GREENOCK Wanderers' losing run continued with a 31-12 defeat away to Stewartry on Saturday in a battle to move out of the bottom three in National 4, writes John Dyer.
Wanderers started well, scoring after 10 minutes, with Brodie Stone diving over from close range for an unconverted try after good work by the forwards.
The home side thereafter dominated most of the half through their forwards, who pushed the visitors at scrums off the ball to set up their backs for three unanswered tries by Chris Root, Lochy Spence and Merlin Lawrence to open up a 19-5 lead at half-time.
The visitors nearly had a score, but Robb was tackled short of the line, and the chance was gone.
A forced change at scrum half by Wanderers brought Kelly onto the wing, who was then yellow-carded for a high tackle to shorten his contribution.
Wanderers brought on Kaura in the forwards to try and mitigate the dominance the home side continued to enjoy, but any chance the Fort Matilda side had of salvaging anything from the match disappeared when the home side added a further two scores in the second half - the first in the 65th minute through Sam Tait, and the second, courtesy of James McCulloch, as the final whistle approached, again courtesy of their forwards creating the openings for their speedy backs.
Callum Robb added a consolation score for the visitors late on, converted by Jack McDaid, but it was no more than a crumb of comfort for a Wanderers side who slip to second bottom in the table and will have to start winning matches soon, beginning this Saturday at home to Linlithgow, if they are to avoid becoming embroiled in a dogfight at the bottom of the table.
Elsewhere, Saturday proved to be a better day for Wanderers' 2nd XV who had a fine 72-12 win away to Cambuslang.
Bad weather on Sunday saw the ladies' first and second XV matches both postponed.
Greenock Wanderers' club sponsor is MMSEARCH; the ladies' sponsors are Straps of Gourock and Brow House Cosmetics.
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