Stewartry RFC thump Lenzie to strengthen place at top of Tennent's West Division One

Stewartry cemented top spot in Tennents West Division One with a thumping win against lowly-placed Lenzie.

It stretched their lead over second-place Garnock to eight points, both sides having played 14 games. However, Allan Glens are lurking in third spot, 11 points behind the Blacks but with three games in hand.

So April 29 could see the clash of the season when Stewartry head to Bishopbriggs for what is shaping up to be the league decider.

The Blacks took just five minutes to open the scoring on Saturday, a breakaway ending with Ty Wilson crashing over and captain John Picken adding the extras.

Stevie Hogg’s charging run was stopped just short of the try line but Picken was on hand to scoop up and dive over to make it 12-0. On 11 minutes the Blacks were penalised for a high tackle and Lenzie got on the scoreboard, 12-3.

Nine minutes later Robert Austin finished off a fine move by the backs with the third, 17-3, before Scott Milligan got the fourth bonus point try after good work by Maxwell, Wilson, Armstrong and Austin, 24-3.

Soon after Armstrong had to leave the field for ten minutes after a head clash with Murray Wright coming on.

With the interval approaching Rory Porteous and then Nicholson added two more tries with the Blacks almost playing seven-a-side rugby.

Lenzie remained on the wrong side of a pummelling in the second period with Dave Maxwell ending a good move started by Ty Wilson and involving Picken, to notch up 39 points before Picken himself touched down to make it 46-3.

However, Lenzie found fresh energy with 20 minutes left and good play saw them score at the posts, 46-10, but Archie Nicholson soon restored the differential, Picken adding the conversion, 53-10.

Porteous added try number ten, converted