On a sunlit December day resembling summer, the much-anticipated Spice Cup derby between Wigtownshire RFC and Newton Stewart drew an impressive crowd of 1,700 supporters. The marquee setup provided a social hub for fans to reconnect and enjoy the annual local rugby spectacle.

Despite Wigtownshire playing four leagues below Newton Stewart, their strong domestic form in Regional West 2 promised a competitive outing. However, Newton Stewart, bolstered by last-minute team adjustments including the Ferrie brothers, delivered a clinical performance.

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First Half: Newton Stewart's Ruthless Start

The opening minutes set the tone as Newton Stewart's Calum Gaw darted through Wigtownshire's defense, with his try converted by Jack Gaw (0-7). Shortly after, James McMiken's powerful run and deft offload to Dafyyd Gwynne extended the lead, again converted by Jack Gaw (0-14).

The Gwynne brothers' rivalry was on display, with Dafyyd scoring for Newton Stewart while his brother Frank battled valiantly for Wigtownshire. The closing stages of the match would also see the Forsyth brothers faced off against their cousins, David and Ross Adams, in a family affair adding intrigue to the contest.

Newton Stewart continued their dominance, with David Gaw’s clever pass out of a tackle leading to Wilson Sloan’s try (0-21). Tries from Will Allan (0-26) and Robert Service, showcasing skill with clever passes, followed by another from Sloan, pushed Newton Stewart’s halftime lead to a commanding 0-38.

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Second Half: Wigtownshire's Resilience Shines Through

Changes from both coaches allowed local talents to shine in the second half. Newton Stewart's coach, Nic Lloyd, substituted the Ferrie brothers, while Wigtownshire's John Dalrymple refreshed his pack. This gave Wigtownshire dominance in the scrum and some ball to attack from.

Tempers flared at the 60-minute mark, resulting in Andrew McAuley receiving a yellow card for over-aggressiveness. Newton Stewart capitalized quickly as young Angus Bryson burst through the middle to set up Wilson Sloan for his hat trick. Jack Gaw's conversion brought the score to 0-45.

Wigtownshire found their rhythm in the final 15 minutes, with young flanker Jack McConnell leading from the front. Cam Young came tantalizingly close to scoring following a clever Jason McKie chip, highlighting Wigtownshire's growing confidence.

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Man of the Match

The Man of the Match award went to Newton Stewart’s Wilson Sloan, whose hat trick and consistent impact earned him the accolade. For Wigtownshire, Jack McConnell's maturity and tireless work in defense and attack earned him recognition.
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Coaches' Comments

Wigtownshire coach John Dalrymple acknowledged the challenge, stating:
"Disappointed with the result, I don’t think we were able to live with Newton’s intensity, and that put the game to bed in the first half. The second half was much improved, and it was great to see how many young homegrown players we have at the club, with six of them making their first Spice Cup appearances."

Teams -
Wigtownshire
N. Forsyth, S McCauley, S. Forsyth, J McKie (c), M McColm, B. Forsyth, F Gwynne, I. Allan, J Patterson, M. Pirrie, B Sharples, S Mitchell, A. McClymont, J McConnell, J McGarvie.
Subs: C Keith, A McAuley, J Farquhar, C Young, O Kelly, A King, A McMillan

Newton Stewart
J McIlwraith, C Gaw, A Bryson, J Gaw, R Service, D Gaw, R Campbell, T Mcdonald, W Ferrie, J McMiken, M Craig, D Gwynne, A Campbell, A Ferrie
Subs: TJ Rivenell, A Sloan, G Gaw, R Adams, D Adams, D Fisher.
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Looking Ahead

Wigtownshire will look to bounce back on January 11th when they travel to Clydebank to restart their league campaign. Newton Stewart will host GHK in what promises to be another tough encounter.

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Final Score: Wigtownshire 0 - 45 Newton Stewart

The Spice Cup may have gone to Newton Stewart this year, but the local derby remains a cherished fixture, uniting communities and showcasing the spirit of rugby.