Visitors Prove Too Strong For Cumnock Team

Ardrossan pitched up on Sunday with over twenty players, in comparison to the nine that pitched up for Cumnock. Some of the younger players from the U15 team were drafted in to make up the numbers. To confuse things further, a full 15 a side match took place rather than the usual 13 a-side at this age group, with three periods of twenty minutes being played.

The first period started lively enough with both teams playing good attacking rugby. Cumnock moved the ball well but some poor decision making at times let them down with overlaps going begging as attackers cut back infield rather than moving the ball wide. Ardrossan had a couple of excellent forwards with textbook rucking techniques and they turned Cumnock over in a number of rucks. Ardrossan ran in two unanswered tries, converting one of them, to lead 8-0 at the first break.

The Cumnock coaches were fairly satisfied with the play but asked the boys to sharpen up a bit and to vary their lines of attack. The forwards kept the moment going and progressed up the field from ruck to maul to ruck, eventually creating quick ball for the backs to take forward. The ball was quickly moved along the line to Gregor Aitken who then cut back inside through two defenders to crash over for Cumnock's first try. Ardrossan answered with another try of their own shortly afterwards, which they converted. The score at the end of the second period was 12-3 to the visitors.

The last period of the game was played with great intensity with some ferocious tackling from both sides. Cumnock looked to vary the play, with Craig Andrews coming into the line more from the full-back position. When the ball was passed out to the wings the pace of the Cumnock backs was brought into play and Andrews scored from long range outrunning the oposition. He was taken out with a very late tackle after scoring and the game restarted with a penalty to Cumnock. A great chip from Reilly over the top of the Ardrossan backs was chased down by Gregor Aitken. As he kicked on he was impeded by two Ardrossan players just short of the line and the referree had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.

Ardrossan bounced back from this and scored two tries before Craig Andrews touched down after another great run from deep. In the final play of the game Cumnock almost scored again with Callan Gordon clean through, however he ran out of steam and was chased down before he could get the ball away. Final score Cumnock 12 Ardrossan 19.

This was another fine display from Cumnock against a very good team. Gregor Aitken was voted man of the match at the end of the game. There were lots of positives in the forwards with determined displays from the pack to win good ball, particularly in that final period. The backs also displayed what they could do given good service and the chance to move the ball wide to the wingers.

The coaches are looking forward to the team competing in the West Region S1 Festival at Hughenden, Glasgow next weekend. Cumnock are drawn against Uddingston, East Kilbride and Allan Glens in what promises to be a showcase for youth rugby.