Newton Stewart 10, East Kilbride 3

A 13-3 victory against Annan four weeks ago brought forth the following phraseologies: “Ssticky underfoot and westerly cross-field gales”, “a no-frills and only a few thrills affair”, and “a gutsy 10-man rugby performance from Newton Stewart against an Annan side that are no novices at this style of play”.

For Annan, substitute East Kilbride, remove a Newton penalty and – voila! – it was a carbon copy of the previous dull encounter.

With East Kilbride making hard work of finding Bladnoch Park, it was little wonder that Newton came out of the blocks the sharper and, for the first 10 minutes or so, the Reds dominated the game. However, domination of the scoreboard was not a reflection of the play and, as the visitors got their warm-up out of the way, they settled into a midfield tussle that afforded few opportunities for either side.

As the forwards battled it out, the Newton half-back pairing of Sommerville and Muir tried to get in behind the East Kilbride defence but ball was kicked away cheaply on more than one occasion. Accordingly, East Kilbride stand-off Greenfield obliged with his own fair share of pointless kicking when the better option was to keep the ball in the hands of a none too shabby set of Killie forwards.

As the first half wore away, watching the clock was probably as entertaining as the game and, save the odd half-break from both sides, it would be fair to say neither try line was challenged.

For Newton, Scott Costley put in a couple of good solo breaks but with little support it all fizzled out and, other than an East Kilbride penalty that gave them a half-time lead, nothing much happened.

In fairness to both sides, conditions were far from ideal and it was always going to be a struggle to provide even a modicum of what could be interpreted as running rugby. Fortunately for Newton Stewart, a try from the second half kick-off gave afforded them that slender advantage which they managed to retain for the remainder of a game.

An East Kilbride knock-on was seized upon by the Reds and, putting their advantage to good use, they were soon deployed on the opposition line. Scrum-half Sommerville could have been tempted to use the blind-side but, in going open, Jamie Muir required no-one else from the assembled backs as he stepped inside his defender to touch down for a guaranteed seven points.

From the restart the referee had tired of the visitors’ repeated offending at the breakdown and dismissed East Kilbride hooker Anderson to the bin. However, the Reds did not exploit their manpower advantage and the game gradually descended into a war of attrition in the midfield – with Newton only just managing to control their bulkier and very physical counterparts. A passage of pressure from the Reds mid-half resulted in a welcome three points to ease the margin to a more comfortable seven but, as Newton prop Hamilton was binned in what could be construed as an evening-things-up decision, East Kilbride seized their opportunity. They seemed to find another gear to take the game to Newton and a closing 10-minute period saw the none too diminutive visiting second-rows – Alistair Dalglish and Paul Rosie – lead their lads forward in a last-gasp attempt to force a draw. Like they have done for the past few games, the Reds’ defence withstood anything the opposition threw at them.

This was another ground-out win for a Newton side that has grown in stature and self-belief throughout the season. Newton have attempted to play nice rugby but they have learned to win ugly first, then, and only if possible, play nice rugby.

With only pride at stake, in two weeks the Reds travel to Troon to see if they can thwart the potential promotion chances of Craig Redpath’s much vaunted superstars at Marr in their last league fixture.

Man of the match: Ross Vance (second row).

Newton Stewart: M Wallace, R Fiskin, S Hamilton, M Adams, R Vance,

H Hamilton, J Wallace, A Gaw(Capt), D Sommerville, J Muir, I Russell, M McCornick,

S Costley, J McWhirter, G McMillan. Subs: S Wright, A Gibson, J Ritchie.

John Johnstone

Stewartry 13, Annan 3

Stewartry finished their home league programme with a hard-fought win over their local rivals, and avenging a 14-15 last kick of the game defeat earlier in the season at Annan.

Coach David Borland had asked the players for a big effort in their final home league match after the disappointing display at Allan Glen’s the previous week. As well as league points, the Chisholm Cup, played for annually by the two clubs and currently held by Annan, was up for grabs.

With a full clubhouse for pre-match hospitality, there was plenty of support to see Stewartry take an early lead in only six minutes from a Cammy Fenwick penalty. Stewartry continued to use the wind advantage to keep the pressure on the Annan defence. In 15 minutes, good play from Jason Riley, Stevie McCulloch and captain Ian Fenwick gave the forwards the chance to drive hooker Danny Burton over for his first try of the season. Cammy Fenwick added the conversion.

Any thoughts Stewartry may have had of turning round at half-time with a good-sized lead was soon dispelled when a penalty in 20 minutes by Craig McCann just crept over the bar for Annan.

It was going to be a long second half for Stewartry as they set about defending the seven-point lead, and Annan were soon on the attack and making inroads to the Stewartry 22.

From a lineout on the Stewartry 10-metre line, Callum Walker took good possession and Stewartry held onto the ball for a full five minutes, driving and rucking up into the Annan 22 and finishing with a penalty kick into the corner. After winning the lineout, Stewartry knocked on and Annan were able to clear their lines all the way to the Stewartry in-goal area, where Craig Mosey had to look sharp to win the race for the touchdown to stop an Annan score.

In 55 minutes, good play between Ian Fenwick and Jamie Farquhar gave Jason Riley the chance to break through the Annan line. A penalty award on the halfway line saw Jason Riley’s kick going to the outside of the roadside post before it wobbled in the wind and just dropped over the bar for a 13-3 lead.

The Stewartry forwards now had the Annan scrum in all kinds of bother, pushing them back at the set piece, although the Annan forwards seemed to have the upper hand in the individual battles with a draw in the fistacuffs and a pin-fall submission in the other. But the referee decided there was a penalty to Stewartry for offside and the ball was kicked halfway across the second team pitch to end the game for Stewartry to collect their first bit of silverware for four years.

Stewartry last won the Chisholm Cup in 2005 and it was presented to captain on the day Ian Fenwick by Annan president Don Barty.

Stewartry have one final league game to play, on March 3, away at Glasgow Accies.

Stewartry: J Fingland, A Kerr, C Fenwick, J Riley, F Baird, C Mosey, J Farquhar, T Cannon, D Burton, I McMorran, L Henderson, R Porteous, I Fenwick (capt), S Broll, S Hogg, Danny Boyd.

John Low

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Wigtownshire Under-16s 17, Stewartry Under-16s 22

The newly formed Wigtownshire Under-16s team was in action at London Road on Sunday.

This was only the third outing for the young ’Shire squad against a big, more experienced, visiting side from Castle Douglas. The fixture was one of a three-game preliminary round in the West Regional Cup competition. Last weekend the fledgling team lost heavily away at Newton Stewart. They went into their first competitive home game hoping to show what they had learned from that encounter.

From the kick-off it was clear to those watching that this was going to be close game. The home side took an early lead through a well-scored try from Kieran Hannah under the posts. Adam McIntosh stepped up to add the conversion. Stewartry came back with their own try from a solid scrum and fine No 8 pick-up and drive, which they converted. Not to be outdone, after a good period of pressure, Javin Hannah picked up from the back of the scrum to score a try, which went unconverted. When the half time whistle came the ’Shire boys held a 12-7 lead.

The Stewartry side started the second half in a determined fashion and brought the game to the home team. However, a defensive tackle from Gregor Henry dislodged the ball. Kerr Hannah picked it up and sprinted in for the home side’s third try. Once again this was unconverted. As the game continued, the visitors’ size, experience and game knowledge brought them back into the contest. This allowed them to score three tries without reply, despite the best effort of the ’Shire boys to break down their attack.

At the final whistle the visitors had over hauled the home side to win 22-17.

The young ’Shire boys gave a good account of themselves on the day. Coach Eddie Stevenson said: “I am really pleased with our progress. We have a young side, who are learning all the time. We have just started and are playing teams who have been together for some time. It looks very good for the future.”

The team has one more game in this part of the competition. They play against Dumfries later this week. Then they will progress into the West Regional Bowl competition.

Wigtownshire Under-16s: Charlie Forrest, Tom Birkett, Josh McCurry, Kerr Hannah, Kevin Aitken, Kieran Stevenson, Dean Rickard, Javin Hannah, Bobby Lammie, Adam McIntosh, Liam Downie, Gregor Henry, Kieran Hannah, Stewart Henry, Scott Haazen

Replacements: Callum Lammie, Ewan Jamieson, Jim Howie, Billy Ross, Kyle Knott,

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Wigtownshire 15, Cambuslang 26

With only four more league games to play, the importance of this home match could not have been clearer in the minds of the players. Their lowly league position means that every point could be of great importance as the final reckoning approaches.

However, the visiting team, sitting third in the table, have their own challenges as they strive for the top position. Also everyone’s mind was on the result of the game between the two sides earlier in the season when Cambuslang ran out winners 69-0.

As the team took to the field it was very apparent that the weather was likely to have a major bearing on the day. The chill wind was blowing, gale force, from the west. The dark clouds gathering in the sky were laying down rain, sleat and snow at regular intervals. The brave, or some might say “foolhardy”, spectators were wrapped up against the elements and in awe of the players facing the elements in shorts and modern, thin, rugby tops.

’Shire had the advantage of the wind. Despite this, the visitors started playing the conditions well. When they got possession they worked hard to keep it, moving the ball through their hands and keeping passes short.

The home side tackled and defended, working hard to prevent Cambus getting upfield. However, after 10 minutes, they managed to cross the line, only to be denied the score through sterling defending and ’Shire forwards holding them up. From the five-metre scrum, they tried again only to be held-up over the line by the home side. On the third occasion they managed to gain the referee’s approval for the first points of the match. From the scum they went wide, a risky strategy given the wind and cold hands. Their passing was sound and their winger rounded the stretched defence to score in the corner. The wind destroyed any chance of points from the conversion attempt.

With 15 minutes gone the home side managed to win good possession and began to play as they can. They were driving ball upfield, recycling from rucks and mauls and bringing the backs into play, and forcing Cambuslang to scramble and defend. It was ’Shire’s turn to cross the line only to be denied. With weather on their backs they kept hammering away. So intense was the pressure that visitors incurred the wrath of the referee in their efforts to prevent a score. A yellow card resulted in a 10-minute rest for one of their tight forwards.

With storm at its height the ’Shire forwards redoubled their efforts and, similar to the first score, released the backs, putting team captain Andy Farquhar in for a try in the corner. Once more the wind negated the extra points.

With their tails up and the advantage of an extra man they were soon on the attack again. This was impacting on the visitors, injuries abounded and a period of uncontested scrums resulted for a time until their wayward player returned. Now getting possession and able to use the wind, the home team pinned the visitors back. ’Shire’s lineout was working well and possession was being won on the opposition throw. Gordon Keith, Jason McKie, Munro McConnell and Keith McNiel were destructive in the loose. With 35 minutes on the clock, they converted this pressure into points. Jason McKie crashed over the line to score after a fine period of play by all the forwards. Once again the conversion went wide. The score remained 10-5 at half time.

The weather improved and wind dropped after the break. Cambuslang took advantage and pinned the home side back. Stout defending and strong rucking disrupted their progress. McKie and Wilson were making a real nuisance of themselves in the back row. The tight players, particularly hooker Keith, were turning over ball. Unfortunately, they could not break out and Cambus kept the pressure on. With 10 minutes gone a mix-up at the base of the ’Shire scrum on the five-metre line allowed the visiting scrum-half to get possession and dive over. The softening wind gave their kicker a chance and he added the conversion.

It was now the visitors’ turn to apply the pressure. They varied their attack, with long and short kicks, forwards popping up in the backs and good support play. Despite ’Shire’s best efforts they scored again through their winger in the corner, again adding the extra points. They were now in the ascendance and, just three minutes later, the winger was in again for a try and the conversion was good.

’Shire fought hard and came back at them, kicking for field position. Great chasing and recovery put them close to the visitors’ line. Once again the home strength in the tight has shown and from rucking and recycling Jason McKie drove through what seemed an impossible space to score his second try, though the conversion was missed. As the game was drawing to a close, the ’Shire coach brought all the young guns off the bench. They ran the ball at Cambuslang but both time and eventually the touchline allowed Mr Leslie to blow for “no side”.

This was a great game of rugby. Those who stayed to watch had a great afternoon’s entertainment. The only down side for the locals was the score line, with ’Shire getting nothing for their efforts despite giving their all.

With three games to go, two away from home and results elsewhere not being favourable, it will be a challenge. However, if they can show the same commitment and drive and continue to work as a team the results will come.

’Shire : N Warwick, A Farquahar (Capt), J McIntosh, D MacCaig, M Clark, C Austin, J Patterson:

M Hastie, G Keith, A Love, G Dunlop, M McConnell, J McKie, T Wilson, K McNeil.

Subs: R McCreadie, J Mongomery, K Little, C Reid, A McMaster, J Dalrymple, H McGeoch

Davie Hunter

There was little to cheer about for Wigtownshire crews on Saturday’s season-opening Snowman Rally in Inverness.

With heavy sleet and snow showers making for treacherous conditions on the forest stages to the north and south of the Highland capital, Newton Stewart’s Craig McMiken was forced to call it a day with mechanical problems on the penultimate stage, while Port William crew Fraser Wilson and Steven Broll ended up in a ditch.

At the top end of the leaderboard, reigning Scottish and British champion David Bogie from Dumfries got his season off to the best possible start with a second-successive victory on the opening round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

McMiken, with Elgin co-driver Susan Shanks, had a positive start to the day in his Mitsubishi Evo 9, with an equal 15th fastest time through the opening Meall Mor stage to the south of Inverness. However, a broken driveshaft at the start of the first of two short spectator stages saw the pair drop well down the rankings before they could get it fixed at the service break.

That done, McMiken was an impressive sixth fastest through the slippery fourth, and at 13 miles, longest, stage – Torr Achilty: 38 seconds shy of Bogie, and four seconds ahead of the eventual rally runner-up, Mike Faulkner. It hauled McMiken and Shanks up to 13th overall, with two stages remaining, but they had to throw in the towel when the car lost drive on the penultimate test.

Wilson and Broll had improved their overall position by leaps and bounds over the first few stages: a top 30 finish on the opening test was followed by a 19th equal quickest time on the first short spectator stage, and eighth equal on the next. It meant they were lying 18th overall by the time they reached the service area at Muir of Ord, where repairs were carried out on the exhaust.

With reports of “carnage” and cars going off “all over the place” , word came back that the Port William pair had “beached” the EVO just off the road on the fourth stage. With no spectators around to help them get the car back on the road, their day was done.

Meanwhile, Newton Stewart navigator Laura Marshall had a more successful day alongside Honda Civic driver Graeme Smith from Carluke. They returned to the finish in Inverness in 24th place overall, and a very commendable second in class in the fiercely competitive 1600 category.

For Bogie, co-driven by Kevin Rae, it was a case of picking up where he left off last season in his Mitsubishi EVO 9. The double champions finished a minute and eight seconds ahead of Kirtlebridge-based Mike Faulkner and Bingley navigator Peter Foy, in an EVO 6. Kirkgunzeon farmer Rory Young, with Carlisle’s Allan Cathers on the notes, was a superb fourth at the wheel of his EVO 5.

On paper it might have looked like a comfortable win for the double champions, but in reality it was anything but – Bogie admitting to some scary moments. “We’re both obviously delighted. You can’t kick off your season with anything better than a win. However, the conditions were really difficult - some of the toughest I’ve ever had to drive in. Everyone who got round this rally deserves a medal because you could get caught out so quickly. We had a couple of moments which could have put us in a ditch and ended our rally. The only other frustration was the car misfiring throughout the day, but we made it to the end, so no complaints”.

Dumfries’ Iain Haining and co-driver Mairi Riddick from Haugh of Urr did not have their troubles to seek on the way to second in class in their 2WD Vauxhall Nova. Said Haining: “The first four stages were grand, but on the second last stage we burst the rear brake pipe, so the pedal was going to the floor for the last few miles. We did a hasty repair, but the brakes weren’t great for the last 12 miles and with the snow as well it made things really interesting.”

Missing from the start-line was 2010 Snowman winner Jock Armstrong. The Castle Douglas driver had submitted a late entry after securing a hired Mitsubishi Evo 9. However, a misfire and other mechanical problems with the car on the eve of the event scuppered any hopes of competing.

The second round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship is the Brick & Steel Border Counties Rally in Jedburgh on March 17.

Snowman Rally – Dumfries and Galloway finishers, with total times:

1. David Bogie (Dumfries)/Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi EVO 9 50 mins 03 secs

2. Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge)/Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi EVO 6 51.11

4. Rory Young (Kirkgunzeon)/Allan Cathers (Carlisle) Mitsubishi EVO 5 52.49

20. Iain Haining (Dumfries)/Mairi Riddick (Haugh of Urr) Vauxhall Nova 55.49

24. Graeme Smith (Carluke)/Laura Marshall (Newton Stewart) Honda Civic 56.44

25. Richard Stewart (Dumfries)/Carin Logan (Kelso) Subaru Impreza 56.48

67. Jim Robertson (Thornhill)/Helen Brown (Dumfries) Citreon C2R2 1.37.18