A fine day at London Road saw Wigtownshire RFC return to league duty against newly promoted Mid Argyll RFC. Both players and spectators were casting an eye to the sky, with thunder and lightning rolling down Loch Ryan as the match wore on – thankfully the weather held off until after the final whistle.

Shire went into the contest without a few familiar names, with Angus McClymont and Bryce Gilliland missing out, but there was a welcome return for James “Fermer” McGarvie. Oliver Galloway from Newton Stewart RFC made his debut after dual registering. For many around the club, the last memory of Mid Argyll was a cup tie in Lochgilphead some 20 years ago – a reminder of how much of a fresh encounter this was.

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First Half

Both teams came flying out of the blocks, and the first 25 minutes were a stalemate, with each side held up over the line. The breakthrough came when Andrew “Mick” McMillan returned a clearance kick deep into Mid Argyll territory. Jason McKie carried further before feeding Adam Ingram, who linked with Neil Forsyth. The stand-off used quick feet and sharp vision to slice through the defence and touch down.

Shire’s second try was straight from the highlight reel – Jason McKie leaping “like a salmon” to intercept a Mid Argyll pass inside their 22 before racing in to score.

The visitors, however, showed their mettle, hammering away at the Shire line before finally forcing their way over. At the break, Shire led 12–7, but the penalty count – ten conceded – was a concern.

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Second Half

Coach Jason McKie did not mince his words at the interval, demanding better discipline. The message worked: Shire only conceded one penalty in the next half-hour, giving them the platform to play.

Captain Scott Forsyth produced a stunning 50-metre run, breaking through the Mid Argyll defence. Strong carries from Fermer McGarvie and McKie then drew defenders in, allowing Neil Forsyth to release the ball wide for Mick McMillan to dive over.

With Mid Argyll conceding penalties of their own, Shire gained valuable field position. The home scrum began to tire, but replacements Dozer and Jake Rennie made an immediate impact, restoring dominance up front.

Blair Forsyth added three more points from the tee after Mid Argyll were penalised for hands in the ruck.

The final ten minutes, however, saw Shire slip back into old habits, conceding four quick penalties under pressure. Mid Argyll eventually powered over with their big ball-carrier, closing the gap. Still, Shire held firm to finish 22–14 winners.

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Summary

Coach McKie was satisfied with the win but admitted a bonus point was left behind due to sloppy finishing in the final third. He also acknowledged that Shire were fortunate Mid Argyll did not make more of their own chances, with several last-ditch tackles bailing out the defence.

The Leswalt Village Store Man of the Match went to James “Fermer” McGarvie, who made 10 strong carries, 13 tackles, and won a turnover in a tireless performance.

Next up, Shire head to Annan to kick off their cup campaign next Saturday.

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Wigtownshire Team:
B Forsyth, A McMillan, J McKie, S Forsyth, B Burnett, N Forsyth, A Ingram, M Pirrie, I Allan, A McAuley, B Sharples, J McConnell, S McCauley, N Loughrey, J McGarvie.

Replacements: J Rennie, A Dunbar, O Galloway, R McAuley, Z Palmer, A Slavin.