Trip To The Coast Proves Bountiful for U18 Team

North Ayrshire 0 Cumnock 62

Looking to continue their good League run Cumnock started on the front foot, the conditions perfect for running rugby and Cumnock looked to run the ball at every opportunity. Winger Jake Baird was on the end of a flowing move early on and looked to have scored the first points but the referee judged that he wasn’t in control of the touchdown to deny the score.
However, the first score was only delayed by a few minutes as Bradley Smith collected the ball and ran through a few tackles to score under the posts, Jack Reilly with the extras. Good work by Dale West put Calum Park in to score in the corner. Jack Reilly continued to turn over the scoreboard with a try and conversion to make it 19-0. Park scored again running through the centre and just before half time Gavin Gilliland danced his way through three tackles to cross the line, Reilly kicked both scores to take the points tally to 33-0 at the break.
Cumnock were playing simple passing rugby, which is surprisingly hard to achieve, orchestrated in the first half by Conor Hunter who was plunged into scrum half. The whole team were making the right decisions when to offload and when to change the direction of attack. After bravely charging down a kick with his face Hunter went off to allow Aiden Kerr back into his position after returning from injury.
The second half started as the first with Bradley Smith making the breaks to again score first. Ryan McCrone cleverly offloaded in front of the posts for Michael Anderson to score next. By now Cumnock had their tails up and there was support all over the park. Good work between Robbie McLaren and Calum Park resulted in McLaren scoring with Thomas Findlay the option in support. Jack Reilly then ran on to his own bouncing kick to score again.
The try that finished the game epitomised the spirit of the Cumnock game, driving forward using the phases to retain the ball, controlled by the hard working forwards Stephen Robson and Andrew Harkiss, aided by the new addition of Craig Willison and Ross Haddow, who will improve with every outing. Conor Hunter eventually found the space in the tight side and despite being tackled made the offload to the ubiquitous Glen Young in support to crash over for the score. Reilly’s extra points made the final score 62-0.
A good overall team performance from full back Gregor Aitken, with new additions bedding in well and boys returning from injury. The pleasing thing for the coaches were the glimpses of training ground moves, quick and correct decisions being made on the park and the continuation of the high tempo work ethic. The team now need to take the next step and produce the same standard of performance when under more pressure against better opposition and will get the chance to prove they can do it against Whitecraigs next Sunday at Cumnock 1400 KO.

Team: Glen Young, Gavin Gilliland, Robbie McLaren, Calum Park, Gregor Aitken, Jack Reilly, Stephen Robson, Andrew Harkiss, Conor Hunter, Ryan McCrone, Dale West, Michael Anderson, Thomas Findlay, Craig Willison, Ross Haddow, Bradley Smith, Aiden Kerr, Jake Baird.

The U18 team train on Thursdays at Auchinleck Leisure Centre from 2030 until 2130, any boys wishing to join the team should come along.