball, sent it out wide along the back line and went in for a converted try.
Chasing the restart kick Strathendrick got a turnover and went up the middle but a pass was forward. In the scrum the Blacks took possession to get up to the home 22 but went into touch.
After the lineout Stewartry were penalised for tackling a home player off the ball only 10 metres from their own line. The home side opted for a scrum, healed the ball putting it out wide to their left wing but it went loose.
Muir was on hand to kick back up field. He chased up his kick, picked up and with ball in hand swerved past home defenders and went in to touch down under the posts. Mosey’s conversion added another 2 points.
Kerr was replaced by Murray Henderson 15 minutes into the second half. Into the last quarter at a scrum on halfway the home pack took the ball against the head and charged up the middle. But Stewartry players crossed on their own 22. Strathendrick took another 3 points from the penalty.
Stewartry lost possession after the restart allowing the home frowards to charge up the left wing. Loose defence let them in for a bonus point try which was converted.
Ten Minutes from time Strathendrick were penalised for going in from the side on their own 22. Stewartry took a quick tap penalty and drove forward to the home try line but they were stopped 5 metres out.
Again home players went in from the side. Taking another short penalty Stewartry pressed for the line but couldn’t get over. Strathendrick managed a turnover punting the ball back to halfway but they gave away another penalty. This got the Blacks back into the home 22.
Picking up from a ruck Porteous drove for the goal line but was stopped a metre out and penalised for not releasing. allowing Strathendrick to clear their lines.
In the remaining time both teams gave away penalties. Stewartry got one to give them a lineout 10 metres form the home try line. The Blacks took clean ball to put J P Thomson in for a late try. The conversion missed giving Strathendrick a 38 – 18 win.
Stewartry squad; J Fingland, D Thomson, J Muir, Danny Boyd, R Cunningham, C Mosey, J Farquhar, I McMorran, D Burton, T Cannon (captain), M McCulloch, R Porteous, S McCulloch, J Kerr, M Smith, J P Thomson, M Hamilton.
