Stewartry U-16’s Win Glasgow West League

Stewartry Rugby Club’s Under 16’s squad have taken the Glasgow West (South Section) League championship after a 22-22 draw against Kilmarnock.

A fantastic last 10 minutes fight back from the young blacks was enough to snatch the Glasgow West (South Section) League championship title from arch rivals Kilmarnock.

The large Kilmarnock team played fantastic rugby for most of the match, hardly dropping a pass and scarcely losing possession of the ball.

Kilmarnock went into the lead early on with an unconverted try in the corner. Stewartry replied with an Archie Picken try in the corner. Kilmarnock hit back straight away with another try wide out which was converted. The score remained 12-5 to Kilmarnock until half time with Stewartry hardly getting a sniff of the ball.

Kilmarnock started the second half as they had finished the first, with their forwards controlling the game from the centre of the park. They scored another converted try making it 19-5 Kilmarnock with only 10 minutes on the clock and Stewartry very much on the back foot.

However, something started to click with the Blacks, and the forwards decided to play Kilmarnock at their own game driving right up the park for Hooker Andy Budde to crash over. Stewartry caught good ball at the re-start and again drove right up the park centre for biggest player Frazer Potts to score smack between the posts, Archie Picken converting. 19-17 Kilmarnock!! Stewartry again won good ball from the kick off and powered back up the park. Good ball was won by Scrum half Archie Nicholson who realeased the backs for one last assault. The ball eventually fell to Stewartry’s smallest player Pacey Ho who dazzled the Kilmarnock backs and pack to jink and swerve his was to score in the corner. He was lucky not to be sent into orbit by Connor McGuire who threw him up in the air in celebration,

The show was not yet over with a minute left Kilmarnock pushed for a winner, but could only manage a penalty for the equaliser 22-22. The draw was enough for Stewartry to win the league title at the very last gasp!!

A big thank you to friends, family, committee and fellow players from the other teams in the club who turned out in big numbers and made a huge difference.

Man of the Match without a shadow of a doubt was Archie Nicholson at Scrum Half on his first game back from injury. He had an outstanding game and fought for every ball and inch of ground.

Squad:

> Archie Picken

> Matthew Coupland

> Alistair Wood

> Lochlann Spence

> Archie Nicholson

> James Caygill

> Fraser Forsyth

> Connor McGuire

> Andy Budde

> Archie Holman

> Ryan Cochrane