Waysiders / Drumpellier 36 - Cumnock / Kilmarnock Cougars 21

The game also had the added edge of being the first round of the West Region Cup.

The Cougars started lively and straight fromthe kick off workedtheir way deep into their opponents half. Quick ball from a ruck on the edge of the 22 allowed scrum half Craig Hamilton to release his backs for the first time and inside centre Gregor Paxton crashed over for the first try with only three minutes on the clock. The ever reliable David Smith added the extra two pints with a beautifully taken conversion.

The game settled down after that but still played at a frenetic pace withthe action moving from end to end. Unfortunately Waysiders gained possession when Cougars were going forward and the resultant breakaway ended with a score to Waysiders in the 13th minute. The Cougars replied six minutes later with another try from Paxton, but this seemed to raise Waysiders more and they responded with two tries before the break to lead 19 - 14 at the interval.

Injuries started to take their toll in the second half and the Cougars were forced to use some relatively inexperienced players to plug the gaps. All credit to Inness Barr and Matthew Crawshaw as the boys did everything asked of them to the delight of the coaches. Waysiders scored two further tries before Callan Gordon reduced the deficit following a typical solo break from the flanker. Waysiders replied with a further try however it was the Cougars who looked stronger in the last ten minutes taking the game towards their opponents line. A couple of chances went begging and some poor decision making meant that the game ended in defeat.

The Cougars now face Strathaven at home next week in the Plate competition.