CUMNOCK HALT THE PINK AND BLACK ATTACK!!

Under 17’s Match Report 14th September 2008

CUMNOCK HALT THE PINK AND BLACK ATTACK!!
Ayr 17 Cumnock 21

Cumnock Under 17’s programme of summer training paid dividends as they travelled to Ayr for their opening league fixture of the season. As expected this was a fiercely contested match, in which fitness levels could well have been the difference between the sides.
Cumnock knew they would be under pressure from a large well drilled Ayr pack and came out in fighting spirit to put down a marker of their drive and determination to compete. The first fifteen minutes of play saw Cumnock pounding the Ayr line and only some stout defending by the home side held the attack at bay. It was as a result of this style of play that led to the opening try for the visitors. From a breakdown on the Ayr 22 metre line, the Cumnock pack drove relentlessly and worked through four phases of play to feed the ball to Mark Bennett to crash over. The boot of Kyle Johnson was as reliable as ever and the conversion was in the bag.
Ayr came back from the restart and responded with some fine play from their forwards which saw them camp on the Cumnock try line. Despite some fine tackling from Graham Hunter, Greg Hamilton and Conor Nisbet, Ayr crossed the line twice but failed to convert either – a deficit which was to prove costly as the game progressed. Half time came with the score at 10 -7 in the home side’s favour.
Ayr returned to the field on form and opened their account early in the second half with a long range drive from the pack to touch down under the posts. There was no error in the kick which followed and Ayr pulled ahead 17 -7.
Cumnock redoubled their efforts at this point and held Ayr out for the ensuing fifteen minutes with tries being held up by the aforementioned Hunter and Hamilton. This set up the ideal platform for what happened next. Some dominant tackling from Craig Greer and Donald Hunter turned the ball over and the superb Alan Haynes wasted no time in spinning a precise pass to Bennett. He in turn punted the ball up the field and outran the Ayr winger and full back to touchdown under the posts. Johnson converted with ease and brought Cumnock back within three points.
This boost galvanised the Cumnock men and saw them immediately back on the attack, knowing that a victory was within reach. From a lineout in the Cumnock half, the ball was spread wide through the back line to flying winger Gavin Kerr. Kerr deftly chipped over the Ayr defence but was cynically taken out of play, unnoticed by the referee. Undaunted Cumnock resumed their attack and winning a scrum on the left side of the field scrum half Scott Houston lofted a well timed pass to number 8, Greer who fed the back line. Quick hands saw the ball out to Bennett who chipped over the Ayr full back. The ensuing chase and tackle from Bennett saw the ball dislodged from the full back’s grip and Bennett touchdown for his hat trick. Johnson again converted just as the final whistle blew, recording an outstanding and well deserved victory, 17 -21 to Cumnock.

Delighted coach, Morton Houston praised the effort and determination of all the players. “ This was a marvellous team effort with contributions made from each and every player. I could not select a Man of the Match from such a wealth of skill, industry and determination and this will be recorded as a team victory. The boys have worked extremely hard and deserve this win today. This was the result we wanted to set us up for the coming season. To open our season with a win away from home over the defending league champions is the best start we could have hoped for.”