Sun Shines on the Welsh as Wrexham Defeat Stewartry RFC Under 15’s

Stewartry U15’s 10 Wrexham U15’s 31

Stewartry welcomed Welsh touring team Wrexham RFC on a beautiful day for rugby at sunny Greenlaw. Wrexham not only brought the sun but plenty of supporters and a big well drilled team who in the end proved too much for a Stewartry side who were not at all at their best on the day.

The blacks started off with great gusto for the first 15 minutes with hooker Andy Budde scoring a well worked try from good consistent pressure. They almost added a second soon afterwards, but this was the wake up call the strong Welsh team needed, and they responded with two tries before half time from their very fast full back/captain, one of which was converted.

Wrexham started the second half in the same manner that they finished the first and exploited the wide spaces with fast players, and scored another try early on. Stewartry uncharacteristically let their heads go down, and this was picked up by the visitors who added a fourth.

However to their credit Stewartry came back just before the end and were rewarded with a great try by Archie Nicholson following good forward work. Wrexham added another just before the end to complete the scoring.

In summary, this was not a good performance by Stewartry who were perhaps still basking in the glory of having played so well the week before against better opposition. Man of the match for Stewartry was Captain Joe Strain, who as always led by example. Archie (Slim) Picken had a great game as did James Caygill in the forwards, who never stopped competing for the ball and it looking much fitter and sharper that earlier on in the season. Stewartry Forward were found wanting and need to work hard on line outs, scrummaging and decision making.

Stewartry backs are fit enough in the main but need to work on closing runners down much quicker than they did on Saturday which will make tackling much easier.

On the plus side, it was a good turnout of supporters and parents and would be great to see the same again for the remaining two games. Hats off to the Welsh players and supporters who proved very worthy opponents and deserved winners. A great bunch of well organized, polite and mature young men who will go far. Many new friends were made and gifts exchanged. We hope to organize a Welsh tour for Easter Holidays 2017.

Next up – Tournament at Dalziel RFC (Motherwell) on Saturday 23^rd April and Chairman’s Trophy the following day (Sunday 24^th) at home to Allan Glens.

Stewartry Squad:

Joe Strain – Captain

Archie (Slim) Picken

Lochie Spence

Gregor Todd

Finlay Smith

Matthew Coupland

Oskar Wnuk

Ryan Cochrane

Casey Broomhall

Connor McGuire

James Caygill