Cumnock 32 -Kilmarnock 22

Last Saturday the Kilmarnock 1st XV travelled to Cumnock for looking for their first league win of the season.

The match started with a minutes silence to pay respects to the local girl Naomi Ferrans who was tragically killed earlier in the week whilst riding her bike.

As expected for a local derby the game started at a fast pace with some hard hits from both sides. Cumnock had initially some good field position and pressure but having back to back penalties pushed Kilmarnock in the opposition twenty-two. From the driven line-out, Kilmarnock had a couple of phases drawing a high tackle penalty which Ethan McIsaac duly dispatched between the uprights, 0-3 after ten minutes.
From the kick-off Kilmarnock cleared their lines to just short of halfway. Cumnock then ran through a number of phases before drawing a penalty for not rolling away. the Cumnock outside centre duly kicked the penalty bringing the scores level, 3-3 after 13 mins.

The next phase of play so some strong running by Cumnock in the middle of the park, particularly by the number 8, even after some strong tackling by Victor Murray and Ewan Callaghan. however it was the Cumnock 8 who eventually broke the Kilmarnock defensive line with a well angled run and he offloaded to an on running teammate who ran under the posts. the conversion was kicked given Cumnock the lead, 10-3 after 20 mins.

Cumnock gathered the restart and sent a long kick to just outside the Killie twenty two. Frazer Corrance cleared straight into touch giving Cumnock a good attacking platform. From the line out Cumnock worked their way across the pitch, drawing another penalty. The penalty was take quickly but good work in the ruck turned the ball over and Kilmarnock spread the play wide where Frazer Corrance galloped past his man and down the wing. With only the fullback to beat Frazer’s hamstring went and so did the scoring opportunity. Frazer was replaced by Craig Hunter who went on the wing whilst Ethan McIsaac moved to fullback.

The next 10 mins so some good phase play from Kilmarnock as well as gaining the upper hand in the set pieces with line-out stolen and scrum taken against the head. Unfortunately some poor handling or decision making let Cumnock off the hook. However on 35 mins, Kilmarnock scored their first try. From the line-out the team went through a number of phases before Ryan Andrews passed inside to Craig McWhirter who then offloaded to Craig Shepherd who although was tackled, his leg drive got him over the line. Ethan missed the conversion taking the score to 10-8 after 35 mins.

Killie finished the half strongly and again were on the attack when the referee stopped the game for what looked to be a head injury to the Cumnock inside centre who was forced off. Half time came after a somewhat scrappy last couple of minutes from both teams.
The restart didn’t go 10 metres giving Cumnock platform to build towards Kilmarnock’s twenty two. And after five minutes with Taylor McHarg not rolling away gave Cumnock’s 13 an easy shot to take the score to 13-8, 45 mins.

Ethan McIsaac ensured the kick went 10m and reached the Cumnock twenty two, The clearance from Cumnock though went over the head of Robbie Colman. It bounced back to Robbie who turned, and glided past two Cumnock defenders wrong footed by the bounce to go in for Kilmarnock’s second try. McIsaac kicked the conversion and Kilmarnock were once agin in front, 13-15, 46 mins.

From the kick-off Killie were again on the attack driving into the Cumnock twenty two. Cumnock relieved the pressure but the ball was then shifted along the Killie line to Robbie Colman who with a strong handoff to the inside centre broke the line, threw a dummy and strolled over for his second of the game. McIsaac slotted the conversion and Killie led 13-22 after 51mins.

At this point the inside centre for Cumnock returned to shore up the defensive line, which bemused those Kilmarnock supporters on the touch line with the SRU focus on head injuries. However from the kick-off the ball was gathered and cleared by Kilmarnock. After slow progress from both sides, Cumnock threw the ball wide and poor tackling allowed the centre to score under the posts. The two points were added, 20-22 57mins.

What followed next was some scrappy play from both sides but Kilmarnock seemed to be moving towards the Cumnock line. Some decidedly strange decisions began to creep in from the referee, including when the ball was flung over the dead ball line by Cumnock when Kilmarnock were 5m from the line only fro a 22m drop out to be given. Cumnock duly took advantage of this and what looked like a missed high tackle and knock-on in quick succession and a Cumnock back scampered under the posts. 27-22 after 61mins.

Cumnock were in the ascendancy now and pressed forward over the next 10 mins. Some poor tackling then allowed the number 12 to go under the posts meaning Killie were outwith the losing bonus point. 32-22 71 mins.

Killie pushed to try and get back within 7 points but ultimately fell short. After the match, Coach Stuart Pratt stated that it was a game that was there for the taking. There was good effort from the players but some poor execution and decision making.