Cumnock 40 - 3 Bishopton

After long away journeys in the previous two weeks, Cumnock were glad of a home game to put their league campaign back on track. With light showers at Broomfield making the ball very slippy, Cumnock managed to put memories of the previous weeks performances at Mull and Arran behind them and ran six tries in against the first XV of Bishopton.

Cumnock started well with powerful runs from the forward pack allowing them to make headway, a Cumnock lineout within the Bishopton half led to a powerful Cumnock maul which was stopped metres from the Bishopton try line. Quick service from scrum half Scott McCall allowed the Cumnock pack to maintain this attack and ask serious questions of the Bishopton defence.Jamie Thomson made a pick up at the back of the ruck and powered over for the first of the Cumnock tries. Steven Lowrie managed a simple conversion to put Cumnock 7 points ahead. Bishopton endeavoured to match the display of the Cumnock forwards and after a number of runs which took them deep into Cumnock territory they found themselves stuck short of the Cumnock try line. The defence held firm and after an infringement 22 metres out in the middle of the park, the referee awarded Bishopton a relatively simple penalty which allowed them to put points on the board. Cumnock ran in another try, this time through their backs with inside centre Jayson McMillan finding the line to break through the away teams defence and score. Steven Lowrie subsequently missed the conversion. Cumnock's last score of the half came from the powerful running of Gordon Laurie who picked up at the back of the scrum and powered through a number of Bishopton defenders. Steven Lowrie added the extras. Cumnock were then put under the cosh from Bishopton as the away side looked to claw back the 16 point deficit. Good tackling in the fringes of the rucks from Andrew Mcrorie, Kevin Brady and Sean Fulton disrupted the Bishopton attack and allowed the home team to put the ball out for half time.

Half time score - Cumnock 19 - 3 Bishopton

With Bishopton chasing the game in the second half Cumnock didn't have long to wait before putting the fixture beyond doubt and securing the all important bonus point for the league table. Jayson McMillan once again found himself open on the far side of the pitch and scored his second try of the game after some good interplay between himself, Jason Robb and John McAulay. Steven Lowrie took the challenging conversion in his stride and added the extras. Bishopton began chasing the game and a number of Bishopton kicks were brilliantly returned by the Cumnock back three of Gregor McMillan, Adam Gilbert and Martin Thomson. Martin Thomson ran a great counter attack which saw him touch down underneath the posts. Steven Lowrie took the conversion to make the score 33 - 3. Cumnock's final score came from Captain Jamie Thomson who scored his second of the day after some powerful running saw him break through the wavering Bishopton defence to touch down in the corner. Cumnock closed out the fixture in fine form and after a number of problems in the scrum, the front row of Donald Hunter, Paul Miller and replacement prop Mark Linden won Cumnock a fine penalty in the centre of the park by driving straight over the top of the faltering Bishopton pack. Cumnock managed to see out the match without Bishopton crossing their line.

Full time score - Cumnock 40 - 3 Bishopton

Team line-up - A. McCrorie, P. Miller, D. Hunter, K. Brady, S. Fulton, J. Thomson, S. .Lowrie, G. Laurie, S. McCall, J. McAulay, A. Gilbert, J. McMillan, J. Robb, G. McMillan, M. Thomson
Subs - M. Linden, J. Sim