Stewartry Captain for the last two seasons Rory Porteous signed off with a fine win over Irvine the Blacks finishing off in a mid table position in BT West One after being promoted last season.
STEWARTRY 39pts IRVINE 8pts
Mascot for the day was one of the Micros players Leo Green who led the team out with Rory before both teams and the crowd held a minutes silence for former Stewartry Siren Carrieann Prince who died tragically last week.
Irvine kicked off and started off the brightest in the scrums and lineouts winning a penalty in the Stewartry 22 but the kick was missed.
It had taken Stewartry eight minutes before Andrew Kerr led the way out of the Blacks 22 with Picken, David Kerr and Milligan in support clearing a penalty to touch on the halfway.
David Kerr opened the scoring for Stewartry in thirteen minutes with a try at the posts after good play from Fingland and Austin. Picken added the points 7-0
After Milligan had won another penalty Austin stole possession off an Irvine centre before putting Milligan in for a try in the corner. 12-0
Twenty minutes and Picken had to scurry back to clear a loose ball on the Blacks try line which he then cleared to touch.
An injury to McMorran saw him replaced at prop by Michael McCulloch in thirtyfive minutes. Austin intercepted on the halfway line to score out on the left. 17-0 .
Three minutes later Irvine got on the scoreboard with a penalty score 17-3.
With halftime coming up Picken took a quick penalty and Davidson and Austin giving Milligan the scoring chance and his second try of the season 22-3 HT.
Stewartry started at pace in the second half with Maxwell and Davidson taking play deep into the Irvine half. The next ten to fifteen minutes saw a number of heavy knocks saw the Irvine physio busy with various different injuries. The fitter Stewartry team were able to control the second half and under18 hooker Kieron McGuire was introduced to 1stxv rugby with his debut. Jamie Farquhar and Ross Cunningham also came on in the second half.
On the hour it was try number five a second for Robert Austin after good play from Davidson and Kerr. 27-3.
With fifteen minutes to go Andrew Kerr scored his second easy try in two weeks with a run in at the posts after T J McCarney had made the break of thirty metres .
Picken added the conversion 34-3.
The biggest cheer of the day was for Captain Rory Porteous when he won the five metre lineout and crashed over in the corner for the sixth try a fine end to his reign as captain. 39-3 .
Irvine were battered and bruised but still managed to have the last say with a hard fought try out on the right wing. The conversion missed for a full time score 39-8 to the Stewartry five points for the bonus point win and fifth place in the league the only team to having completed their league programme so far.
Stewartry rugby club committee thank all their supporters and sponsors for their continued support throughout this season.
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