RAMPANT Garnock wrapped up the title in swashbuckling style by hammering already relegated Loch Lomond in front of their home fans on Saturday.

Loch Lomond kicked-off in glorious sunny conditions at Lochshore towards the Kilbirnie end but the Garnock side immediately ran the ball back towards the Lomond 22 metre area. Even at this early stage the valley side showed that this would be an open fast game.

They were rewarded in the second minute when Johnny Watson was on hand to sprint some 20 metres to score near the posts. Rory Walker converted to make the score 7-0 after two minutes.

Five minutes later Walker, Danny Irvine and Jamie Macnab combined in a sweet interpassing movement to release winger Ally Anderson who sped over the try line. Again Walker converted and with seven minutes gone Garnock were 14-0 ahead.

In the 10th minute Garnock were defending their line. They won a ruck and Jordan Taggart and Luke Wynn took play towards the half –way line. The ball was shipped to Walker who sped round the cover defence to score at the posts.

He converted to make it 21-0 after 10 minutes.

At this time all the play was coming from Garnock but Loch Lomond were beginning to come more into the game. The next 20 minutes saw the visitors enjoy some periods of good play. They were holding their own in the set scrums but the Garnock defence were always capable of halting Loch Lomond attacks and turning their defence into attack. Garnock were dominating the lineout through David McNair and Watson. The home backs were always trying to run the ball back at their opponents with flankers Graeme Reid and Luke Wynn backing them up.

Garnock were awarded a scrum close to the Loch Lomond line. The forwards drove on and released the ball to scrum half Paul Johnson who powered his way over for the important fourth try of the afternoon. Walker again converted and Garnock moved into a 28-0 lead after half an hour.

With fiove minutes of the half remaining Garnock won a lineout on their 22-metre line. The forwards set up a drive. The ball was released to Irvine who burst through the first line of defence, ran about 60 metres, drew in the full back and fed to Anderson who crossed for his second try. Walker converted.

With half time approaching Garnock visibly relaxed. The Lomond squad did not and forced their way well inside the Garnock half. Their concerted effort was rewarded when their powerful stand off avoided several tackles and scored at the posts. He converted the try.

The second half continued as the first with Garnock dominating play in all phases. With the game well won, the Garnock management wrung the changes with all the substitutes appearing at some time.

They didn’t lose sight of the need to score with tries coming at regular intervals. In one of their very good handling moves the ball went from Macnab to Walker on to Irvine and to the supporting full back Chris Neill to score the best try of the match so far. Walker converted and with 45 minutes on the watch Garnock made it 42-7.

Three minutes later the full back scored his second when he rounded-off a move which he had started with a try well out. The difficult conversion was missed.

Garnock scored two further tries during the game. In the 58th minute Walker finished another fine handling movement from Garnock by scoring between the posts and he converted.

Two minutes from time Irvine completed the try count when he burst through several tackles to score near the posts. Walker converted to make the final score 61 – 7 for Garnock.

At the end of play the celebrations started when Garnock were presented with the SRU West Divison 2 Championship from Bill McMurtrie of the SRU.

This was a fitting end to the season for the Garnock squad who lost only one league game (to runners-up Carrick) and scored 116 tries in 22 matches.

Next season they progress to West Division 1 where the opposition will be much stronger.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.