Wigtownshire U17s marked their return to home soil with a dramatic 48–46 win over a strong Carrick side, in a well earned gritty performance with a small very tight-knit squad.

The day began with a setback as stalwart Logan was forced out with an injury during the warm-up. All at the club are hoping for a swift recovery.

Despite the early disruption, the team rallied. The front five put in a relentless shift in the engine room, laying the platform for a game full of momentum swings. Young Andrew impressed in the lineout, showing a Salmon-like spring and timing beyond his years. The forwards displayed great maturity, adapting to positional changes and new responsibilities mid-game.

Murray, returning to scrum-half, brought a new level of physicality to his game and delivered slick, accurate distribution under pressure. Outside him, Mason — the most committed trainer in the squad — came to life at fly-half. His vision, combined with sharp passing and tactical kicking, stretched the Carrick defence and kept them guessing.

Ross once again led from the front with hard carries and rock-solid defence, while Stewartry guest player Jamie slotted in seamlessly as a dynamic link between forwards and backs — reading the game superbly and contributing at key moments.

Out wide, Calvin was a constant threat with his pace and trademark niggle, disrupting Carrick’s rhythm. On the opposite wing, Adam possibly covered more ground than anyone — tirelessly sweeping in defence and popping up in attack, making crucial metres throughout.

The match ebbed and flowed, with both sides trading scores and momentum. But in the end, it was Wigtownshire who edged ahead, showing grit and game sense in the closing stages to hold onto a narrow two-point lead.

A well-earned win, built on character, teamwork, and clear signs of progress — especially after a difficult outing away to Bishopton. The boys can take real pride in how they responded, and the future looks bright for this determined group.