Wigtownshire RFC’s four-hour trek to Lochgilphead had everything—high winds, heavy rain, sleet—and that was just the journey. By the time they arrived to face Mid Argyll RFC, conditions had settled, but the pitch remained challenging after weeks of rain, with patches of standing water and plenty of mud underfoot.
With injuries, unavailability and the unavoidable pull of farming duties, Shire’s squad had a slightly “vintage” look about it. The bench featured some familiar names from years gone by, including past captains David Watson and Bobby Stevenson, who made a welcome return to the matchday squad after a lengthy spell away from the game. We won’t be revealing Bobby’s age, but let’s just say the club secretary felt it wise to check in with the SRU to confirm eligibility before naming him on the team sheet. As it turned out, with the job well in hand on the pitch, Bobby was able to enjoy his return from the sidelines, his playing kit staying as clean as when he packed it. Guy Butler and Alec Henry also made their first senior appearances, highlighting a mix of youth and experience that would prove vital.
Coach Jason McKie was quick to praise the commitment shown by those stepping in, and it wouldn’t take long before he led from the front himself.

First Half
Shire started slowly—understandable given the bus legs—and it was Mid Argyll who burst out of the blocks with two quick converted tries in the opening 10 minutes to take a 14–0 lead.
Sensing the need for leadership, McKie shifted back into the back row and took matters into his own hands. A quick tap penalty caught Mid Argyll napping, and he powered over for Shire’s first score. The conversion drifted wide, but the comeback had begun (14–5).
Two minutes later, Shire were back on the attack. After a series of determined but ultimately unsuccessful forward drives at the line, the ball was spun wide for Bruce Burnett to finish in the corner. Another missed conversion kept it at 14–10.
Now fully awake, Shire began to dominate. Sustained pressure saw Jack McConnell cross under the posts, with Blair Forsyth adding the extras to give Shire the lead at 14–17.
Mid Argyll began to feel the pressure—not just from Shire, but from the referee’s whistle. A string of penalties resulted in a yellow card, and with conditions favouring a tighter game, Shire’s forwards took control. Mark Pirrie bulldozed over just before half-time to secure the bonus point, though the conversion was again missed. Half-time: 14–22.

Second Half
The second half picked up where the first left off, with Mid Argyll again falling foul of the referee and receiving another yellow card. With the bonus point secured, captain Scott Forsyth opted to keep the scoreboard ticking with a shot at goal, but brother Blair couldn’t quite find his range on this occasion.
Neil Forsyth (no relation— just a popular surname) then produced a moment of class, dancing through defenders and gliding—quite literally—through the wettest part of the pitch to score. He paid the price with an accidental boot to the head in the process, but after some quick repairs, he lived to tell the tale. Blair converted this time to stretch the lead to 14–29.
With a three-score cushion, Shire took their foot off the gas slightly, and Mid Argyll seized the opportunity. A converted try brought it back to 21–29 and set up a nervy final 10 minutes.
Blair Forsyth at stand-off was giving Shire good field position by keeping Mid Argyll pinned in their own half. A well-executed 50-22 kick gave Shire possession deep in opposition territory, and it was Jason McKie who closed the scoring for the visitors as he had opened it, powering over for his second of the game. Blair added the conversion to extend the lead.
However, there was still time for one final twist, as Mid Argyll crossed for a converted try with the last play of the match to bring the final score to 28–36.

Summary
On a day that demanded a change in approach, Wigtownshire delivered—swapping their usual expansive style for a gritty, forward-dominated performance that got the job done. Credit must go to Mid Argyll, who belied their league position with a spirited display that kept Shire honest throughout.

Attention now turns to next week’s trip to Waysiders Drumpellier, where a win would secure second place and promotion to West Division 1.

The Leswalt Village Store Man of the Match award went to Neil Forsyth, who controlled the game superbly from scrum-half, directed the pack with authority, and capped it off with a well-taken try (and a bandage or two for good measure).

Team
B Gilliland, R McAuley, B Burnett, S Forsyth (c), N Loughrey, B Forsyth, N Forsyth, J Rennie, I Allan, M Pirrie, G Butler, J McConnell, S McAuley, J Rankin, J McKie