STEWARTRY 45 WAYSIDERS DRUMPELLIER 10
It was another away win last Saturday when Stewartry played Waysiders in the BT West Division Two.
On a soft but dry pitch the home side kicked off and early on were penalised for not rolling away giving Stewartry a lineout on the Waysiders 10 metre line. The Blacks took the ball up the right wing with Boyd chipping it behind the home defence and over the try line but the the Waysiders full back was on hand to clear it away.
In the tenth minute the Blacks gave away a penalty for holding on in the ruck on their own 22 but the kick was wide of the uprights. From the 22 drop out the home side knocked on but comments to the referee made it a penalty giving Stewartry another 10 metres and a lineout on the Waysiders 22.
The Blacks took the ball and once more opted to chip forward but it went too far. After the restart Stewartry got a scrum on their own 10 metre line. The ball came out to the Stewartry backs who went on the attack. Muir broke into the home 22 but was stopped by a shoulder tackle. Porteous was on hand to pick up the loose ball and made for the try line but he was stopped short.
The penalty from the shoulder tackle took Stewartry deep into the home 22 for a lineout. They caught the ball and Mosey broke through the Waysider defence, and passed to Muir who touched down under the posts. Mosey added the conversion.
Into the second quarter Stewartry were penalised for not releasing giving Waysiders a lineout inside the Blacks 22. Stewartry spoiled and took the ball.
McCulloch saw space up the left side and charged 40 metres up the wing and was stopped inside the home 22. But great support play by Hamilton allowed him to take the pass and touch down under the posts. Mosey slotted the conversion.
Five minutes from the interval the home team got a scrum on the Blacks 10 metre line. The Stewartry pack pushed them back to get another scrum.
This time clean ball came out to the Stewartry backs and Muir made ground up to the Weysiders 22 where he was stopped. His offload went to a home player who cleared back down field.
Waysiders got a lineout 8 metres from the Blacks try line. The Stewartry forwards spoiled but pressure from the home pack allowed them to get the push on to get over the line but the ball was held up..
In the 5 metre scrum Waysiders took the ball allowing their stand off the slot a drop goal.
Two minutes from the break Stewartry caught the restart ball to go on the offensive and into the home 22 but were stopped 8 metres short.
Taking the ball in the scrum it went to Thomson who danced past 3 defenders to keep up the pressure. He offloaded to Porteous who got through for a try with Mosey adding the conversion. Score at the interval Stewartry 21 Waysiders 3.
Starting the second period the Blacks kept up the pressure getting inside the home 22. Waysiders got a lineout 15 metres from their line and once again McCulloch spoiled to take possession. The ball went over to the other wing but there was a knock on. Going into the scrum Broll replaced McMorran.
Fifteen minutes into third quarter Stewartry gave away a penalty for not rolling away giving Waysiders a lineout 10 metres out. The home forwards secured the ball to go up the right side and in for a converted try.
McCulloch caught the restart kick deep in the Blacks 22 and made ground back over halfway but he was stopped. A home player was penalised for not releasing giving Stewartry a 5 metre lineout. Porteous caught the ball and drove over the home try line to touch down. The conversion went wide.
After the restart kick going straight out Waysiders took the ball in the scrum on the halfway line. They went on the attack deep into the Stewartry 22 but the Blacks managed a turnover to clear their lines.
With 15 minutes remaining Milligan replaced Hamilton. In a lineout on their own 22 the Stewartry forwards took the ball for Mosey to kick back to the home 22. Milligan’s charge up the wing kept the pressure on but there was a knock on 5 metres from the try line.
Maxwell went on in place of Andrew Kerr.and in the scrum the Blacks pack got the push on to drive the home forwards back over their line allowing Farquhar to touch down. The conversion missed.
On the half hour McMorran went back on in place of captain Cannon. After a scrum on halfway Stewartry got a penalty on the home 10 metre line taking them back into home territory. With 5 minutes remaining Cunnigham replaced Thomson.
Taking the ball from a lineout on halfway Mosey broke away up the middle of the field into space. He passed out wide for Milligan to get in for a try which Mosey converted.
In the last minute Mosey caught the restart ball and again ran into space. He put the ball to Muir who got into the home 22 with nothing between him and the try line he could have gone over for the try but he passed to Cunningham to let him in for his first try. The last play came with Mosey adding the conversion.
The Blacks are still top of the league but second place Annan are only 14 points behind with 3 games in hand.
Stewartry squad; J Picken, M Hamilton, D Thomson, J Muir, Danny Boyd, C Mosey, J Farquhar, T Cannon (captain), D Burton, I McMorran, R Porteous, Andrew Kerr, S McCulloch, M Smith, S Broll, D Maxwell, S Milligan, R Cunningham
