CUMNOCK found their sea legs as a fast start helped them to a vital away win on the Isle of Mull.
Two early scores put Cumnock in a commanding position before a gritty defensive effort helped them stay in front to the end.
Normally you would expect a team with a four hour journey behind them to start slowly, especially Cumnock who have a habit of taking a while to get going.
Not on this occasion though, with Blair McMillan immediately putting pressure on in the lineout and helping Cumnock win the ball just short of the Mull line.
After several patient phases of forward play, the ball went out to Martin Thomson who drove through a tackle to touch down. Jordan Duncan kicked the conversion.
Thomson had moved up into stand-off from his usual station at full back and looked in complete control throughout with a well rounded display in the playmaking position.
His replacement at the back Adam Gilbert also played well with some massive clearing kicks helping relieve pressure.
It was off one of these that Cumnock's next score came with Steven Lowrie gathering a loose ball and charging up the park. From this good field position the ball was spun wide where Campbell Reid beat a defender and offloaded to Duncan who slid over for the second try.
Mull finally managed to keep the ball through a few phases and added a penalty kick to narrow the gap by three points. However, Cumnock's defence was impenetrable, with Paul Miller and Jayson McMillan leading by example round the fringes.
Heavy rain and a slippery ball meant that neither side seemed able to hold onto it for long and the front rowers were kept busy with a huge number of scrums to contest.
Cumnock could be pleased with efforts in this area, pushing Mull off a number of their own set-pieces.
They were unable to add to their earlier efforts, but reduced Mull to just one more shot at goal which they converted for a half-time score of 6-12.
Cumnock regained some of the initiative in the second half, managing to keep a better grip of possession and territory.
They looked to have extended their lead when Graham Montgomery was driven over by the forwards but the referee judged him to be short of the line and waved play on.
Reid also made a powerful charge but was stopped short as well.
Duncan and Mull's kicker traded penalties before Jason Robb crossed the line for Cumnock after fending off several attempted tackles down his wing.
The referee awarded the score but the touch judge had raised his flag to signal Robb had put a foot in touch at the last moment.
Cumnock finally added a third score after the pack pushed Mull off another off their scrums before quick handling by the back row released Thomson who flipped a scoring pass to Robin Montgomery.
Cumnock pressed for the fourth try which would have secured them a bonus point but the effort was in vain as the rain began to fall again and the game descended into a scrap for possession.
Replacement James Gibbs made an eye-catching appearance with a number of powerful charges making the hard yards for his side.
They did manage to extend their lead further out of reach with a second penalty for Duncan.
For the second week running Cumnock managed to keep their line intact without conceding a single try.
Next week second placed Cumnock take on leaders Uddingston at Broomfield in what will be a key game for both sides.

Cumnock: Lowrie, Miller, J.McMillan, B.McMillan, Hunter, J.Thomson, Kerr, Reid, Berrett, Thomson, McCall, R.Montgomery, Duncan, Robb, Gilbert.
Subs: G.Montgomery, Brady, Gibbs, Dallas.