Kilmarnock 12​ Cumnock 39

Report by Ian Park

Both Ayrshire teams made the journey to Glasgow early on a cold December morning with the game going ahead on the big 3G Scotstoun pitch. The Cumnock team were looking forward to the opportunity of running out on the clean wide pitch after the last few weeks hard won victories in the heavy quagmire of December parks. Right from the off it was the Cougars that took the game to Killie, Stephen Robson looked to have finished off the early pressure but was penalised for a double movement. Cumnock continued to keep the pressure on but Killie held firm until the 15th minute when Calum Park picked up the ball outside the 22 and broke through the Kilmarnock backs to score the first points, Jack Reilly adding the extras for a comfortable 7-0 lead.

Up until now Killie hadn’t been out their half but the score seemed to spur them into action and through a series of penalties and Cumnock errors they made their way up the park to score in the corner. Undeterred the Cougars came back, with Thomas Bowditch finishing well off a slick backs run to score from the wing, Reilly again slotted the kick. Cumnock’s efforts continued and resulted in a penalty in front of the posts that Reilly converted to extend the lead. Although a thoroughly competitive game it was almost exclusively being played in the Killie half, Michael Anderson making the break from the back of a 5m ruck to extend the score 22-5.

However Killie were determined to stay in the game and with Cumnock standing off their forwards drove up the park to score again to give the Nock something to think about, as the first half closed 22-12.

The first score of the second half was vital and like the first it was some time before the breakthrough came, with the Nock backs taking advantage of the clean conditions and enjoying the space they were troubling Killie whenever they ran at them. Bradley Smith found the space and the pace to break the Killie back line and score under the posts making Reilly’s extras easy.

The pressure and territory were now all in Cumnock’s favour, with Killie pegged back the Nock were now picking up the penalties and from one 5 metres out, quick hands took the ball away from contact for Calum Park’s second of the game. As the game came to a close, Stephen Robson finished where he started crossing the whitewash, this time securing the points for a well-earned 39-12 victory.

While the Cumnock backs deservedly took the plaudits for their pace and movement on a pitch that suited them, it was the hard working forwards that gave them the platform. The conditions on previous weeks have meant the forwards carrying the can but todays team performance showed the range of this young team. The coaches were again pleased in the commitment, performance and mature behaviour of the full squad who travelled and they will now finish the year top and unbeaten in the league….. but there is still a lot of hard work to do before the end of the season.

Team: Gregor Aitken, Thomas Bowditch, Calum Park, Bradley Smith, Dale West, Jack Reilly, Aidan Kerr, Stephen Robson, Glen Young, Jamie Lorimer, Allister Elliot, Ryan McCrone, Andrew Harkiss, Michael Anderson, Robbie McLaren, Craig Willison, Gavin Gilliland, Thomas Findlay, Jake Baird, Ross Haddow, Cameron McGuire