Nine teams battled it out in intense heat at Stewartry Rugby Club’s Tens tournament sponsored by Loch Ken Holiday Park on Saturday.
Stewartry lost in the final game 14-7 to local rivals Newton Stewart in a hard fought final in the warmest ever rugby weather conditions at Greenlaw since the first Sevens Tournament back in 1971.
Newton Stewart started the round robin tournament with a fine 38-0 win over Scottish league rivals Dumfries.
Stewartry were next up with a close encounter against Wigtownshire, winning 12-5 and far travelled Lenzie on pitch two beat Annan 20-7.
Stewartry made it two wins in a row when they defeated Dumfries 47-0, Wigtownshire beat Lenzie 21-7 for their first win while Newton Stewart proved too strong for Annan winning 29-7.
Wigtownshire had the biggest win of the day when they beat Dumfries by a massive 60-0 for their second win and Newton Stewart made it three wins in a row, beating Lenzie 34-0.
The tightest game of the day was between Stewartry and Annan with Annan winning 7-5 in a rough and tumble local derby.
Newton Stewart kept up their winning run easing past Wigtownshire 21-0 to put them into the final.
The hot weather proved to be the undoing for Dumfries and with three defeats to nil they withdrew from the tournament.
Stewartry completed their third win with a 22-5 over Lenzie and Wigtownshire finished with a third win beating Annan 24-12.
The final game of the men’s tournament saw the unbeaten Newton Stewart beat Stewartry by two tries to one 14-7 to win the new Loch Ken Holiday Park Rugby Tens Trophy, donated by Mungo Bryson.
The club would like to thank sponsors, Loch Ken Holiday Park and Niven’s Transport for their support with changing containers.
The ladies Ten’s Tournament turned out to be a trio of games played by the Stewartry Sirens against the Ayr Ladies, as the only teams to turn up.
The first game saw the Sirens win 24-12 to build up a bit of lead in the game where the aggregate of the three games would be the winners.
Ayr Ladies won the second game 22-12 giving the Sirens a narrow two point 36-34 lead going into the final match where Sirens found their second wind and retained the Stewartry Ladies Cup with a 41-12 win giving a 77-46 win.
Stewartry will have a pre-season warm up match against Newton Stewart at Greenlaw on Saturday at 2pm, playing for the Sandy Irvine Memorial Trophy.
On Saturday, August 27, Stewartry will host Wigtownshire in the first round of the Scottish National Shield with a 3pm kick-off.
