On a very wet and windy day Stewartry were hoping to complete a second victory in a row at Kilmarnock after winning for the first time ever in February 2020.
Stewartry kicked off into the wind and pressed the Home line for the first 12 minutes before from a Kilmarnock lineout Hogg took control of the loose ball to open the scoring out wide. The conversion was missed.5-0 Stewartry a good opening spell for the Blacks.
An early injury to fly half Robert Austin saw Lochie Spence take over his duties with Scott Milligan coming on as replacement on the wing.
Stewartry kept the pressure on with Forsyth and Hogg continuing leading the way.
A penalty kick into the corner from Andrew Picken. McGuires throw from the resulting lineout to Lindsay who put McCarney charging through the Kilmarnock defence and a quick ball to Spence who touched down for a second score. Andrew Picken added the conversion for 12-0 half time lead to the Blacks.
Stewartry were hoping to use the wind advantage and within five minutes the Blacks had a man advantage when the Kilmarnock scrum half was yellow carded for stamping on Stewartry’s Maxwell.
Poor throwing for Kilmarnock at the lineout saw Angus Lindsay take advantage and go over for the second try the conversion was missed 17-0.
After 55 minutes Carson was replaced in the scrum by an aggresive Root who was soon in the action clearing out the loose ball.
Stewartry found the game turning Kilmarnocks way when they were back to full strength scoring to quick tries one converted to close the gap to 12-17.
The best defence in the league Stewartry averaging only losing 8 points a game stood firm and captain John Picken eased the pressure kicking long into the Killie 22. A penalty award saw the reliable Andrew Picken beat the conditions adding the three points 20-12 and breathing space for the Blacks. Carson returned for the the injured Lindsay.
With a fourth bonus point try the temptation and only minutes left Stewartry opted for the scrum at a penalty award and the Blacks front row of Forsyth, K.McGuire and McMorran kept the scrum under control before number eight Hogg led the way keeping the ball through several phases before John Picken lobbed a pass wide to the waiting Hugh Carson who grabbed it one handed diving over in the corner for the vital fourth and bonus point try. Andrew Picken added the bonus points to make it 27-12 and seven wins from eight games so far this season.
FT – Kilmarnock 12pts Stewartry 27pts
Stewartry Squad. J Forsyth , K McGuire, I McMorran, D Maxwell, H Carson, S McCulloch, A Lindsay,S Hogg, J Picken (c) R Austin, L Spence,
TJ McCarney, T Wilson, A Nicholson, A Picken, C McGuire, C Root,S Milligan, C Denerley.
Next home game Saturday 11th December ko 2.00pm v Lenzie.
One partner. No competitors. Visible across local sport.
