CUMBERNAULD 17pts STEWARTRY 50pts
Stewartry’s second last RBS West League Division Two game this season was away at Cumbernauld where the strong wind blowing down the pitch was to play a large part in the game.
The home side opted to start into the wind and their kick off had to be low because of it. The Blacks forwards caught the ball on their 10 metre line and passed it to Muir who found space. He charged down the middle dodging tackles and touched down under the posts for Stewartry’s first try. Mosey converted with just over 1 minute gone.
Ten minutes later at a lineout on the home 5 metre line the Stewartry forwards secured the ball from the Cumbernauld throw in. It went out to Picken who went in to touch down. Unfortuantely the dead ball line was only 4 metres back from the try line and the touch down was outside the dead ball area.
Cumbernauld were offside giving Stewartry a penalty and dissent to the refreee took them 10 metres closer to the home try line. With a quick tap kick the ball went along the backs line to McCarney on the left wing but he got pushed into touch. In the lineout Sainsbury took the catch and sent the ball out to Muir. Once again he found clear space to go in for a try. Mosey’s conversion hit the post.
Midway through the first period the restart kick came to the Stewartry backs who moved into attack but the ball hit the referee. Following the scrum the home team gave away a penalty for a high tackle just outside their own 22. Another quick tap and the ball went to Muir who went over to score under the posts. Mosey converted.
The Blacks got another penalty when Cumbenauld handled the ball in the ruck inside their own 22. With another quick tap Muir went over for try number four. Mosey slotted the conversion.
With 25 minutes on the clock the home side got a scrum on the Blacks 22. Cumbernauld put pressure on the Stewartry pack who were pushed back and penalised for handling in the ruck. The home team took a quick tap kick and went over the Blacks try line but the ball was held up. From the 5 metre scrum the Cumbernauld No 8 picked up and went over for a try. Their conversion went wide.
In the next 10 minutes both teams gave away a number of penalties. With 5 minutes to go in the first period the Blacks were deep into the home 22. Muir took the ball and made for the home try line with Mosey in support but he got stopped 5 metres from the line and the ball went forward.
Ian Fenwick picked the ball up from the back of the 5 metre scrum and ran through the Cumbernauld defenders to touch down under the posts. Mosey’s conversion took the half time score to Stewratry 33 Cumbernauld 5.
Into the second period Cannon and McMorran were replaced by Broll and McCulloch. The Blacks kicked into the wind and got up on the Cumbernauld forwards and managed a turnover. The ball went back to Muir who made ground up to the home 5 metre line with ball in hand and support outside him but he was stopped short. The home team got a turnover and cleared the ball down field but they didn’t find touch.
Sainsbury ran up to attack on the left side and passed to McCarney but he was stopped 10 metres out. Cumbernauld got another turnover and got back up to the Stewartry 22 where the ball was knocked on. The Blacks were penalised for driving into the scrum too early. However they took the ball in the following lineout and got back up to halfway.
In the eighth minute of the second period with a lineout on their own 10 metre line the Blacks throw in was not straight giving Cumbernauld a scrum. The superior home pack took the heal allowing them to send the ball wide and over for a converted try.
From the restart the ball came to the Stewratry backs who moved over quickly from right to left. Taking the last pass Fingland ran past a defender to go in for a try. The conversion missed.
Midway through the second period the wind dropped but once more both sides gave away penalties. With 15 minutes remaining the home side were penalised when they handled the ball in the ruck on the Stewartry 10 metre line. More dissent to the referee took the Blacks up to halfway. Taking a quick kick they charged up their right wing.
Good vision by McCarney took him over from the left wing into the back line to take the last pass and get in for a try. The conversion went wide.
Securing the restart ball Ian Fenwick charged up to the Cumbernauld 10 metre line but he got stopped. The home team got a penalty when Stewratry handled the ball in the ruck. At the lineout on the Stewratry 22 the Cumbernauld forwards took the ball to ground. The following scrum wheeled giving Cumbernauld the put in when it was reset. The home pack put pressure on the Blacks to get within 5 metres of the Stewartry line.
But the Blacks got a turnover from the ruck and moved to counter attack. The ball came to McCarney on halfway. He charged up the left wing past 4 defenders to go in for a try. Mosey slotted the conversion.
With 10 minutes left Burton and Sainsbury were replaced by McMorran and Cannon with Broll moving to the second row. The Blacks went offside giving the home side a penalty taking them up to the Stewratry 5 metre line for a lineout. This became a ruck where Cumbernauld gave away a penalty for handling on the ground. Stewartry cleared their lines.
Five minutes from time Lindsay was replaced by Sainsbury. From a scrum on their own 22 the Blacks went offside. Taking a quick tap kick the home forwards drove over for a try. The missed conversion was the last play in the game leaving the final score at Stewartry 50 Cumbernauld 17.
Stewartry surprised Cumbernauld right from start by running the ball and using the wind to their advantage particularly in the first half of this game. But they need to work on the scrum which for the second week running was often creaking under pressure from the opposition.
Stewartry squad:- J Fingland, K Riddick, J Muir, Danny Boyd, T J McCarney, C Mosey, J Picken, I McMorran, D Burton, T Cannon, M Smith, H Sainsbury, G Lindsay, C Fenwick, I Fenwick (captain), S Broll, M McCulloch.
