For Stewartry’s first visit to the Isle of Arran, it was top against bottom, and the Blacks soon got a wake-up call as the Islanders scored a converted try in only two minutes. Stewartry continued to be penalised at least ten times in the first twenty minutes. Arran missed their first kick at the posts, but ten minutes later they converted a second kick to lead 10-0. It took Stewartry twenty-five minutes to make progress into the Arran 22 for their first attack, and top try scorer John Muir skipped down the left wing to score in the corner. The conversion was missed.
Stewartry again gave a penalty away, but Arran once again kicked it wide, so Stewartry made it to halftime only five points behind after what had been a fourth league game in a row where the Blacks first half performances had been poor.
The halftime chat saw Stewartry come out with an entirely different attitude and attacked from the kickoff. In four minutes John Muir once again broke away to score his second try giving Craig Mosey an easy conversion. Five minutes later Stewartry were soon nine points clear when lock forward Rory Porteous went crashing through a number of tackles for a try. Craig Mosey added the conversion. Stewartry were now well on top and John Muir scored his third hat-trick of tries for the season. The fourth try brought the vital bonus point as the Blacks stay ahead of local rivals second-placed Annan. On the hour, next up was the other lock forward Andrew Kerr, who scored his first try of the season. Mosey again converted. Kerr’s brother John received a yellow card with twelve minutes to go for a no-arms tackle. Kerr back on with two minutes left and Stewartry back to full strength it was first ever Stewartry 1stxv tries for replacements Murray Hamilton and Scott Milligan as the Blacks finally ran out winners.
Craig Mosey added his fourth conversion for a final 43-10 win.
This week BT West Division Two leaders Stewartry are away to sixth-placed Paisley while second-placed Annan, who scored a club record win of 149-13 over Cumbernauld are away to fourth-placed Clydebank in the race for the title.
