The side of Stewartry RFC captain John Picken claimed the bragging rights over president Robin Austin’s squad in the annual festive fixture at Greenlaw on Saturday.
The good weather brought out a large crowd and both teams put on an entertaining game with a good standard of rugby.
The scrummage and lineouts were evenly matched and the Captain’s squad featured a mix of younger players and eight former captains.
The President’s side kicked off but it was the Blacks of the Captain’s XV whose hooker McGuire was first to break through, closely followed by Doug Boyd who charged into the Whites 22 with the ball passed along the line to put Wilson away.
Forsyth set McCulloch away with Hogg and Boyd again to the fore, putting Scott Milligan in for the opening try in 13 minutes. John Picken added the conversion as usual kicker Craig Mosey was already off with a dislocated finger.
Forsyth and McCarney made 40 metres finishing with Hogg stopped in the corner.
The President’s side hit back with Dunlop kicking a penalty to the corner in 25 minutes. The Whites continued to press but Fraser Forsyth won possession and broke clear in the 22 to score a second try for the Captain’s side.
On 35 minutes the Whites closed the gap with Cameron Taylor breaking clear to score out in the corner. The conversion was missed for 12-5 at half-time.
The Blacks started the second half with Wilson chipping into the corner then the Forsyth brothers drove through and chipped ahead giving Robert Austin an easy run in at the posts for a third try. Lochie Spence added the conversion for 19-5 to the Captain’s squad.
On 52 minutes a breakaway down the right saw Murdo Scott take his chance to score a second try for the President’s team and take the score to 19-10.
Austin continued to keep the pressure on with long kicks to touch in the corners, giving captain John Picken the chance to break clear down the left wing in 63 minutes for the fourth try. The conversion was missed.
Two minutes later it was game over as Picken again grabbed his chance to score a second try and added the points. The Blacks controlled the game for the last 15 minutes, both squads giving time on the pitch for all their squads.
An entertaining game with some of the veterans – including Duck, Swalwell, Dunlop and Cannon – still able to produce some skillful plays.
Captain’s squad: C McGuire, K McGuire, M McCulloch, D Maxwell, S Hogg, C Root, S McCulloch, Douglas Boyd, J Picken (c), R Austin, S Milligan, Danny Boyd, TJ McCarney F Forsyth, C Mosey, B Spence, J Forsyth, B Johnstone, B Moratti, R Cunningham, F Smith, L Spence, A Nicholson.
President’s squad: H Carson, D Burton, L Henderson, Derek Boyd, D Hutchison, M Sherwin, M Scott, D Dunlop, J Farquhar, J Johnstone, L Young, A Prentice, M Hamilton, P Swalwell. M Yates, A Holman, K Amos, K McMinn, J Kerr, I Fenwick, J Strain, J P Thomson, A Riddell, P Broatch, F Baird, T Cannon, J Fingland.
