Biggar 18 - Cumnock / Kilmarnock Cougars 19

Earlier in the season they had beaten Biggar convincingly but the coaches endevoured to ensure that the players feet remained planted firmly on the ground.
 
In fact it was Biggar that looked the more lively inthe opening encounters. The team had been boosted since the last meeting with the addition of a couple of larger boys who certainly knew their way around a rugby pitch. Biggar looked the more determined going forward when they had possession and were soon on the score sheet with a converted try folowing some poor defending from the visitors. However the superior handling skills of the Cougars backs started to find the gaps, especially when full-back Aiden Kerr came into the line, and Taylor Howie was there to finish off a fine passage of play. Shortly afterward the forwards started to gain some momentum and determined rucking took the play back into the Biggar 22. Stuart McEwan was able to take the ball at pace from the side of a ruck and bulldozed his way through the defence to score. The period ended with the score 4-6 in the visitors favour.
 
In the second period the teams traded scores. Again some fine driving from the pack took the play into the Biggar half. The Cougars were securing ball at the breakdown and at the set-pieces. In particular the scrum was holding firm and hooker Robbie McLaren took a few strikes against the head, always a boost for the front row players. Scott Faulds was having a fine game and rounded off some forward play with a fine score following a determined run forward. Callan Gordon also scored a try in this period, which was converted by stand-off David Smith. The Cougars were just ahead at the end of this period with the score at 11-13.
 
The ferocity of the game strated to tell in the final period, with the Cougars reduced to 13 players due to injuries, Mclaren picking up a shoulder injury and Howie getting a bad knock to the head. Nevertheless the team worked their way back into Biggar territory through some great drives from the forwards, in particular Jack Reilly, Andy Harkiss and Neil Kerr. When scrum-half Craig Hamilton released the backs the ball was moved wide to the wingers, with Gavin Wight and Keiran Frater unlucky not to score. Gregor Aitken broke through three tacklers and raced over from just inside the Biggar 22, shortly followed by a score from Smith right in the corner. Biggar managed to score two tries to cancel these scores out, one of which was converted, but some determined tackling right across the team ensured that the Cougars hung on for a well deserved victory.
 
S2 Cougars - A Kerr, K Frater, T Howie, G Aitken, G Wight, D Smith, C Hamilton, S McEwan, R McLaren, A Harkiss, S Faulds, N Kerr, R Phillips, C Gordon, J Reilly.