Under 16 V Allan Glens

Marr’s Marvelous Hat trick

On form Cumnock were on song again on Sunday when they visited Allan Glens to take on determined opponents in a very physical encounter. The day did not get off to the best of starts when the team bus broke down on the M77. The Dunkirk spirit was called into play as parents ferried the boys by car to Bishopbriggs for a delayed kick off.

Thanks go to Ve-tech Concrete, S&S Services and the Royal Bank of Scotland as sponsors of the new under 16 strips which were worn for the first time.

Cumnock got off to a slow start partly due to the curtailed warm up. A spirited Glens team pressed constantly into Cumnock territory only to be thrown back by determined Cumnock tackling. After about 10 minutes of this pressure Cumnock broke away through clever inter play by Chris Smith, Dylan Chidwick and Rob Drummond. The engineered a gap on half way for flying winger Ross Marr to score his first try of a terrific hat trick. Drummond who hadn’t played for 5 months was on fire as he latched on to ball after ball and used his footwork and pace to carve out opportunities for his team mates.

Ross Marr deserves to be picked out for the overall improvement in his game over the last 6 months. Through constant hard work he seems to have found his speed along with confidence and now regularly runs tries in from long range.

Further tries came for Chidwick (2), Jamie Caldwell, Ewan Wallace, Adam Watt and a final one by Jamie Drummond. Drummond who has just this week been selected for the full Glasgow under 16 squad had an industrious and influential game as he turned over ball after ball at the break down. 3 conversions were added by the hat trick hero, Marr to complete the scoring.

The attacking play was however only part of this game, Cumnock seemed to have discovered a “no way though” attitude which meant that they refused to buckle every time their line was threatened. Instead big tackles rained in and attacks were snuffed out. Players like Jock “One Man and His Dog” Welsh, Kieran Owens and Euan Wallace treated the crowd to some terrific last ditch tackles that resulted clean sheet for defence.

Coach Andrew Watt was in great spirits after the game as he enthused over his players, “ There has been so much hard work put in by these players over the closed season and this was evident by the long range tries we scored and the constant support given to the ball carrier. Unsung heroes like Mitchell Smith, Calum Scott and Kieran Owens put in big shifts. Half backs Andy Houston and Adam Watt and Captain Wallace Findlay ran the game well whilst new player Euan Wallace ran riot at openside. The most pleasing thing however was to see Robb Drummond back in full flight and better than ever. The downside were injuries to Declan Grange and Calum McClounie. Calum McClounie seems to be fine but unfortunately much improved Declan Grange seems to have broken his collar bone. A number of key players were missing this week however they should return by next week.

Next Sunday Cumnock take on Dalziel/Strathaven at home in a crucial conference game. This will be a hum dinger of a game as both teams seem to have strengthened from last year and will look to challenge for the title this year.