Kirkcaldy welcomed league leaders Newton Stewart to Beveridge Park on a crisp January afternoon, the heavy pitch offering a stern physical test for both packs.

The visitors struck within two minutes, exploiting space down the blindside after missed tackles, to score in the corner.

The Blues responded quickly with pressure of their own — Harris Mcleod claiming a clean lineout and Timmy Kennedy driving close — but Newton Stewart escaped.

Despite meaningful possession, Kirkcaldy repeatedly invited pressure back on themselves, conceding two early ruck penalties.

Newton Stewart continued to dominate territory and were held up over the line superbly by Fin Smith on 15 minutes. The hosts’ discipline issues mounted — seven penalties in the opening 21 minutes — and another offside infringement in front of the posts allowed the visitors to extend their lead to 8–0.

Kirkcaldy then lost Michael Harper, followed by Fin Smith and Cammy Pilmer around the 25-minute mark, adding to their challenge. Allowing the returning Connor Wood to make his comeback from injury.

On 35 minutes, a breakdown call that initially looked to favour the Blues went the other way, and Newton Stewart recycled clinically to score again, taking a strong lead into half-time

0-15 HT

The Blues burst from the blocks after the restart with renewed intensity, and were rewarded when Alan Platt finished well in the corner to get them on the scoreboard.

A dominant scrum at 50 minutes earned a penalty, and from the resulting lineout McLeod set the platform for repeated carries. Brown, Lithgow, Milne and McLeod all dented the defence as Newton Stewart began to concede penalties of their own. After sustained pressure, Craig Hamilton powered over, narrowing the gap further.

Momentum swung further as Kirkcaldy forced handling errors and squeezed territory, but another lineout misfire halted a promising attack.

The blues then scored a try on 70 minutes, through the returning Timmy Kennedy to score. Converted by Connor Littlejohn.

Almost immediately the blues, trying to break free from deep inside their own 22, spilled possession on a forward pass — and Newton Stewart capitalised immediately, crossing to restore daylight on the scoreboard.

Kirkcaldy continued to scrap to the final whistle, but the early deficit and injuries proved too great to recover.

Final Score
Newton Stewart 22
Kirkcaldy 17

A gritty and spirited second half showed what the Blues are capable of — particularly at scrum time — but the league leaders’ discipline, accuracy and ruthlessness were ultimately decisive.