The New Year saw the return of League rugby to Bellsland last Saturday where Stewartry were the visitors and left with the spoils winning by the closest of margins 13-12.

Kilmarnock kicked off with the ball failing to go ten metres giving the visitors a scrum on the halfway. For five or six minutes the home side were then on the back foot defending against the advances of the opposition. Stewartry were awarded a penalty for offside aided ten metres for back chatting and moved deep into the Kilmarnock twenty - two. They forced over the line but were held up giving Kilmarnock a goal line drop - out.
The ball was fielded but a knock on gave Kilmarnock the first scrum of the day. The ball was won but promptly knocked on giving possession back to Stewartry. The visitors attacked recycling the ball from the breakdown and went over for a disputed try which was given and earned Kilmarnock hooker Jordan Duncan a yellow card for dissent. 5-0 with ten minutes played.

Stewartry kicked downfield from the restart and the ball was shipped to Kilmarnock winger Chris Milligan who breezed past two defenders and cut inside with the ball being transferred along the Kilmarnock backline only to be pulled back for a penalty to Kilmarnock. Craig McWhirter kicked to the corner giving Kilmarnock a lineout five metres from the Stewarty goal line. The lineout was lost at the tail and Stewartry tried to run out of defence but were turned over. Kilmarnock charged goal wards with Chris Milligan forging ahead followed by drives by Adam Roy and Sam Diamond. Pressing the goal line Morton Sinclair dropped the ball and the Killie pressure was halted as Stewartry countered but were held up giving a scrum to Kilmarnock. The heavens opened and John Limond replaced Morton Sinclair.

From the scrum Craig McWhirter kicked ahead and the ball was returned with the same player breaking but passing forward on the opposition ten metre line. Stewartry won the scrum and kicked downfield with the breeze behind, Chris Milligan fielded the ball and cleared to touch for a Stewartry lineout. The lineout ball was won but a knock on gave Kilmarnock a scrum on the halfway line.

The scrum was won and the ball moved through the backline with fullback Robbie Colman joining the line and kicking ahead for Connor Turnbull
to chase. The Stewartry fullback was tackled and Kilmarnock made a steal with Craig Sheppard continuing the move, stand-off David Smith released the backline with Colman to Spiers to Smith to Chris Milligan who ran in from close quarters for a well - executed try in the corner.
No conversion from wide, 5-5 midway through the half.

John Limond was replaced by Ewan Callaghan and Jordan Duncan returned. Kilmarnock showed more promise after the try but Stewartry focused and began to dominate play with their inside centre TJ McCarney causing problems for the home defence. Kilmarnock stand-off David Smith received a head knock and was asked to leave the game with Frazer Corrance making a return after a long absence. Stewartry continued to attack and in the final minute of the first half were given a penalty in front of the posts which they converted. 8-5 at half time.

The half time pep talk over Stuart McFadzean replaced Jonathan Goodlet in the backrow. Kilmarnock had the slight breeze and the low sun on their backs. Sam Diamond fielded the restart kick passing to Craig Sheppard and from the ruck Craig McWhirter kicked up field. Stewartry countered and the fullback linked with the forwards to win a penalty. The tap and go was taken followed by another penalty for a high tackle. Out with kicking distance the tap and go was repeated but Kilmarnock won a turnover and kicked ahead. The ball was fielded and returned to Kilmarnock with Duncan linking with Robbie Colman who made a break to set up speeding winger Frazer Corrance but alas the ball was dropped. Stewartry won their scrum and mounted a series of attacks with Stuart McFadzean suffering a shoulder injury and was replaced.
Stewartry were penalised and Craig McWhirter sclaffed his kick to touch and the visitors countered but soon lost possession with Kilmarnock setting up a backline move where Alan Spiers broke passing to Robbie Paxton to winger Corrance who kicked ahead and was taken out off the ball. No penalty but a lineout in the Stewartry twenty - two. Kilmarnock won a scrum from the lineout and put pressure on the visitors as they defended their goal line.

Stewartry conceded a penalty for holding on the deck and from twenty - five metres Craig McWhirter’s kick crashed off the crossbar and Stewartry cleared to touch. From five metres out Kilmarnock lost their lineout. Another lineout and Niall Murphy won the ball with Sam Diamond breaking and winning a penalty. Craig McWhirter kicked into the twenty - two. Murphy was hoisted and from the lineout the forwards drove with the ball being released to stand-off to Alan Spiers who switched direction and passed to Sam Diamond. The number eight made a speculative kick ahead and hooker Jordan Duncan beat the defence to score a well-deserved try for the home side. No touchline conversion Kilmarnock ahead 12-8 with twenty minutes of the half played.

From the restart Kilmarnock’s Sam Diamond broke but was held up and dispossessed, Stewartry moved the ball but were penalised. Craig McWhirter from thirty seven metres in front was short of the crossbar. Stewartry ran the ball out of defence and from a kick ahead moved into Kilmarnock territory, a rare occurrence this half. Chris Milligan picked up the ball and passed to Jonathan Goodlet who set up the ruck, Morton Sinclair carried on but his pass to Sam Diamond was dropped. Kilmarnock pushed Stewartry off the ball and won a penalty after a retake. Chris McWhirter from twenty eight metres was wide again. Another chance to seal the game gone. Stewartry kicked from defence with a lucky bounce off a Kilmarnock forward to win a scrum. Holding their scrum the ball was moved but the visitors were penalised. Kilmarnock opted for a kick to touch. Niall Murphy was replaced by Sean McCafferty.

Kilmarnock won the lineout with a catch and drive which saw them deep in the Stewartry twenty – two but a knock on gave the visitors scrum, needlessly Kilmarnock were penalised for pushing too early. In the next few minutes Stewartry were awarded three penalties to take them into the Kilmarnock half. A fourth penalty was given for Sam Diamond cleanly winning the ball in the lineout, going through actioned the referee. Stewarty took a tap and go and moved into the Kilmarnock twenty - two and a fifth penalty was awarded in front of the posts. Stewartry were hell bent on winning the game and another tap and go saw Kilmarnock defending valiantly. Yet another penalty for what and Stewarty took another tap and go. Kilmarnock on the back foot were penalised for the final time for holding on the deck. Seventh time from the tap and go and Stewartry breached the Kilmarnock defence to score the winning try. No conversion Scoreline 13-12 with a minute to go.

Kilmarnock took the restart kick, it was fielded by Stewartry who took the ball into contact, formed the ruck and the ball was kicked to touch to end the game. Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

Coach Stuart Pratt was clearly disappointed by the defeat but praised his players for the spirited display against the league leaders which was a marked improvement from the defeat by Cumnock in December. He asked the players to forget the result and focus on the Shield Competition saying we can still influence the outcome of the league.

Kilmarnock Man of The Match Morton Sinclair.

Kilmarnock won the clubhouse Boat Race.