Stewartry RFC see off North Berwick for first win in three games

Stewartry fought hard to earn their first victory in three games with a 27-10 win over North Berwick at Greenlaw on Saturday.

The win saw the Blacks climb two places into fifth in the Scottish National 4 table and record points on the board for the first time since the middle of September.

On the balance of play, things seemed fairly level in the opening exchanges of the game but it was Stewartry who drew first blood through the kicking of former captain John Picken.

Despite trailing 6-0, the visitors were the ones to get the first try of the game and put pressure on Sandy Currie’s men.

Little else happened in the first half, however, with both sides kicking well into space and fronting up solidly in defence.

North Berwick started the second half better, getting another try early on to lead for the first time in the game to lead 10-6.

The lead did not last long, though, with Stewartry striking back almost instantly through prop Ash Mathias. The home side was dominant in the opposition’s 22 but could not find a way through until, after a number of phases, were able to dot the ball down and convert the try to extend their initial lead.

Stewartry then began to turn the screw and take charge of both the game and the scoreboard. Rory Porteous cut through the middle of the North Berwick defence from close range to score under the posts in his first game of the 2023/24 season and, not long after, vice-captain TJ McCarney powered through multiple tackles to add a third.

The Blacks pushed for a try-scoring bonus point in the final minutes but were unable to find it.

The win, however, is the all-important factor and moves the Greenlaw side further from the threat of relegation.

Both the Stewartry men’s and