Stewartry recorded just their fifth win over Ardrossan in 15 attempts with a convincing victory in Ayrshire on Saturday.
It was the first time the Blacks had visited Ardrossan since 2004 and they won a penalty in the first minute. It was quickly taken by T J McCarney, who took off from the halfway line and took play to just short of the try line, where he passed to John Picken to open the scoring. The conversion into the strong wind was missed.
Ardrossan soon used the wind to their advantage and scored an equalising try in 11 members when their number 10 found a way through some loose defence.
Stewartry were under pressure and were lucky to get away with a couple of high tackles that could have been yellow cards. And on 40 minutes an Angus Lindsay break with Wright and Picken gave Robert Austin an easy run in for try number two and a 10-5 half-time lead for the Blacks.
The half-time chat from coach Sandy Currie and a number of replacements coming on reaped an early reward with Lindsay and McCarney putting Archie Nicholson in for the third try. John Picken added the conversion.
Stevie Hogg, who had come on at half-time, then picked up from the back of the scrum and charged forward for the bonus point fourth try, Picken once again converting.
With the strong wind behind them, Stewartry were in full charge and in 67 minutes David Maxwell had a clear run in for a try, Picken converting to take the score to 31-5.
Picken continued to bombard the Ardrossan 22 with wind assisted high balls. Stevie McCulloch, Lindsay and Fraser took Moffat from half way for try number six.
McCarney and Root set Andy Picken away but he was stopped in the corner before Stewartry pressure earned another try for Archie Nicholson, Picken adding the points.
The final score saw Hogg race in from the halfway line to cross the line. The conversion was initially knocked off by the referee but awarded by the touch judges for a final score of 48-5.
Stewartry squad (all used): R Austin, A Moffat, F Forsyth, TJ McCarney, M Wright, J Picken,(c) A Nicholson, H Carson, A Lindsay, C Root, J McCulloch, D Maxwell, M McCulloch, R Barne, T McLean, I McMorrin, S McCulloch, S Hogg, A Picken.
