ID:4910253 size:2.124 by180.

64 BRYERS MULHOLLAND

ID:4457805 size:2.124 by180.64 THE SEPTEMBER AGENCY

RENFREW gaffer Colin Clark admitted it should have been more after his charges swept aside Cumbernauld with another away day four goal haul.

RENFREW ARE ON THE GOAL RUSH

By Stephen Coutts
LETHAL PARTNERSHIP: Chris Zok and Willie Sawyers, inset, have been on top form recently

Inside
Ice hockey action: page 31

IT was a glory day for Kilbarchan Athletic Clubs girls team, who won the National title for the first time in their history at the Scottish cross county relay championship. It was the same trio, pictured, who had won the West Championship two weeks beforehand but this time the winning margin was even greater, finishing 200 metres ahead of Edinburgh Athletic Club in Cumbernauld. The victory was set up on the first of the 2.5K laps for under-13s, when Laura Stark ran the fastest time of the day, perhaps the race of her life, to hand over a lead of around 50 metres to Gwen Gillham who ran the second stage for

Cross country glory for Kilbarchan runners

under-15 girls. Gwen was initially closed down but then stretched away towards the end to increase the time gap to 11 seconds. With everybody expecting the pursuers to close up, Sarah Dempsey ran a measured race, early careful over the difficult terrain, but latterly stretching away to come home 250 metres ahead for a remarkable victory. There was also a fine effort by the clubs B team of Rebecca Craig, Iona Miller and Emma Kelly, who finished eighth. The Kilbarchan boys team also produced a fine medalwinning performance, the trio of Conor Thomson, Euan Gilham and Callum Matthews winning silver, with Euan running the fastest time of the day and the team just losing out to Inverclyde AC, a repeat of the West District result. Edinburgh AC won the womens race with Kilbarchan, the west champions finishing fifth. The team of Cara Sloss, Natalie Sharp and Elspeth Curran were always chasing and Elspeth had the second fastest time of the day, clocking 15.8 for the 4K circuit. Inverclyde AC won the mens race with Kilbarchan not really figuring, though there was a useful run by Conor McNulty who was seventh fastest overall.

Goal-machine Willie Sawyers hit his second hat-trick on the spin and Chris Zok ended the rout as the Frew ran out comfortable winners at Guys Meadow. He told Gazette Sport: We deserved to win as we played really well right through from the defence, the midfield and the attack. We were fine and we kept the backdoor shut and we could have scored a few more goals if we had taken our chances. Willie Sawyers has been scoring goals for fun but he copped a sore one and he came in for some treatment on Saturday so he could be out for the next week or so. Willie and Chris Zok up front are both from Cumbernauld so it is a little bit of a grudge match for the local boys as they grew up and lived there. But they stood up to it and did their best on the day by scoring the goals and that is what matters. I think this is the first time since we came to the club that we are actually in the positive goals for column with plus four so here is hoping we can add to that. He added: Overall I am delighted with the performance. Weather permitting, Renfrew host Sauchie Juniors on Saturday in the Emirates Scottish Cup second round, kick-off 2.30pm.

Johnstone Burgh update: page 30

Saints on U.S trip: page 29

ISSN 1356-8639 4 3

771356 863137

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