Cumnock began the new league season with a challenging match against an experienced Strathendrick side who in recent years have made a habit of taking at least sixty points off Cumnock. This year Cumnock have a very young team with nine of the fifteen starters in this fixture only aged sixteen and this result showed that the side can be optimistic of a competitive league campaign.
The match began in almost perfect fashion for Cumnock as they absorbed early pressure from Strathendrick before securing turnover ball with which Cumnock’s backs managed to make space for Mark Bennett to beat his marker and sprint to the line unopposed. Stand-off, Kyle Johnson, added the conversion from wide on the right to give Cumnock an early seven point lead.
Cumnock used the wind to their advantage in the first half with intelligent kicking from Scott Houston and Johnson giving them excellent field position. Unfortunately a misfiring lineout meant they were unable to capitalise on this territory.
Strathendrick regrouped with strong running from their forwards keeping Cumnock under pressure although the defensive line held for a long time. Strathendrick were always going to make something out of this long spell in possession and the breakthrough came when their winger, former Scotland international, Rory Kerr, crashed through some weak Cumnock tackling to score under the posts. They added the conversion to bring the scores level.
The rest of the half was very tight with Johnson and Bennett both missing difficult long range penalties to give Cumnock back the lead. The game was perhaps best defined by a long spell Cumnock spent deep in Strathendrick territory, unable to force their way through because of robust defence and the continuing woes at the lineout.
The second half began well for Cumnock with the impressive Johnson adding a penalty to give his side the lead again.
However, the visitors used their experience and extra bulk to monopolise possession and the wind to kick the ball deep keeping Cumnock pinned back in their own half. The young team were determined to hold their slender lead with excellent defensive work from flankers Blair McMillan and Alan Smith backed up with strong defence from wings Alan Haynes and Gregor McMillan against considerably larger opposition meant that Strathendrick were consistently frustrated in their attempts to cross the Cumnock line.
However it is very difficult to defend for that long against larger opposition and Strathendrick eventually forced their way over with their captain crashing through from a few yards out.
Cumnock almost pulled a score back when Alan Haynes pounced on loose ball and kicked ahead only missing out on a score when the last bounce of the ball went to the chasing defence ahead of Haynes. Strathendrick used their experience again to control the possession, keeping the ball tight and not allowing Cumnock any chances to score.
Strathendrick were clearly relieved when the final whistle went having been given an almighty shock by the young home side. This was a game determined by very small margins and Cumnock were left to look back with a whole host of ifs and maybes. However a losing bonus point against strong opposition is not a bad way to start the season and the side have plenty of positives to take from this game into the rest of the season.
Man of the match was Alan Smith, having switched from centre to flanker and putting a huge amount of hard work into his new role, disrupting Strathendrick ball as well as contributing a high tackle count.
Special mention must also go to Steven Millar, a Cumnock coach who stepped in at short notice to referee the match after the original referee called off.
Team
Craig Greer, Paul Millar, Donald Hunter, Kevin Brady, Euan Cunningham, Blair McMillan, Alan Smith, David Kerr, Scott Houston, Kyle Johnson, Tony Foster, Mark Bennett, Martin Wilson, Alan Haynes, Conner Nisbet, Andy McCrorie, Greg Hamilton, Gregor McMillan
Next week the team make the long trip north to take on Oban.
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