Cumnock senior reports for Saturday 17th October

Clydebank 27 Cumnock 20 1st xv report:-

It was the best of times and then the worst of times for Cumnock this week as they travelled to Clydebank. Cumnock dominated the first half to open a fifteen point lead before throwing it away in the second half.
The game started in beautiful conditions which suited Cumnock’s free running style against Clydebank’s powerful forward based brand of rugby. The game started well as good pressure from the kick off resulted in turnover ball for Cumnock which was fed back to stand-off Kyle Johnson who slotted a drop goal to give Cumnock an early lead.

This early pressure from Cumnock continued as the hosts attempted to steady their ship by driving the ball up the side of rucks. However, these drives were continually halted by Cumnock’s fringe defence led by back row brothers Stuart and Graham Hunter. Eventually, Clydebank attempted to throw the ball wide. The ball was fumbled by the centre and Mark Bennett continued his knack of being in the right place at the right time to gather the ball and run unopposed under the posts for the opening try. Johnson added the extra two points.

Clydebank rallied after this and set up camp deep in Cumnock territory although the stubborn visiting defence refused to let the home side through. However, Cumnock once again showed that they can be their own worst enemy as a series of unnecessary penalties were given away, allowing Clydebank to kick into the corner and regroup their forwards. The defence was impregnable until the departure of Rab Cross after a heavy collision with his opposite number. With this loss of both experience and power, Cumnock’s defence was weakened just enough for Clydebank to squeeze over for a try after a drive from a lineout. The conversion was mis-hit but it gave the hosts a foot hold in the game.

Cumnock refused to sit back and allow the hosts the chance to add to this score as they won a penalty after pressure from the kick off. The long range penalty was kicked by Bennett to further extend his team’s lead. Clydebank managed to secure ball from their kick off after Cumnock struggled to set up a maul from the kick off. The home side once again set up a series of mauls and rucks without spinning the ball wide. However, Cumnock’s defence was once again strong and they won a penalty when Clydebank were over eager to secure the ball and left their feet. Johnson prepared to kick the ball to touch before spotting space in behind the Clydebank defence. The ball went long and into space before being gathered by the Clydebank full back. His clearing kick was loose and gathered by number-eight David Kerr who ran at the defence before offloading to Johnson who released the ball along the line to wing, Tony Foster. Foster took on the defence on the outside and had the pace to score in the corner for a well worked counter attack try. Johnson added the conversion from the touchline before the whistle went for half time with Cumnock leading twenty points to five.

The second half started fairly well for Cumnock with another long range penalty attempt for Bennett which he pushed slightly to the right. After that Cumnock seemed to go to sleep. Either that or they believed the game to be already won. Whatever the problem, Clydebank managed to set up their driving mauls without Cumnock disrupting them and pick the ball up and drive round the side of rucks without Cumnock stopping them straight away. Clydebank have managed to make it to the top end of the table by carrying the ball three or four yards at a time, keeping hold of the ball and eventually they will make it to the try line. In the first half Cumnock were preventing them from doing this but in the second half Clydebank were allowed to walk up the pitch using their experienced and considerably larger forwards to keep the ball from Cumnock. Cumnock also continued to give away several cheap penalties aiding the Clydebank cause.

The home side managed to score four tries in this fashion with Cumnock barely managing to touch the ball in this spell. Only one conversion was added meaning that Cumnock stayed within seven points meaning that they got a bonus point out of the game.

The game ended with Cumnock camped on the Clydebank line for the first time in the half and despite Greg Hamilton and Sean Fulton going close, they were unable to force their way over the line.


This was a massively disappointing game for Cumnock as they had a great chance to beat one of the top teams in the league. It would even be possible to say that Cumnock lost this game more than Clydebank won it. Cumnock showed in the first half they were capable of dealing with the home side’s forward orientated game but they switched off in the second half and paid the price for it. However, it is games like this that Cumnock’s young side will hopefully learn lessons from and move forward.

Man of the match was captain David Kerr for leading by example and putting in a hard working shift in the back row.

Team: Kevin Brady, Paul Miller, Rab Cross, Sean Fulton, Blair McMillan, Stuart Hunter, Graham Hunter, David Kerr, Scott Houston, Kyle Johnson, Gregor McMillan, Mark Bennett, Alan Haynes, Tony Foster, Conner Nisbet, Barry Horton, Alan Smith, Greg Hamilon

Next Week: Cumnock take on Carrick in local derby at Broomfield

Clydebank 26 Cumnock 2nd XV 20

For the 2nd week in a row the 2nd XV had a tale of two halfs where the 2nd half performancce showed grit and determination to fight a stronger team.

Cumnock started with 15 players on the pitch and no subs. Most of the points against Cumnock were scored again in the first half. 2nd half the boys played a briliant game after being have Bobby Horton and Euan Cunningham having to go off from the front row, which left Cumnock with 13 players on the pitch. After this the Cumnock showed some true grit against the more experienced team. This also meant the scrums became uncontested.

Johnny Seng was man of the match for his opportunist try in the first half.

Cumnock 2nd 15 play Allan Glens at Broomfield, Kick off 3pm

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