Loch Lomond 26 – 23 Cumnock

Cumnock narrowly missed out against Loch Lomond despite spending much of the game on the back foot. The team made the trip to Bonhill on a high after last weeks comprehensive defeat of Paisley and hoped to build on this against a Lomond side that had had a similar start to the season as Cumnock.

However it was evident from the kick off that Loch Lomond were equally determined and showed their strength straight from the kick off by winning a penalty which was converted to give them an early three point lead.

Lomond continued to pressure Cumnock and were narrowly prevented from adding a try thanks to a last gasp tackle from Tony Foster. However, against the run of play it was Cumnock who grabbed the first try of the game when a hopeful Cumnock kick ahead was dropped by the Lomond full back and a grateful Mark Bennett picked up the loose ball to score under the posts. Kyle Johnson added the conversion and Cumnock unexpectedly had a lead in the game.

It was not to last though when Lomond’s outside centre burst through some flimsy Cumnock tackles to score giving them the lead again. Loch Lomond continued to dominate possession as their experienced forwards used every opportunity to slow ball down preventing Cumnock from playing their preferred style of free flowing rugby. Despite this some desperate defence meant that Lomond only managed to add a penalty to their tally which was cancelled out by a brace from Johnson meaning that at half time the scores were level at thirteen apiece.

The second half began much as the first had gone with Lomond dominating possession although it is credit to the young Cumnock side that the defence, despite several wobbly moments, held firm with several good tackles from wide men Martin Wilson and Gregor McMillan keeping Lomond out. Also impressive was Matt McCullough making his debut for the 1st XV and putting in hard shift, putting his body on the line to tidy up loose ball. Lomond added another penalty before the unflappable Johnson pegged back the advantage with another penalty of his own.

Cumnock almost picked up another try of their own when Johnson spotted Alan Haynes in space on his wing and cross-kicked to him. The ball evaded Haynes by inches, denying Cumnock from scoring a spectacular try.

On the whole though Lomond continued to exert pressure on Cumnock and spent a long spell camped on the Nock try line. They eventually broke through for the try when, after several attempts, they managed to push a maul over. They added the conversion and then a penalty to pull themselves ten points clear with only five minutes remaining. However, Cumnock’s fighting spirit showed itself again when Bennett scored his second after chipping the ball ahead and then stripping the ball off the full back. Johnson added the extras but time was against Cumnock and they were unable to make any more inroads into Lomond’s lead.

Overall this was a disappointing game for Cumnock as they allowed themselves to be bullied by the larger and more experienced Lomond side. However, they could take some solace from a bonus point for finishing within seven points of the winners. It was encouraging to see that Cumnock have become a hard team to beat because, by rights, with the possession that they had Lomond could have won this game a lot more comfortably than they did.

Man of the match was Kyle Johnson for an impressive display of defence against considerably larger opposition as well as for his imperious kicking which kept Cumnock in the hunt.

Team: Craig Greer, Paul Miller, Donald Hunter, Kevin Brady, Euan Cunningham, Alan Smith, David Kerr, Jamie Thomson, Scott Houston, Kyle Johnson, Gregor McMillan, Mark Bennett, Martin Wilson, Tony Foster, Conner Nisbet, Graham Hunter, Matt McCullough, Alan Haynes


Next Saturday the 1st XV return to Broomfield to take on Cumbernauld

Thanks to David Kerr for Report

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