Revenge was on the cards for Stewartry after losing to Irvine in the first round of the Tennents West Region Shield game back in August by one point 29-30 to last minute score to the Ayrshire team.
STEWARTRY 60pts IRVINE 22pts.
The sun was shining Stewartry had acquired the use of two lucky mascots Liam Bourhill and Leo Green to help the cause and it worked giving the Ladies Day in the clubhouse an extra swing after the game.
In the end Stewartry scored an impressive ten tries to Irvines bonus point four tries,
The first quarter of the game was a fairly tight affair with the big Irvine pack out scrumming the lighter Stewartry eight but Stewartry having the advantage in the backs with some superb quick passing and hard running finding gaps in the Irvine defence.
The first scoring chance came when Andrew Kerr broke clear George Fox chipping ahead for David Steele to drive into the Irvine 22.
Eight minutes and Stewartry opened the scoring George Fox scoring his first Stewartry try in only his third game charging over in the corner.5-0 the conversion missed.
Five minutes later Irvine were level winning a penalty line out to drive over in the corner. 5-5
The game flowed back and forth with David Kerr stopped five metres short before the Irvine winger made forty metres down into the Stewartry half before knocking on in the tackle. It was Fox again who led the charge releasing John Muir for a thirty metre run to the line. Craig Mosey added the points 12-5.
Irvine were soon pressurising the Stewartry line and after a couple of phases scored between the posts. 12-12.
The last five minutes of the first half saw Stewartry stretch their lead with two breakaway tries first from David Kerr assisted by McCarney and Austin, and John Muir running from his own 22 to score Mosey converting for a Stewartry halftime lead of 24-12.
Irvine started the second half with a try in two minutes 24-17. Four minutes later young Kieran McGuire scored his first senior try after good work from Fox, S McCulloch, Picken and Muir. 29-17. Robert Austin added a sixth try after good interplay between him and Picken mosey adding the points 36-17.
Ten minutes later and it was TJ McCarney weaving his way through from halfway for try number seven between the posts. Mosey again added the points. 43-17.
The game was won but Irvine kept going forward and gained a fourth try for the bonus point. 43-22.
The final ten minutes saw Stewartry open up the tiring Irvine team with a further well worked tries Hamilton and Austin giving Mosey an easy run in for his try. 48-22. Five minutes later Muir and Fingland put Austin in the clear for number nine. 53-22.
David Maxwell gathered the Irvine restart passed into TJ McCarney who raced through the Irvine defence from the halfway line to score between the posts. Mosey drop goaled the final points. 60-22.
A hard fought game from two teams with different styles and a second win for the Blacks at Greenlaw in the league. Allan Glens this weeks visitors another team who had a narrow win in last seasons game at Greenlaw. kickoff 3.00pm
