In their first game at home in 2025, Stewartry snatched a one-point win over Whitecriags to keep their hopes of avoiding the drop alive.
It was the away side that started the better, scoring two tries relatively early on and were on course for a fourth win in a row against the Blacks in Scottish National 4.
Flanker Murray Wright spotted some open space on the short side, however, and took his chance to race away for a score and get his team back into it as the scoreboard read 12-5 to the visitors at halftime.
The two sides then traded score for score throughout the entirety of the second half. Sandwiched in between two more scores for Whitecraigs, Thomas McLean took a quick tap penalty and dived over from a few metres out for his first try of the season.
Another break up the blindside saw Lochy Spence link up with winger Finlay Smith, who rounded a final few defenders to dot down under the posts and give Stewartry a glimmer of hope.
With the score at 25-19, David Thomson’s men knew they needed a converted try to win the game and, after a long spell of possession in the opposition 22, Smith found some space out wide and went over to set up a grandstand finish.
Despite missing a few kicks earlier on in the match, captain Andrew Picken stepped up from the touchline to nail his conversion through the posts with the final touch of the game and seal the 26-25 victory for the hosts.
Five points added to their league tally has given Stewartry a lifeline to stay in the league, with two games in hand on seventh-placed Hamilton, who they also still have to play.
Next up for the Blacks is the long trip north to face Moray in Elgin, a team they managed to get the better of at Greenlaw just before the Christmas break.
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