Cumnock / Kilmarnock Cougars 53 - Hamilton Bulls 0

Report by Kevan Aitken

The Cougars dominated proceedings right from the kick-off and should have scored within the first five minutes but some poor decision making meant that the chances went begging. Indeed it was the visitors that then had their best period and took the game deep into the home team's half. However some great defensive work kept the line secure and the game swung back the way of the home side. The Cougars scored five unanswered tries before half time, with touchdowns from Stuart McEwan, Robbie McLaren, Gregor Paxton, Ben Stewart and Gregor Aitken, with the steady boot of Jack Reilly adding two conversions to make the half time score 29-0.

Hamilton started the second half well and only some stout defending prevented them from scoring, with Stephen Robson and Connor Hunter putting in some crunching tackles. The home team stepped up a gear mid-way through the second period, winning most of the scrums and the line-outs. With the majority of the possession going to the home team it was inevitable that there would be further scores and two further tries from Paxton and one each for Bradley Smith and Gavin Miller put the result beyond any doubt.

The team played some great rugby, with terrific handling skills, particularly given the extremely cold temperature that this game was played in. Next week the team are away to Greenock.

Team: McEwan, R McLaren, Robson, A McLaren, Faulds, Smith, N Kerr, Harkiss, A Kerr, Reilly, Wight, Paxton, Aitken, Stewart, Bowditch. Subs (all used) Hunter, Barr, Elliott, Miller.