Cumnock / Kilmarnock Cougars 5 - Dumfries Saints 17

Having convincingly beaten the Cougars two weeks previously they did not foresee any problems and a large travelling support arrived fully expecting Saints to dominate this match.

Instead a thrilling game of rugby was served up by both teams with neither able to take control in what turned out to be a fiercely contested match.

In the first half the home team took the initiative, refusing to be intimated by their larger opponents. Indeed the Cougars played some their best rugby of the season and deservedly took the lead after the twenty minute mark. Some fine handling moved the ball quickly along the line to the left side of the field, where Taylor Howie made a welcome return to the team. He was stopped short of the line but the forwards piled in to the resultant ruck and a couple of pick and drives from the loose forwards, Neil Kerr and Jack Reilly, saw the ball picked up by flanker Bradley Smith who darted over for his first try for the team. David Smith's kick just came up short, but the Cougars held on to take the lead in to the break.

The second half continued in the same vein, with neither team able to make any great breaks. Crunching tackles were being made by both defences with no quarter asked nor given. Dumfries eventually managed to move the ball upfield and won two penalties and scored from both set pieces. Towards the end of the half Dumfries broke downfield again and won another penalty. The attempted touch kick was kept in play by Gregor Aitken but his attempted clearance kick was judged to strike his own player. Dumfries scored from the resultant penalty to secure the points.

Never giving up the Cougars worked their way back up into the opposition 22 with some determined drives from Aidan Kerr and Gregor Paxton. Ultimately though they could not get the breakthrough and the game ended in victory for Dumfries.

The Cougars played their best rugby of the season and walked off the pitch with their heads held high. There were tremendous performances right throughout the team with every player contributing and the coaches were full of praise for the way that the Cougars had turned around their game from the previous performance two weeks ago.

The players have a free weekend next week then away to Annan the following week.

Team: Harkiss, R McLaren, McEwan, Faulds, A McLaren, N Kerr, B Smith, J Reilly, A Kerr, G Aitken, G Wight, G Paxton, D Smith, T Howie, T Bowditch. Subs: M Crawshaw, J McCulloch, C Frater, I Barr, G Young.