The 2022/23 rugby season is at last done and dusted here in Dumfries & Galloway after an emotional few weeks for Stewartry brought the curtain down once and for all.
On the 6th of May, Sandy Currie and Davie Borland’s Stewartry made the trip east to BT
Murrayfield for their National Shield Final against East Kilbride. You would have to go back to 2002 for the last time the Greenlaw side played in such a game, one they eventually lost to Kirkcaldy on Scotland’s biggest stage.
This time, however, it was to be different. Try doubles from both Fraser Forsyth and Michael
Yates secured the Blacks a 22-15 win, despite finishing the game with just 14 men on the park.
21 years of heartache finally put to rest for all involved at Stewartry RFC.
There was no rest for the weary, though, as the very next weekend, on May 13th, Stewartry had a chance to put a cherry on top of a brilliant season in their promotion play-off matchup with Aberdeenshire’s Ellon RFC.
The two sides met in North Glasgow, at the West of Scotland ground, in the glorious sunshine to battle it out for a place in next season’s National League 4. The contest was tight throughout, with both sides trading blows, but an inspired hattrick from winger Scott Milligan, along with a high-pressure penalty kick slotted by captain John Picken, gave Stewartry the win, 30-24. Special mention must go to prop forward Mick McCulloch, who started in every single game of what was a truly historic Stewartry season.
2023/24 is bound to be an exciting one at Greenlaw, with national domestic rugby and a national cup run to come.
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