On Saturday 27thth of January 2018 Mascot for the day Ryan Hind led the teams out onto pitch two at Greenlaw, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway as once again pitch one was under water after the heavy rain and recent snow.
STEWARTRY 11pts ANNAN 15pts.
Annan had won the earlier BT West league One game at Annan 24-14 in what was also the first leg of the Chisholm cup with this the second leg.
The strong cross wind was to prove a big factor in the way the game was played causing numerous mistakes in handling and kicking but not in numerous wrong choices being taken.
Stewartry started the strongest with a try from McCarney in eight minutes in the corner. The conversion was missed 5-0 Stewartry. Craig Mosey added a penalty after fourteen minutes 8-0 as Stewartry had their best spell. Stewartry backs Austin, McCarney Muir and Mosey won a penalty which was kicked to touch in the corner. Play continued near the Annan line but too many handling mistakes and some stout Annan defence kept Stewartry from adding to their total.
Annan came more into the game as halftime approached and a kind bounce to the Annan forwards from a neat chip ahead saw them touch down.
The conversion closed the gap to one point at half time. Stewartry led 8-7.
Stewartry kicked off the second half straight into touch. from the scrum advantage Annan attacked deep into the Stewartry half before Porteous and Mosey the danger and the Blacks taking two scrums against the head. Stewartry put pressure on the Annan defence but they turned defence into attack, setting up a number of phases in the Stewartry 22 which led to a second try. The conversion missed but Annan were 12-8 ahead with fifteen minutes left. Muir broke from deep in the Stewartry half taking play into the Annan half winning a penalty which Craig Mosey converted.
12-11 Annan.
With only a point between the teams the next score could be the winner play went back and forth before a forwards stramash saw the Annan
number 18 yellow carded. With four minutes left it was Annan who got the chance to clinch the league points and Chisholm Cup McCann again killing Stewartry hopes with a penalty kick 15-11. Annan played out the last few minutes keeping the ball tight in the forwards.
Annan have now won the Chisholm Cup nine times to Stewartry’s seven. Stewartry are one point above Annan in the BT West One league but Annan still have thirteen games to play Stewartry while Stewartry have only seven.
The Wales v Scotland will be on this Saturday kick off 2.15pm in the Greenlaw clubhouse with a Pie and a Pint on offer £5. France v Ireland follows at 4.45pm
Stewartry’s next home game is against Irvine in the BT West One on February 10th kickoff 3.00pm.
