A much-changed Stewartry recorded a comfortable win over Carrick at Greenlaw on Saturday.
The Blacks’ squad had 12 changes from the side that won in the National Shield quarter-finals the week before, some of the younger members getting their chance against a Carrick side who had managed just one league win all season.
However, they proved to be stuffy opposition, playing a hard attacking game, before Stewartry recorded a four point try win to stay five points ahead of third-placed Cumnock in Tennent’s West Division One.
Stewartry kicked off with the wind advantage but it was Carrick who showed first, taking play into the Stewartry 22 for the first 10 minutes before a missed penalty kick finally allowed Stewartry to make progress.
A break out by John Picken into the Carrick half won a penalty which was kicked into touch in the corner. Stevie McCulloch won the throw in and Mick McCulloch drove over for the opening try. John Picken kicked the conversion,
The first half saw play go back and forth as both teams played a fast open game, the score 7-0 at half-time.
From the Stewartry kick-off in the second half, Fraser Forsyth broke clear deep into the Carrick half with Ben Spence, setting Ross Sanderson up for his second try of the season.
Carrick were still competing for every ball but a yellow card saw them reduced to 14 men and Stewartry took advantage, Porteous and McMorrin taking play into the Carrick half. TJ McCarney won possession of a loose ball putting John Picken in for his second try which he then converted for 19-0.
Stewartry were soon back in the Carrick 22 in 73 minutes and a Scott Milligan try attempt was held up.
The final play of the game saw Stewartry score again, this time the fourth bonus point try. Picken put Fraser Forsyth through the defence for the try, with the conversion missed.
Stewartry squad: M McCulloch, K McGuire, I McMorran, R Porteous, T McLean, B Spence, F Gibson, S McCulloch, A Nicholson, J Picken (c), M Wright, TJ McCarney, F Forsyth, R Sanderson, S Milligan, F Barne, F Potts, J McCulloch, C Walker.
