Cumnock Under 18 20 ​GHA 24

Report by Ian Park

Cumnock welcomed Glasgow giants GHA, who have just finished 6th in the National league, to Broomfield.

A relatively cold but calm Broomfield day set the scene for what was a great game and a fitting end to the Cumnock u18 season. From the kick off Cumnock took the game to GHA, who must have been surprised by the resolve of the home team, with Cumnock deep in the visitors half they gained a penalty advantage only for scrumhalf Aiden Kerr to calmly knock over a drop kick to take a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes of no scoring.

The visitors were struggling to get a foothold in the game with the Nock putting in a shift, thwarting everything at close quarters. Unfortunately as Cumnock tried to stretch the game GHA were picking up clearing kicks and making yards and it was to be this that was the undoing of the home team as GHA twice in quick secession ran in tries from their backs in broken play to take a 3-14 lead, arguably against the run of play.

The visitors, possibly surprised by the level of the opposition, were racking up the penalty count which eventually allowed Dale West to reduce the deficit to 6-14. While you could argue that their previous scores were cheaply conceded by poor Cumnock defence, GHA constructed a fine try to score in the corner to take the half time lead 6-19.

Despite having more that 50% of the first half play the Nock found themselves well down due to simple errors that was not lost on the coaches halftime ‘talk’.

In the second half the penalty count eventually went against GHA as they lost a man for an illegal tackle which allowed Cumnock to capitalise on the numbers game and quick thinking from scrum half Kerr allowed the break and he bamboozled the fullback to walk under the posts to make the extras easy for Gregor Aitken to close the score 13-19. We now had a really competitive game on our hands, but as expected GHA came right back at the Nock defence to score again from what looked like a forwards pass to extend the lead to 13-24.

Never disheartened the Cumnock spirit drove on, and again Kerr broke the line and with a good offload to Andrew Harkiss who completed the score, Aitken again making the extras to make it a 4 point game at 20-24. The home side were now on the ascendancy, having cut out the mistakes of the first half and making huge tackles. Unfortunately time ran out on the boys to make the final score 20-24.

While it was a game that they were not expected to win, the boys put on a show and went out with a blast against a good national league team and ran them close. It cannot be emphasized enough from the coaches how much they have enjoyed the season watching this team develop, from struggling early season with half a team to winning the league undefeated, national bowl quarter finalist and now narrowly defeated in the regional cup.

The coaches would like to thank the boys for their professional attitude throughout the season and wish the boys moving up to adult rugby all the best, the remainder know what is expected of them for next year.

Team: Gregor Aitken, Thomas Bowditch, Calum Park, Bradley Smith, Dale West, Aidan Kerr, Stephen Robson, Glen Young, Jamie Lorimer, Allister Elliot, Ryan McCrone, Andrew Harkiss, Robbie McLaren, Connor Hunter, Craig Willison, Gavin Gilliland, Thomas Findlay, Cameron McGuire, Gavin White