S1 Result - Stewartry 40 : Cumnock 15

Conditions at Castle Douglas were good and a fair contest ensued. Cumnock were unfortunately lacking in regular players and then Jack Reilly had to withdraw early in the first period with a knee injury. This meant shuffling the team around and lots of guys had to play in unfamiliar positions.

All credit to Cumnock though as they played the better rugby, moving the ball easily along the line, rucking and mauling well and at long last communicating with each other, in fact the coaches could even hear the opposite winger calling out to his team-mates. Unfortunately possesion was being lost in the tackles, giving the ball back to Stewartry, whose two large backs ran in a succession of long range tries, helped by some poor tackling from the Cumnock players.

A well worked move allowed Euan Hendry to zip down the wing and score, Taylor Howie picked up a fine try and was denied another when the refree adjudged there to have been a double move. A fine move from the forwards charging straight upfield from a restart with quick ball out from the resulting ruck led to a direct run from Gregor Aitken with a nice off-load to Callan Gordon to round off. Terry Ballantine scored his first ever try, receiving a nice off-load from Robbie McLaren. Three of the tries were converted by Gregor Aitken.

Man-of-the-match went to Gavin Whyte, a player in his first season who is improving with every game he plays.