Cumnock U18s 22 – 3 Whitecraigs

Report by Danny McLaren

The overnight weather coupled with the extremely cold start to the day put the game under doubt, but a morning pitch inspection deemed one of the pitches only just playable and it was game on.
Cumnock had defeated their Glasgow rivals earlier in the season. However it was a hard fought win and Whitecraigs were a big physical team who undoubtedly would be looking forward to playing their tight forwards game in these conditions.
As the game began the Cumnock team started well and even with a few key forwards (Young, McLaren & Hunter) missing the forwards dominated their much larger opponents but the dreadful weather prevented Cumnock from playing their normal expansive game resulting in a mid field forwards battle. The home side came close on the 25th minute when a solid scrum cornered by the ever improving Craig Willison and driven by the power of Ryan McCron allowed Kerr to find Reilly with an early pass. His kick to the corner resulted in a race for the line which flying winger Dale West only just missed out on. With the last play of the half the visitors made a rare break deep into the Cumnock 22 and with the ref judging that the home side had recycled the ball illegally the Whitecraigs took a 3 – 0 lead at the break.
The half time talk was all about playing for territory as this was never going to be a day for flowing Rugby. As the game developed the Cumnock forwards upped the pressure on the visitors allowing the backs more time which showed in their decision making. The kicking of Kerr, Reilly and the impressive Aitken constantly pinning the visitors deep in their own half. It was from a deep Aitken Kick ahead that the Cumnock forwards did well to recycle resulting in No 8 driving over for the teams first try of the day, Reilly adding the conversion for a 7 – 3 lead.
The home side now had their tails up and pressed hard to turn the screw on their opponents. The brave supporters who endured the elements did not have to wait long for the next score. From a line out on the Visitors 22 meter line Jamie Lorimer (playing his first game for 18 Months) powered over to extend the home sides lead, Reilly scraping the wrong side of the upright with conversion attempt. The home side were now visibly growing in confidence and with 15 mins remaining a beautiful backs move orchestrated by Reilly & Kerr resulted in Smith offloading to winger West to score wide out. Reilly again only narrowly missing the conversion to leave the score at 17 – 3.
The game finished as the second half had began with the home forwards going through the phases finishing with Anderson driving over to complete his brace for the day, and an impressive 22 - 3 win maintaining their undefeated lead at the top of the league .
The wet and extremely cold conditions were never going to suit the Home sides expansive style of play. Their hard work commitment and concentration on the day overcame their opponents and the weather. This Young Cumnock team have shown they can play fluent attractive Rugby but can also dig deep and win in atrocious conditions. The game also saw Cameron McGuire making his debut.
Next week they travel to Glasgow to play local rivals Kilmarnock on the artificial surface at Scotstoun Stadium as the pre match entertainment for Glasgow Warriors home European Champions Cup game against Toulouse.
Team : Aitken, Gilliland, Smith, Park, West, Reilly, Kerr, Anderson, Grierson, Harkiss, Elliott, McCron, Willison, Forbes, Robson, McLaren, Findlay, McGuire, Lorimer, Haddow.