Cougars Late Rally Falls Short Of The Mark

It was touch and go whether this game would take place at all with an early morning pitch inspection needed for 11 o’clock KO at Broomfield.

With 3x 20 minute games being adopted for the encounter it was the visitors who took complete control running in 4 unanswered (3 converted) scores in the first stanza. Although Cumnock held the territorial advantage poor tackling allowed Biggar to run in scores at will from long distance. This was exacerbated by some inaccurate handling by the home side when presented with try scoring opportunities.
During the break the coaches impressed upon the team the need to focus efforts in two main areas. The backs needed to close down the opposition more quickly when defending and the forwards needed to increase their work rate considerably as they were not getting to the breakdowns quick enough. However, the second game continued in the same vein with the visitors being given gifted possession at the breakdowns due to the lack of effort from the home team pack. This starved the Cumnock back line of any decent ball and stifled the team’s main attacking threat. Biggar seized the opportunities given to them and ran in another 4 scores (1 converted) with the only reply coming from a piece of quick thinking by Aiden Kerr seizing a loose ball to dive over in the corner.
Another break allowed the coaches to give a no nonsense reality check to the forwards. It was made clear that unless they started to carry out their duties that more of the same could be expected. At last the penny dropped and the Cumnock pack produced a performance to be proud of. Ferocious rucking and great spoiling work turned over ball at breakdown after breakdown. Suddenly the home team backline had quality possession and went to work in open play. Cumnock took the game to their opponents with wave after wave of attack producing some of the best rugby played all season. The visitors were completely overwhelmed during this last period with Cumnock running in six unanswered scores (3 converted). Winger Gavin Whyte, who picked up the “Man of the Match “award, ran in a fantastic try from distance after some slick passing and 2nd Row, Taylor Howie’s blind side break from a ruck produced another long range score. Prop, Andrew Harkiss gave a glimpse of his strength when he charged into a brace of defenders carrying them over the line for a great try. The scoring was rounded off by Fly Half Jack Reilly who picked up a hat trick of touchdowns, the pick of which involved a fine display of control with the ball at feet.
When asked for a comment on the game one of the Cumnock coaches was heard to say that “this team has bags of ability but they will have to learn that work rate is the key to success, once this sinks in then results will come”.
Cumnock S1 are still looking for players; anyone interested should come to training at the Cumnock Academy Astro Turf on Thursdays at 1800.