West of Scotland Bowl Semi Final

East Kilbride Under 16s 24 Cumnock 36

Cumnock visited East Kilbride in the semi final of the West of Scotland Bowl competition. Injuries meant that a few familiar faces were missing but the player that were able to play stepped up and put in a great performance full of heart and hard work.

Cumnock got off to a good start when livewire scrum half Adam Watt fired a box kick high into the East Kilbride half. When the ball ran through standoff Andy Houston won the footrace to touch down for Cumnock’s first. Cumnock then had to dig deep against a very big East Kilbride pack which looked to dominate around ruck and maul. The Cumnock forwards however were inspired and tackled their hearts out to stop East Kilbride taking full advantage of the wind and slight slope on the park. Austin Gibson, Kevin Van Der Leest, Samuel Gillon and Declan Grainge all caught the eye with their hard driving play and quick clear outs. Eventually however the pressure told and east Kilbride managed to go in for well deserved try and a penalty to lead 13-5 at half time.

Turning with the wind at their backs Cumnock looked to pull back the deficit. Cumnock then fell victim to some bad luck as east Kilbride kicked through. A player retiring from a previous phase found himself closest to the ball allowing him to run through and score despite being well off side. Worse was to follow as slack play in their own 22 turned ball over to East Kilbride who capitalised and went into a comfortable 22-5 lead.

Supporters would have been forgiven for thinking that it was all over however the Cumnock players had other ideas. Stand off Andy Houston proceeded to give an inspired kicking display as he gained ground and constantly turned the opposition wingers. From one of these kicks a brilliant chase caught the East Kilbride winger in possession. Jamie Caldwell who was playing out his skin stripped the ball and dived over to make the score 22-10. More was to come as Cumnock again pressed East Kilbride back with Chris Smith going close before Kevin Van Der Leest stripped the ball from the ruck and dived over. 22- 15 and game on.

The next score did not take long to come and it was under 15 number 8 Rhuridh Airlie who again finished off a move close to the line. Airlie then stepped up and hit a sublime conversion from the touchline, 22-22.

Cumnock continued to press, Houston kicked an enormous touch kick to the right hand corner. The forwards took a great catch at the line out and brilliantly mauled the ball over the line for Caldwell to score his second. Owen Young stepped up and hit an absolute peach of a conversion from the touch line that was still rising as it went over the cross bar. East Kilbride did not lie down and launched a number of counter attacks. It was a feature throughout the game that the 4 players who played on the wing, Ross Briodie, Kieran Owens, Owen Young and Kody Roberts tackled their hearts out and snuffed out attack after attack.

Cumnock weren’t finished, with a few minutes to go they managed to get a scrum about 20 metres out. Number 8 Airlie picked up and skipped round the opposition defence to score in the corner. Young stepped up once more and repeated his conversion kick from the touchline.

Coach Mark Van Der Leest still on a high from England’s 6 nations win could not control his satisfaction. “ We came up here for what proved to be a tough semi final. With some key players missing it could have been a tough day but I cannot praise the boys who played enough. They were asked to step up to the plate and everyone of them did. They tackled their hearts out, rucked as well as they have all year and carried well, Our front 5 were great today. Mitchell Smith Samuel Gillon and John McIlwain did so much hard work and it was great to see Jamie Caldwell claim a brace of tries. Captain Wallace Findlay was brilliant and East Kilbride didn’t know how to handle him. Our half backs put in a tremendous shift and are obviously frustrated wing forwards whilst our centres tackled everything that moved. Our back row were everywhere, our full back caught every bomb under pressure and our wingers shut the door on attack after attack. I am delighted for the players that they have made another final to finish off the year.”

Next week Cumnock play Oban at home and the week after they play Helensburgh in the final of the West of Scotland Bowl.