CUMNOCK V KRFC  SAT 24th August 2024                
report by Bill Barnaby

The opening game of the season in the Arnold Clark West Region League Division 1 saw Kilmarnock pitted against local rivals Cumnock at Barony Campus last Saturday with the visitors recording a well-deserved and convincing win 57-17.

A fair number of supporters travelled to Cumnock in anticipation of a win. On paper Kilmarnock fielded the strongest team within the past few seasons. The supporters were rewarded as Kilmarnock kicked off with a slight wind in their favour, the hosts tried to run out of defence, but the Killie forwards applied pressure with a mini melee resulting in a lineout for Kilmarnock. Jordan Mclean won the ball and from the drive the ball was released, the backline was joined by full back Scott McDowall who fed left wing Ryan Andrews who powered in to score the opening try converted by Josh Cooper. 0-7 after four minutes.

The restart kick did not go ten metres and from a lineout the forwards drove but knocked on but won possession from Cumnock deliberate knock on. Craig McWhirter found touch and with another catch and drive continued the pressure on the home side. A kick out of defence was fielded by Ryan Andrews and from the ruck the ball was moved with outside centre Robbie Colman collecting a poor pass, but he made a break inside with Jonathan Goodlet collecting and feeding number eight Calum Smith to go over for a try. No conversion 0-12 after quarter of an hour.

The restart kick was fielded and passed to Captain Craig Sheppard who advanced like a raging bull, Robbie Colman backed him up and out the line to full back Mark Doyle who raced in from twenty metres to score a try. Quick as you like but alas no conversion. Kilmarnock in control 0-17.

Kilmarnock fielded the restart and advanced downfield with a kick to touch. Cumnock won their lineout and from the ruck broke up the blindside and moved into Kilmarnock territory winning a penalty en-route. From a lineout in the Kilmarnock twenty-two area the visitors conceded two penalties and Jordan McLean was given a yellow card. More pressure from the Cumnock forwards saw another penalty for a high tackle and from a tap and go Cumnock opened their account with an unconverted try in the twenty fifth minute, 5-17.

Kilmarnock made the first of several substitutions with Ewan Callaghan replacing William “Wilkie” Farquhar at loose head prop. The kick-off saw Craig Sheppard tackle the scrum half who released the ball to the backline and from a ruck kicked to touch. Killie secured the ball with Curran McMillan making ground followed by a knock on. Cumnock’s number eight broke from the scrum and was tackled with Calum Smith being penalised for playing the ball on the ground. He redeemed himself by winning back possession and Ross Murray advanced passing to Robbie Colman who waltzed through the Cumnock defence to score Kilmarnock’s bonus point try converted by Josh Cooper. Thirty-one minutes played 5-24 the scoreline.

Jordan McLean was back on as Jonathan Goodlet secured the ball linking with Josh Cooper to Andrews to Murray to McMillan and a ruck. Cumnock’s tight head prop went off with a face injury and was replaced by an Aussie player dual registered with Marr. Killie won the next scrum with a number eight pick up onto Jonathan Goodlet in turn to Calum Smith who fed Andrew Paxton who raced through the defence to score from twenty-five metres. Josh Cooper added the conversion 5-31 with five minutes to half-time.

Ryan Andrews fed Craig Sheppard from the restart onto Jonathan Goodlet and from the ruck Kilmarnock kicked upfield. The ball was collected by the home fullback who raced forward and his kick and chase was collected and he raced over the goal line only to be tackled by winger Ryan Andrews who enveloped the full back and held him up. What a try saving tackle!

The goal line drop out was taken and Cumnock mounted a series of attacks winning two quick penalties with the final tap and go resulting in a converted try.A timely reminder that Kilmarnock were in a game. Halftime score 12-31.

Andrew Paxton was replaced by Niall Murphy at half time and Kilmarnock turned round with dark clouds looming. From the restart by Cumnock Scott McDowall passed to Ewan Callaghan to Craig McWhirter who kicked and failed to find touch allowing Cumnock to attack in turn kicking upfield. Ryan Andrews linked with Jonathan Goodlet who broke up the blind side but knocked on. Ewan Callaghan was replaced by  William “Wilkie” Farquhar for the first scrum of the second half. The home side moved the ball but were ushered into touch with Niall Murphy creaming the ball in the air with Curran McMillan leading the drive and winning a penalty for a high tackle. Some loose passes from Kilmarnock allowed Cumnock to gain possession followed by the sides exchanging penalties. Kilmarnock won a lineout five metres from the home goal line and two phases later Jonathon Goodlet went over for a try with Josh Cooper’s conversion hitting the post with ten minutes played 12-36.

Another substitution as Allan Spiers replaced Mark Boyle and the light rain began to fall. There was a lull in Kilmarnock’s play but no hint of a score by Cumnock with the visitor’s defence holding firm. Three more substitutions in quick succession saw Morton Sinclair replace Calum Smith, Victor Murray replaced Craig Sheppard and Jordan McLean gave way to Adam Roy. Kilmarnock stole the next scrum from Cumnock with a mighty push and Ross Murray picked up passed to Niall Murphy who fed Robbie Colman and broke in typical fashion with Allan Spiers in support. Kilmarnock kicked ahead and the ball was taken by the Cumnock fullback who launched a wind assisted kick downfield. Craig McWhirte rgathered the ball and shimmied past two players passing to Curran McMillan with Wilkie Farquhar backing up, a sight to behold, his pass to Craig McWhirter was kicked ahead and the right winger was caught in possession, out to Robbie Colman with a pass to Scott McDowall who pinned back his ears and raced in from forty metres to score a great try. The conversion from Josh Cooper gave Kilmarnock a 12-43 lead midway through the half.

Craig McWhirter was rested with Matthew Penrose making his debut. The restart was taken and Wilkie’s pass to Jonathon Goodlet earned the Cumnock stand -off a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Kilmarnock kicked to the corner and from a catch and drive with four phases of play Adam Roy went over for a try. Josh Cooper converted 12-50.

Adam Roy collected the restart kick and took a return pass from Ross Murray in midfield, his renowned dummy saw Curran McMillan pass to Matthew Penrose who chased his kick ahead at full tilt result in a drop out twenty-two. Kilmarnock attacked from the restart and were bundled into touch but stole the lineout on the halfway line. The ball was moved but Cumnock regained possession, won a penalty and to a quick tap and go and a kick ahead. Cumnock won the ball and appeared to be held up but somehow manage to rescue the ball and went over for a try. No conversion Kilmarnock 17-50 ahead with quarter of an hour remaining.

Curran McMillan was replaced by Calum Smith. Josh Cooper launched the restart kick which was taken by Cumnock’s Aussie prop who met a static Ewan Callaghan, Cumnock moved the ball to the back line and won a penalty after a high tackle by Jonathon Goodlet. The Aussie player took the tap and go and it was Goodlet’s turn to face the music, clash and the ball was lost with a scrum to Kilmarnock. Cumnock made two substitutions only their second in the game.

Kilmarnock won the set piece and broke up the blindside with a pass from Scott McDowall finding Allan Spiers who passed to Matthew Penrose who raced down the wing but was thumped into touch with a last-ditch tackle and injured in the process. Craig McWhirter returned to the game.  Kilmarnock were dispossessed in the lineout and Cumnock won a penalty and kicked to touch. Jordan McLean returned and off went Niall Murphy. Cumnock won the lineout and attacked with vigour, they won a penalty and intent in rescuing a point with a fourth try took a tap and go forcing their way into the Kilmarnock twenty-two. Kilmarnock turned over possession with Ryan Andrews breaking followed by brilliant inter-passing between Spiers ,Paxton, McDowall and finally to Robbie Paxton who went over for the ninth and final try. Josh Cooper slotted his sixth conversion, the final nail in the coffin.

Final score Cumnock 17 - Kilmarnock 57.
 
Coach McKenzie Pearce was first to speak at the post-match huddle. “Great performance, there are still some negatives that we’ll sort out on Tuesday at training,  you’re only at 60%”.Give yourselves a clap.”

Coach Stuart Pratt added “What a way to start a match” with the effervescing McKenzie roaring, “spirit was shown in Ryan’s tackle. We need to squeeze at every game”

The coaches agreed Man of The Match Award to Curran McMillan and Ryan Andrews.

Nine tries by nine different players, team squads comprise twenty-two players and Kilmarnock will max that to the limit I am sure. This coming Saturday Kilmarnock are at home and face visitors Cambuslang. Be there and support your local team, tell everyone and your granny and watch Kilmarnock’s resurgent 1st XV.