Polar Bears 32 v Cumnock 19

The first game of the year for the Polar Bears resulted in a win against Cumnock in, after Cumnock conceded the league points, was played as a friendly with the Polar Bears supplying players to Cumnock to even up the numbers.
Conditions underfoot were soft and there was a chill breeze in the air on a fine winters afternoon when the game kicked off. Partly down to the conditions and partly due to over ambition by both sets of players, no points were scored in the first twenty minutes. The prospect of a dour match began to loom but then the game sparked into life when the Kilmarnock forwards drove up to the Cumnock 10m line and released the backs, Alec Wilson took the ball and released Curran MacMillan who drew the opposite winger and released Jamie Cuthbertson to score his first try for the team in the corner.
Further pressure followed from Kilmarnock and it was no surprise when five minutes later John Cairns dived over from short range after a succession of pick and drives by the Kilmarnock pack marshalled by Wullie Bark.
After 30 minutes Kilmarnock scored the best try of the game when, following a knock on by Cumnock inside the Kilmarnock half, stand off Johnny Logie chipped over the opposition midfield defence and collected his own kick, he then drew another defender before passing to the supporting Kilmarnock backs, quick hands out to William Bark who dived over in the corner for a fine score.
By this time Kilmarnock had been forced into their first substitution when John Cairns, already on his third pair of shorts, found that his borrowed shorts were not of the required girth and his legs were going numb! He was replaced by the veteran David Johnston, the only Polar Bear with a bus pass!
After going 15-0 up, Kilmarnock appeared to lose focus and Cumnock scored between the posts after taking a quick penalty and catching the defence unprepared. This was converted for a half time score of 15-7 for Kilmarnock.
There was some changes of personnel at half time with the Kilmarnock players who had turned out for Cumnock in the first place returning to the ranks of Kilmarnock, with their places been taken by other volunteers.
Cumnock came out of the blocks for the second half the better prepared and following good handling and support play scored in the corner to bring the score back to 15-12.
After 50 minutes Cumnock broke through again and scored close to the posts for a try which was then converted and put them in the lead for the first time in the match at 19-15
There was a further change for Kilmarnock when Johnny Logie was replaced at stand off by Ivor Frater.
From the restart Kilmarnock were up quickly on Cumnock and put them under pressure inside their own 22. A break down the blind side for Kilmarnock ended with a line out for Cumnock on their own five metre line. A poor tap by Cumnock led to the ball going loose and the ball was dived on by the evergreen David Johnston to put Kilmarnock back into the lead. 20-19 Kilmarnock.
By this stage of the game Cumnock were playing a tight game round the fringes of ruck and maul and was met by stout Kilmarnock defence.
After 65 minutes after one of these Cumnock forays, the ball was turned over just outside the Kilmarnock twenty two and Kilmarnock recycled the ball quickly out the back line to William Bark, who beat his man on the outside and went the length of the field to score between the posts. He converted his own try. 27-19 Kilmarnock
Further pressure by Cumnock saw them coming close to the Kilmarnock line on a couple of occasions, being held up on the first occasion over the line, and on their second, their prop had the ball stripped from him as he went for the line.
The final score of the game resulted in a hat trick try for William Bark with a try that was almost a carbon copy of his second try, with a Cumnock attack breaking down, the ball recycled through the Kilmarnock backs and Bark using his pace down the right wing to score. 32-19 Kilmarnock
A good game of rugby played in good spirit with two teams who kept trying to play positive rugby throughout and both sides can be proud of their efforts and performance.
There was a concern for Jamie Cuthbertson who went off injured in the second half whilst guesting for Cumnock, but after a check up the shoulder injury was less serious than feared and he should be back in a couple of weeks.
Well done Polar Bears.