This was always going to be a really tough cup semi-final after Marr beating Stewartry 40-12 away from home 3 weeks ago.
Stewartry Under 16’s 12 v 14 Marr Under 16’s
However Stewartry were at full strength apart from Joe Strain who was attending Scotland Under 16 final trials and after soaking up early pressure got stuck in about their Ayrshire rivals with no quarter given. Some great tackling in the back especially centre Alistair Wood kept Marr at bay and set up a platform to come back and score a superb try in the corner by Archie Holman after great interplay between backs and forwards.
Marr came back within 5 minutes and scored a breakaway try which was converted making the score 7-5 to Marr. Stewartry were having none of this and another series of barging runs by the Stewartry forward saw Fraser Forsyth Score. The difficult conversion was sweetly put over by Archie Picken. Half time and 12- 7 to Stewartry.
Stewartry started the second half as they ended the first, and dominated at scrum and line out with Andrew Budde spoiling Marr’s throw on a number of occasions. With the wind at their backs Stewartry spent most of the second half in Marr’s 22 area, and were denied a scored on numerous occasions by a combination of great Marr defence and too many Stewartry players trying to go alone.
Marr got only one chance and took it with both hands to break out and score under the posts. The try was converted 14-12 to Marr. Stewartry spent the last 5 minutes camped on the Marr 22, but Marr held out to win. Very hard luck, but a great effort by all. Great to see Matthew Coupland back, and playing hard after a long term injury.
Some great performances on the day from Alistair Wood, Glen Duke, Archie Holman, Finnan Brown and Archie Picken, but Man of the Match for Stewartry on the day has to go to Archie Nicholson at Scrum Half.
Two tournaments left to play. Sunday 9th April away at Cumnock Ten-a-side and Saturday April 22nd away at Dalziel Fifteen-a-side (Motherwell). No buses available for either games due to Horse Racing Weekends, so parents will be required to take cars to both of these.
Stewartry Scorers:
Tries – Archie Holman 1, Fraser Forsyth 1
Conversions – Archie Picken 1
Squad:
Archie Picken, Fraser Forsyth, Alistair Wood, Gregor Todd, Lochlann Spence (Captain) , Archie Nicholson, Connor McGuire, Andrew Budde, Ryan Cochrane, Glen Duke, Casey Broomhall, Finnan Brown, Neil Herries, Tommy McGrath, Finlay Smith, Archie Holman, Luke Thomson, Frazer Potts, Matthew Coupland, James Caygill.
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