On Rabbie Burns day the Stewartry rugby Clubhouse was filled with over seventy plus young lassies looking to have lunch and an entertaining afternoon with Stewartry ‘s rugby match against Garnock the highlight this being the Blacks last home league game of the season.
STEWARTRY RFC 14pts GARNOCK RFC 12pts.
Garnock unbeaten by Stewartry in twenty games since the Blacks win in 2004 have been a bit of a bogey team since.
The teams were led onto the pitch by the three mascots Robbie, Freddy and Alfie McConchie.
Stewartry kicked off into the wind the ball going deep into touch in the Garnock 22. An early lineout win for Stewartry was advantage lost at the first scrum. A penalty award to the Blacks saw Hogg and Maxwell drive close to the try line. Minutes later Hogg again with Wilson this time again drove through the Garnock defence for hooker Stevie McLean to open his try count for the Blacks. Craig Mosey added the conversion.
From the restart Garnock made their first visit into the Stewartry’s half with the forwards driving to the corner. A penalty award took Garnock closer again to the try line but Blacks Craig Mosey cleared on both occasions to the touch line. Garnock continued to press and were rewarded with a try out on the right. The conversion was added 7-7 after twenty minutes.
Stewartry continued to throw the ball wide for Spence and Forsyth to use their speed down the wings. TJ McCarney started the move that led two the Blacks second try with a chip ahead gathered up by Boyd who was backed up by McMorran who linked with Austin ,Forsyth, Hogg and McLean breaking through the Garnock tackles before David Maxwell took the final pass over for the score.
Craig Mosey again added the points Stewartry leading 14-7 in what had been a hard fought first half.
Porteous and Boyd entered the fray for the second half as Garnock kicked of into the wind. Stewartry’s first attack was thwarted
and Garnock drove the Blacks back twenty metres. Stewartry replied with a fifty metre break from Wilson and Austin.
Root replaced Hogg midway through the half with Root and McCarney close to scoring before Garnock had a try disallowed at the other end.
Ten minutes to go Root was yellow carded in front of the Blacks posts.
Garnock now with an extra man in the pack took their advantage to score a second try. The conversion against the wind was missed 14-12 to the Blacks.
Garnock pressed hard for a winning score but Stewartry have found a way to keep it tight to run down the clock and take the points which included a good few injury minutes.
The referee for the day was ex Annan Captain Craig McCann who has saw his club beaten thrice this season by Stewartry and a Garnock team that put ninety six points over Annan last week. Pass marks for him in a very competitive game and the Blacks have their first win at last over the Ayrshire team.
Stewartry Sirens lost in their first Sarah Beaney cup tie to five times finalists Hillhead Jordanhill Women 0-26 a best score line against the Glasgow club.
This week second placed Stewartry travel to leaders Kilmarnock who are only one point ahead of the Blacks. kick off 2.00pm
