Stewartry lifted the Chisholm Cup for the first time since 2014 with victory over Annan on Saturday.
The Blacks’ won the Tennent’s West Region One game 24-8 at Greenlaw, giving them a 37-14 aggregate win in the Chisholm Cup and a record third win of the season over their local rivals.
The teams were led out by mascot Ryan Hind from Stewartry Sharks with the hosts defending a 13-6 lead from the first leg.
They kicked off with Annan returning the ball long into the Stewartry 22. On seven minutes Stewartry had their first attack down the right wing after winning an Annan scrum against the head. Two penalty awards to Annan in 10 minutes saw the visitors’ James Bingham convert the second one to put Annan three points ahead.
Stewartry were back in the game when John Picken took a quick penalty, giving Scott Milligan and Doug Boyd the chance to take play into the Annan 22. Annan won the ball and cleared it long to the Stewartry 22.
Stewartry, from another penalty award on the halfway, saw Hogg, Picken and McGuire make it to 15 metres out before Fraser Forsyth ran clear for the opening try in 17 minutes. The conversion was missed.
The Blacks had big scrums against the head in the next five minutes, the second one pushing the Annan scrum back 10 metres.
On 26 minutes a Jason Forsyth break down the left wing saw him pass inside to prop Mick McCulloch, who set up Stevie McCulloch for the second try. Craig Mosey added the points.
Stewartry continued to dominate the scrums, winning a number against the head, but knock ons on three occasions saw the try scoring chances lost as they led 12-3 at half-time.
Annan restarted the second half with some good backs play before Stewartry’s Danny Boyd took play into the Annan 22, being knocked into touch in the corner. Mosey and Milligan won another penalty to touch where Stevie McCulloch won the ball and T J McCarney took off on a mazy run ending with Fraser Forsyth scoring a second try. The conversion came back of the post but Stewartry were 19 points ahead in the race for the Chisholm Cup.
On 50 minutes and with tempers getting frayed the referee calmed things down with a chat to the captains of both teams.
Stewartry were first to react and some excellent back play saw Craig Mosey have a free run in from his own half for the bonus point fourth try. Mosey added the conversion himself.
Annan hit back on the hour, winning a lineout, and had Stewartry trapped on their line for 10 minutes before James Park scored a try out wide. The conversion was missed and Stewartry ran the clock down for the last 10 minutes to claim the five league points and the Chisholm Cup for the first time since the 2014/15 season.
The trophy has now been competed for 18 times with Stewartry enjoying eight wins and Annan 10.
A fourth win in a row for the Blacks with second placed Allan Glens the visitors this Saturday.
Stewartry man of the match was prop Douglas Boyd.
