Stewartry notched up their tenth victory to stay well in contention for the Tennent’s West Division One title.
The Blacks are third in a breakaway trio well out in front of the pack, four points behind leaders Allan Glens who have yet to lose. Garnock sit in second place two points behind but they have played one more game than Stewartry and the pace setters.
The bonus point win at cold but dry Cambuslang on Saturday kept the pressure on.
Two tries were all Stewartry had to show for a first half peppered with some great attacking rugby that forced the home side to dig deep defensively.
Early on a searing break from a lineout by captain John Picken was stopped 8 metres short. Stewartry were penalised for not releasing, allowing the home side to clear their lines
In the twelfth minute another attack put Stewartry inside the home 22. Cambuslang turned the ball over sending it to a defender who was behind his own goal line. His clearing kick into the wind didn’t go far. Jason Forsyth caught the ball to charge past home defenders and touch down. John Picken added the extras.
Stewartry missed a penalty before another Picken break had Milligan up in support on the left wing but the pass didn’t go to hand.
The Blacks were constantly on the offensive with Milligan again stopped five metres out after a Forsyth charge saw Maxwell get into the home 22 where a quick penalty chance was squandered by a knock on.
The reward for all the effort came five minutes before the break when Forsyth touched down after a series of scrums but the conversion was missed.
Playing with the wind following the restart two early chances were foiled by a knock on and a Stewartry yellow card for a late tackle.
Ten minutes into the third quarter Denerly was replaced by Spence. From a scrum 25 metres out from the home whitewash the ball went along the back line. Good handling and support play saw Milligan get a try. The conversion was wide.
Catching the ball from the restart Spence immediately made his presence felt making a couple of searing runs that took play into the home 22 where the pack secured lineout ball and Spence went over for the bonus point try. The conversion was missed, 0-22.
Spence was at the heart of try number five, two minutes later, when he accelerated away down the right and his perfectly timed pass put Wilson in, Picken adding the extras.
Going into the last quarter James McCulloch made his first XV debut replacing Carson.
McMorran and Milligan were replaced by Connor McGuire and Wright.
Cambuslang managed two unconverted tries late on to make the final score 10-22
Stewartry squad:- A Picken, T Wilson, F Forsyth, C Denerly, S Milligan, R Austin, J Picken (captain), J Forsyth, K McGuire, I McMorran, D Maxwell, H Carson, T McLaen, A Nicholson, C Root, C McGuire, J McCulloch, L Spence, M Wright.
