Both teams went into this game still searching for their first points of this league season and Cumnock were determined to get their season back on track. They made a few changes to the team, naming a young pack and bringing some experienced faces into the backs with the return of Alex Dunsmuir and Rab Donald.
The home team started strongly with Donald’s strong running in the centre giving Cumnock a platform to play off. The half backs controlled the game well and kept Cumnock in the dangerous end of the park. The forwards were also showing willing to run with the ball, with the returning Graham Montgomery carrying especially strongly. Good link play also kept Clydesdale on the back foot with several clever offloads allowing Cumnock to make ground. However, some of the offloads were slightly too clever and a few spilled balls allowed the visitors to clear their lines. Cumnock’s set piece was working well, giving them a steady supply of ball, especially at scrums where the front five were firmly in control. They worked their way into a good position with support play from Montgomery and Blair McMillan getting them close to the try line. A pass went loose but David Kerr was on hand to gather the loose ball before dummying and finding a space to dive over for the try.
Cumnock should have been eager to build on this strong start but instead they switched off slightly and allowed Clydesdale to gather the ball and work through the phases. The home defence was solid but eventually they gave away a penalty in front of the posts which was easily converted by the Clydesdale captain.
This should have spurred Cumnock on but they were still unable to build on their fast start with Clydesdale bringing their strong running centres into the game. Again Cumnock’s defence was strong Jamie Thomson well to the fore as ever. However, once again Cumnock were penalised, this time for handling in the ruck and again the visiting kicker was on target to give his team the lead.
This finally spurred Cumnock back to life and the wide men finally got the chance to run with the ball with both Gregor McMillan and Martin Thomson both enjoying some time on the ball. Cumnock eventually got a good attacking opportunity with an attacking line out ten metres out from the try line. Paul Miller and Blair McMillan combined well at the lineout and the Cumnock forwards got the drive going and marched onward to the try line with Campbell Reid eventually touching the ball down.
This gave Cumnock confidence to attack and again they started moving the ball well with forwards and backs linking up well in the midfield. The set piece continued to be a strong platform for the home side with Donald Hunter on especially strong form at tighthead prop.
Hunter was integral to his side’s third try with a strong run through the midfield before a smart inside ball to the ever present Blair McMillan. He passed the ball onto Stuart Hunter who cut a good angle through the defence. It looked like Hunter would go the distance but a despairing tap tackle halted him. However, he found Reid on his shoulder and the number eight brushed off a tackle to cross for his second score. The conversion was added leaving Cumnock eleven in front at half time.
Cumnock again looked on form at the start of the second half, looking to play the game at pace to try and open up gaps in the defence. Cumnock had several chances but little knock-ons and misplaced passes meant that they weren’t quite able to take advantage. Replacement scrum half Stephen Taylor was looking to keep the ball moving and this paid off with a quick tap from a penalty which was shifted wide quickly giving Graeme Dick a clean run to the line securing a bonus point for Cumnock.
They were quickly back on the attack with smart kicking keeping Clydesdale pinned back in their own territory. Campbell Reid was threatening every time he ran with the ball and he looked set for a hat trick after a powerful run through the midfield leaving a trail of Clydesdale players in his wake. However, he knocked on in the process of touching down much to his embarrassment.
The visitors seemed to take some heart from this and they got back on the score sheet after their outside centre broke through some weak tackle from Cumnock to grab his team’s first try.
However, Cumnock were still very much still on the front foot and they kept the pressure on with their offloading skills keeping their momentum up. They scored their second try of the half again off a scrum with Reid picking up and making ground. His back row colleagues blew through the ruck producing quick ball and a miss pass out wide released Martin Thomson for the score. The conversion was on target.
Cumnock were quickly at it again with another strong drive from the forwards from a lineout which was switched back to the blind side, allowing Paul Miller to crash over in the corner.
With time left on the clock, the Cumnock supporters must have felt their team could stretch their legs and put a few more scores on the board.
However, Cumnock don’t like to make it so easy for themselves and they switched off again allowing the visitors to build their way into another good position. The defence was again fairly strong but eventually the pressure told and Clydesdale drove over for their second try.
The half ended uneventfully with neither team able to add to the scorecard.
Cumnock were pleased with their win and happy with their six tries and a bonus point. There were a lot of mistakes and some worrying periods of inactivity but this gives a chance to build on the result and plenty to work on in training.