Social events in Cumnock Rugby Club in April and May

The following are the social events being run in the club for the month of April/May (more details will follow).



under 17s vs 1st Cumnock team, Awards Day 24th May

Come along and support them.

Mini festival inlcuding reports

Picture of winning Primary 5 Cumnock team
P7 Coaches - Jim Faulds, Kevan Aitken, Danny McLaren
Winning Cumnock P7 team

This was a festival that was scheduled for last October but was cancelled due to inclement weather. However this did not diminish the quality of the rugby on show and produced two age group winners for Cumnock.

Over 160 primary school players from P3 to P7 competed against teams from Ardrossan, Dumfries and Kilmarnock in the quest for silverware.

The format used for these young players has been pioneered by Cumnock Rugby Club to promotes the use of the players skills as the mechanism to win the tournament and rather than the team who scores the most. “We tried to focus on encouraging the core skills that players of these age groups should be displaying” said Harry Reilly, one of the Festival Organisers. “Too many times we see teams at these age groups focussing on winning a tournament/festival rather than focusing on the basic skills that produce high quality players for the future”. These coaching principles are certainly showing results as Cumnock had four players selected for U16 Glasgow Warriors Squad which won the Inter District Championship today.

Primary 7 reports for Cumnock Mini Festival

Cumnock 8 Ardrossan 3

Cumnock were fired up for this game, closing down Ardrossan right from the start. Once Gregor Aitken got the first score after some great team interplay the result was never in any doubt. The midweek training session paid off with the forwards using their new move to pentetrate the Ardrossan defence again and again and by the interval Cumnock were 5-0 ahead. Some slackplay and poor defending let Ardrossan in for three scores, but Cumnock replied with three fine tries of their own. Man of the match for Cumnock was selected by the Ardrossan coach and was Andrew Harkiss who had put in a powerful performance in the centre of the pack. Cumnock scores came from Gregor Aitken (2), Jack Reilly (3), Taylor Howie and Aiden Kerr (2).

Cumnock 5 Kilmarnock 4

This was a terrific game played with great determination by both teams. The skill levels demonstrated by both teams were of an extremley high level and the crowd was treated to a wonderful game of rugby. Kilmarnock opened the scoring but Cumnock dug deep and responded quickly with a great move leading to a try for Jack Reilly. Both teams traded scores until Cumnock opened up a two point lead. After that the result wasn't in doubt and Cumnock held out for a fantastic win over their old rivals. Scores came from Jack Reilly, Taylor Howie, Andrew Harkiss, Zack North and Connor McSevenney. Special mention must be made of Man of the Match, Scott Faulds, who works away in the game, winning and securing ball for his team.

The P7 team were overall winners of the Festival and the coaching team of Kevan Aitken, Euan Kerr, Harry Reilly and Danny McLaren won the P7 coaches award for the way that they coached their players on the day, assisted by Jim Faulds. The Players Player of the day was Andrew Harkiss.

Cumnock P5 Match Reports

The Cumnock P5 team put in a great performance on Sunday at the clubs annual mini festival. The club were hosting teams from Ardrossan, Dumfries and Kilmarnock . The day produced 3 thrilling games of rugby at P5 level with the Cumnock team stepping up to the mark and securing victory in all of their games. Man of the match awards going to Sean Houston, Jack McSeveney and John Watt. The team also went on to win the overall award for their age group. This was a real recognition of the team's performance as this award is based on the team's execution of the core skills (running, tackling and support play) and not on game results. The P5 team which put in such a great performance were Calum Bell, Kory Galloway, Lucy Watt, Sean Houson, Tyler Wallace, John Watt, Calum Hendrie, Jack McSeveney and Rory Nimmo. Congratulations P5, you all put in a superb performance today.

Cumnock P3/4 Match Reports

Cumnock 11 – 12 Ardrossan

Cumnock kicked off their tournament against a dangerous Ardrossan team.

Unfortunately it took the side a few minutes to realise this and they quickly found themselves three scores down. After this slow start however Cumnock fought back with two quick-fire tries from Owen Young and from then on both sides scored freely with some tremendous attacking and support play from both sides.

Cumnock’s much improved support play was the most impressive aspect of this performance with breaks made by Alex Houston and Adam Watt ably followed up by Rob Drummond and Ross Watson Indeed it was noticeable that Cumnock’s overall team play was much better than that of Ardrossan whose man of the match scored ten of his sides tries in an impressive individual display.

Cumnock’s man of the match as selected by the Ardrossan coach was Austin McBirnie who put in probably his best performance of the season so far and had a hand in every move of the match, despite somehow not managing to score himself!

The rest of the scores came from Owen Young (7), Alex Houston (2) and Craig Sloan (2) and despite the result Cumnock could take a lot from this game as their attacking play was much better than in recent weeks.



Cumnock 4 – 10 Kilmarnock

This local derby was the sides other game of the day and they were confident of another competitive display following their impressive form in the opening game.

However the traditional Cumnock slow start was in action once more and the powerful runners of the Kilmarnock side took advantage of this score five tries before half time. Only one long range try from broken play by Adam Watt came in Cumnock’s favour.

The side rallied after a reminder at half time about the importance of tackling the opposition and they came flying out of the blocks for the second half with some excellent tackling by Ross Watson and Rob Drummond. This seemed to rattle Kilmarnock and it allowed Cumnock to run in tries from Owen Young, Alex Houston and another from Adam Watt.

Unfortunately this fight back was short lived as Kilmarnock ran in another five tries without reply as Cumnock’s defence seemed to go to sleep. The man of the match for this game was Adam Watt for his two tries and a tenacious defensive effort that many of his team mates could learn a lot from.

Ultimately this was mixed weekend for the P3/4s though several positive aspects such as an impressive attacking performance with some spectacular individual moments from several players means that this team can be very positive about its future.

Link to chatboard

Credit to Fiona and Harry for the reports and pics.

Harry (and the rest of us) wishes to thank everybody who helped out Sunday.

Glasgow U16 vrs Borders

Link to Scottish Rugby Website

Glasgow U16’s play their last match of the programme on Sunday 26th April, against the Borders at Dunbar RFC at 3pm. The Glasgow squad has produced some fine rugby this year with some dazzling tries, but is yet to have performed for the full match. The squad is hoping to finally produce a complete performance in what will be the closing match on the IDC programme.

Name School - Club
1 Joe McQuade St. Aloysius College – Hamilton RFC
2 Jack Rountree Kyle Academy – Ayr RFC
3 Jonathan Agnew Boclair Academy - Hillhead/Jordanhill RFC
4 Kris Hughes Calderglen High School - Cambuslang RFC
5 Adam Barnett Mearns Castle High School - GHA RFC
6 Michael Vernell St. Aloysius College – Allan Glens RFC
7 Chris Mulligan Biggar High School - Biggar RFC
8 Callum TempletonDumfries Academy - Dumfries RFC
9 Scott Steele Dumfries Academy - Dumfries RFC
10 David Scott Wallace High School - GHA RFC
11 Gordon Ferguson Jordanhill School– Hillhead/Jordanhill RFC
12 Mark Bennett (c)St. Joseph’s Academy - Cumnock RFC
13 Murray Beckwith Marr College
14 James Stirling Kyle Academy – Ayr RFC
15 Robbie Ferguson Wellington School – Ayr RFC

16 Ryan Barr Stewarton Academy- Kilmarnock RFC
17 Aidan MacMillan St. Aloysius College – Hillhead/Jordanhill RFC
18 Murray Cubie High School of Glasgow
19 Burns Singh Wellington School – Ayr RFC
20 Scott Houston Auchinleck Academy - Cumnock RFC
21 Alan Haynes Auchinleck Academy - Cumnock RFC
22 Sam Goodrich River of Life School - Dumfries RFC

Water Carriers School - Club
Ross Campbell Irvine Royal Academy – Marress RFC
Jamie Graham Dumfries Academy - Dumfries RFC
Rory Hughes Kingspark Secondary - GHA RFC
Gavin Kerr Ayr Academy - Cumnock RFC


Glasgow U16 Match Report
Monday, 27 April 2009

FINAL PERFORMANCE TO REMEMBER FOR GLASGOW U16’s The final match of the U16 IDC Program took place at Dunbar RFC on Sunday 26th April between Glasgow and the Borders. Glasgow dominated the match running in twelve tries to the Borders two. Glasgow disappointed, from two narrow loses to Yorkshire and Lancashire the weekend before, were determined to perform for a full match and finally performed to their potential. From start to finish it was an impressive performance from the young players to finish their U16 Program and their season. Congratulations to them on a long and hard season. Time Try Alert Score
3min Good possession and breakdown work from the Glasgow pack allow Murray Beckwith to outpace the defence and score from halfway. Scott converts 7-0
5min An intelligent Scott chip kick down the right puts Bennett clear to score under the posts. Scott converts 14-0
12min A strong attacking scrum sees the Borders fumble on their line – Michael Vernell picks up and dives over from close range. Scott converts 21-0
14min Bennett breaks on halfway and feeds supporting Robbie Ferguson inside to score under posts. Scott converts 28-0
21min Steele breaks from attacking lineout and offloads to Kris Hughes who powers over from the 22. 33-0
35min A turn over from the lineout and good offloading work from Mulligan, McQuade, McMillan and K. Hughes give space to Bennett who breaks the defensive line and feeds Stirling to cross out wide. 38-0
H/T 38-0
4min Bennett breaks through midfield and steps full back to score under posts. R. Ferguson converts 45-0
6min Ferguson puts through Bennett then supports to get ball back and offload to supporting Haynes to keep momentum up. R. Ferguson converts 52-0
10min Impressive Ferguson breaks and feeds Haynes. Cover defence comes across and Bennett receives scoring pass. R. Ferguson converts 59 - 0
14min Borders keep it tight and Sudlow drives over from close range. MacLennan converts 59-7
18min Houston runs penalty from 5 mtres and feeds Bennett for his hat-trick. 64-7
26min Houston wins a 5 metre scrum. Murray Cubie picks from 8 and feeds Houston inside to dive over. 69-7
30min Mulligan drives through the Borders pack – quick ball lets Beckwith stretch his legs and offload to Stirling to score out wide 74 - 7
35min Borders fight to the end and score through Binnie for consolation try. 74-12
F/T 74-12
Glasgow Team: R. Ferguson, Goodrich (G. Ferguson), Beckwith, Bennett, Stirling, Scott (Haynes), Steele (Houston), McQuade, Rountree (McMillan), Agnew (Barr), K. Hughes (Cubie), Barnett, Vernell (Singh), Mulligan, Templeton