Stewartry rugby club have had an up and down 2015-16 season so far.
The Blacks lost the final of the Moffat Tens tournament to holders Dalkeith. Work and holiday commitments saw the non appearance at the Annan’s XV’s tournament before the seasons start with a first round at home in the BT Shield against Cumbernauld. Cumbernauld arrived with a basic fifteen players looking to go to uncontested scrums early on but advised by the referee that he would reduce them to fourteen men if they did. Stewartry went on to win by fifty nine points to nil with tries from J Muir (2) J Fisher(2) S Carson (2) J Fingland, S McCulloch and D Boyd one each. S Carson added seven conversions.
Next up was the local derby with Annan in the BT West Two League which doubled up for the Chisholm Cup held by Stewartry. Annan ran out narrow 27-25 winners in a typical local derby Annan led from start to finish with the boot of Annan’s Craig McCann proving to be the difference between the teams. Stewartry try scorers were J Muir, J Fingland, R Austin and C Mosey added two conversions and two penalties. Annan’s scorers were tries N Coupland(2) and W Gray. C Craig kicked three conversions and two penalties.
The third game of the season was the BT Shield quarter final away to West Division One team Glasgow Accies. Over the years Stewartry have played eight times in Glasgow and it has been eight defeats. Three minutes into the game it was 7-0 to the Accies and looking like another easy home win but Stewartry battled hard and defended their line Accies only crossing over for one more try just on half time 12-3 to the Accies. Second half Stewartry continued to defend their line but the speedy Accies backs managed three second half tries to win 29-3 and be the first team since 2012 to stop Stewartry scoring a try. C Mosey scored Stewartry’s penalty.
This week Stewartry are at home to newly promoted Cumnock in a BT West Two league match at Greenlaw with a 3.00pm kick off
