The top of the table clash was always going to be a tough affair and so it turned out.
Leaders Garnock, the only side to have beaten the Blacks this season - 26-5 at Beith back in October - managed it again in a tough encounter at windy Greenlaw.
They move eight points ahead in the Tennent’s West One table although Stewartry have a game in hand.
Both teams had big warm up sessions before Garnock kicked off immediately taking play into the Stewartry 22, pressing hard for the opening score. That came just four minutes in, Stewartry having been unable to clear their lines or even get a hand on the ball, 0-5.
With seven minutes gone, the Blacks won a high tackle penalty and the ball was kicked to touch.
Stevie McCulloch won the lineout feeding top try scorer Stevie Hogg who went over, captain John Picken adding the conversion in just seven minutes, 7-5.
Garnock piled on the pressure and were rewarded in 14 minutes with a converted try, 7-12.
Michael Yates replaced the injured David Maxwell almost half an hour in and the visitors extended their lead with a penalty just before the break, 7-15.
A lively start to the second half saw a Garnock player yellow carded in only three minutes, the first of two, before another penalty put them further ahead, 7-18.
By now Garnock were in command and a converted try in the corner in 50 minutes increased the lead to 7-25.
But Stewartry rallied and made good progress with a penalty to touch before prop Iain McMorran added to his try count in the 63rd minute. John Picken added the conversion 14-25 to bring some cheer to the home support.
Stewartry: M McCulloch, K McGuire, I McMorran, D Maxwell, T McLean, S McCulloch, A Lindsay, S Hogg, A Nicholson, D Armstrong, L Spence, TJ McCarney, R Austin, A Moffat, J Picken (c), F Barne, J Forsyth, F Gibson, M Yates.
