Garnock 66 Greenock Wanderers 7

GARNOCK only required one point to be crowned champions of National Division 4 and they achieved their objective by the first quarter of the match against Greenock Wanderers.

Wanderers had three late call-offs in the morning as well as the loss of a couple of stalwarts due to work and injury.

They managed to arrange for Johnny Murray, who had gone to Edinburgh from Wanderers to study and hadn't played rugby for a year, to help out.

In front of a large local crowd expectant of a win, and a former president of the SRU on hand to present the Championship trophy, it was obvious from the kick-off that the home side were fired up for the match in atrocious wet, cold and windy conditions.

Garnock decided to play with the wind and after early pressure scored a converted try through their forwards in the fifth minute, 7-0.

Shortly afterwards a home forward was yellow carded for foul play but this did not stop them from scoring, this time after the ball was passed along their back line, 14-0.

Wanderers finally put some passages of play together and threatened the Garnock line but were thwarted and the home side punted the ball deep into Wanderers' half and a slack kick allowed a home forward catch and run in to score to make it 21-0 after just 18 minutes.

Further pressure inside Wanderers 22 saw a home forward break out of a ruck to score under the posts, 28-0.

Throughout the constant pressure by the home side, Wanderers could not be faulted for their tackling and rearguard action. Also, the backs, with very little ball, ran at the solid home defence without success.

From a lineout inside Wanderers 22 a home forward caught the throw and ran untouched for a score, 35-0 at half time.

It should be noted despite the weather conditions the Garnock number 10 kicked all the conversions in the first half, some from the touchline.  

With the strong wind at their backs Wanderers got off to a promising start in the second half, which resulted in a try by Lyle Murray, converted by McDaid to make it 35-7.

But Garnock very quickly came back at Wanderers and from a lineout they passed the ball from one side of the pitch to the other before breaching Wanderers' defence scoring in the corner, 42-7.

A further two quick tries by the home side in the 20th and 22nd minute through the forwards again made life very difficult with 20 minutes to play, 52 - 7.

Wanderers kept fighting their corner with sorties into the home territory but were always kept out by a solid defence.

Again it was down to the home side who finished the match with two quick late tries by their backs, making the final score 66-7.

Despite the scoreline, Wanderers, with a weakened side, fought to the final whistle but Garnock were well worth their victory having been consistent all season, winning 19 of their 20 matches and they are worthy Champions.

Wanderers have also achieved their season's objective by remaining to play their rugby next season in National Division 4.

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