Both teams had not played for five weeks and it did not show in their performance in this game. Stewartry knew it would be a hard game having just managed an 11-5 win at Greenlaw earlier in the season.
LENZIE RFC 10pts STEWARTRY RFC 12pts.
Once again the wind was going to be one of the main factors in the game blowing from end to end.
Stewartry kicked off into the wind and Lenzie returned it up to the Stewartry 22 before Lochy Spence cleared the danger. Lenzie kept the pressure on the Blacks for a few minutes before Fraser Forsyth broke clear down the left wing taking play into the Lenzie half. From a lineout Stewartry were penalised and Lenzie kicked back into the corner. Stewartry cleared their lines but another Lenzie attack saw Milligan clear the danger and Lenzie ended up putting the ball dead.
Stewartry with held the early pressure and Doug Boyd lead the charge into the Lenzie half winning a penalty award which Mosey kicked into touch in the Lenzie 22.
Twenty minutes gone and both teams had had chances but Lenzie once again cleared long Lochy Spence cleared up and broke through the Lenzie defence to give Scott Milligan the scoring chance out on the right wing. Craig Mosey added the difficult angled kick 7-0 to the Stewartry.
Stewartry continued to take the game to Lenzie with TJ on a break pushed into touch and McCulloch and Hogg winning possession from the lineout. Stewartry looked like another try was on the cards with both the Boyd’s Austin, Maxwell, Mick McCulloch taking play close to the try line. Lenzie broke clear to earn a penalty just on the Stewartry 22 but on their way had left two Stewartry players lying injured.
The kick was missed and half time was called.
The second half started with Ben Spence and Rory Porteous replacing the injured players.
As can happen when playing against the wind Lenzie upped their game and after ten phases just short of the Stewartry line they crawled in for a try out on the left. the conversion was missed. 5-7 to the Blacks.
Mosey continued to clear his lines with deft chips ahead giving the Stewartry pack a target. From a ruck in the Lenzie 22 scrum half Picken fed the line with Stevie McCulloch to Iain McMorran who’s quick hands to winger Scott Milligan saw him score his second try in the game. The conversion missed.
Fifteen minutes to play and prop Conor McGuire was the final change for the Blacks as Lenzie bombarded the Stewartry try line before crashing over for a second try in the final minutes of the game. The conversion was missed 10-12 to the Blacks as they kicked a penalty to touch to complete the double over Lenzie in very tight entertaining game. League leaders Stewartry need bonus point wins in their last two games to have any chance of promotion as the other teams all play catch up with games in hand.
Stewartry are away to Cambuslang on Saturday 21st March in their next game.
