The top game in the south west turned into a one sided affair as Stewartry swept Annan aside.
The current holders of the Chisholm Cup, grabbed a Tennents West division one bonus point in the process, scoring five tries in the first leg of the current local derby competition.
The Blacks set out their stall right from the start putting the Annan pack under great pressure at the first scrum. That saw Stevie Hogg break through for the opening try after just five minutes. Captain John Picken landed the conversion.
And it was not long before the second try arrived from a 13th minute penalty into the visitors’ 22 that saw Hogg set off on a driving run with winger Spence. The recycled ball went to Armstrong who threw a long passback to Spence and he touched down. The conversion was missed, 12-0.
Annan had two penalty opportunities to haul themselves back into the game in the 19th and 21st minutes but both efforts slipped past the posts.
The did halt another scoring chance for the Blacks when Greenlaw’s new half back combination of Nicholson and Armstrong took play to half way where, on the back of a scrum. Spence chipped ahead but Austin lost out on the race.
The third try came on the half hour mark from another penalty when Hogg fed the backs and John Picken went over then watched his conversion attempt come back off the upright.
Prop Iain McMorran came on for his 200th Stewartry game at the start of the second half.
Mick McCulloch, Carson and Maxwell gave Austin another scoring chance but he was smothered by the Annan defence before Armstrong landed a huge kick into the corner. The Blacks won poossession, Hogg putting Picken in for his second and the bonus point try. Andrew Picken added the extras to make it 24-0,
On the hour mark Annan came close after five phases of possession but lost out when Armstrong cleared to half way.
The fifth try came in 78 minutes when Nicholson stole Annan possession and sent Ty Wilson off on a jinking run. Nicholson was there to take the return pass and complete the Stewartry scoring.
The Editor of the Annan match programme forecast a last minute score for his side and a win. He got the score right but Stewartry won comfortably to a take a 24 point aggregate lead into the seocnd leg of the Cup at Annan on March 5.
Stewartry Squad. J Picken (c), T Wilson, R Austin, TJ McCarney, L Spence, A Armstrong, A Nicholson, M McCulloch, K McGuire, I McMorran, D Maxwell, H Carson, S McCulloch, A Lindsay, S Hogg, J Forsyth, T McLean, C Root, A Picken.
