KRFC v CAMBUSLANG 31-8-2024 report by Bill Barnaby
Last Saturday the first home league match of the season saw Kilmarnock host visitors Cambuslang RFC and the home side followed up last week’s victory with a comprehensive win 60-16 in a day of sunshine.
Not quite a Carnival atmosphere but the swollen home crowd enjoyed the pitch side BBQ with accompanying music and cordials.
Cambus kicked off and won a penalty for a high tackle and moved into home territory followed by a second penalty. Kilmarnock stole the resulting lineout with Curran McMillan breaking and Josh Cooper kicking to touch. A second steal in the lineout and out the line but a dropped pass was collected by Cambus and another penalty given following a tackle by Robbie Colman. The three points were converted, Cambus 3-0 ahead after five minutes.
Cambus returned the restart kick for a home lineout with Jordan McLean securing the ball and the forwards mounted a several attacks with Adam Roy going to ground but penalised. William “Wilkie” Farquhar suffered a leg injury and was replaced by Ewan Callaghan.
Kilmarnock turned over possession at the lineout moved the ball to Calum Smith who was dispossessed and Cambus kicked out on the full. The lineout on the Cambus twenty -five saw a catch and drive with Calum Smith passing to Craig Sheppard who was stopped short of the line and from the ruck Calum Smith drove over for Kilmarnock’s first try. Josh Cooper converted Kilmarnock 7-3 ahead after twelve minutes.
In the next few passages of play Kilmarnock were under pressure with a second converted penalty narrowing the gap 7-6 midway through the half.
Cambus kicked straight out after the restart with Kilmarnock winning their lineout and Calum Smith made a bruising charge with Curran McMillan and Craig Sheppard in support. Over the tryline but held up and a Kilmarnock five metre scrum.
Kilmarnock’s scrum with a mighty push won a penalty. The tap and go was taken and Calum Smith scored his second try. Josh Cooper converted 12-6 after twenty-three minutes. The sun disappeared.
Kilmarnock were penalised for holding and Cambus kicked to touch for a lineout five metres from the Kilmarnock goal line.
The throw in was squint and Kilmarnock were penalised for pushing early at the set piece. Cambus took a quick tap and go with Kilmarnock slow to respond resulting in a try for the visitors. No conversion 14-11 the scoreline, twenty-five minutes played. The sun reappeared.
Securing the restart Cambus number four was tackled by Ewan Callaghan and Kilmarnock captain Craig Sheppard spoken to by referee Ed Crick. Another penalty to Cambus and prop Victor Murray replaced Ewan Callaghan, Little and Large.
The Cambus hooker made an overthrow and Curran McMillan took the ball and linked with the half backs onto Craig Sheppard who released full-back Scott McDowall who raced in for a try. Josh Coper converted 21-11 and a little relief for the home crowd.
In the remaining ten minutes of the half Kilmarnock were more cohesive with the forwards upping their game and Craig Sheppard went over from short distance for an unconverted try 26-11.
From the restart the Cambus left winger took the ball and was enveloped by centres Robbie Paxton and Robbie Colman and ushered into touch in front of the grandstand to a roar from the home crowd.
Andy Paxton won the lineout out to the halfbacks onto Jonathan Goodlet then up the blind side to Victor Murray in turn to the advancing Robbie Colman only to be pulled back for a penalty to the home side. Craig McWhirter fond touch on the Cambus twenty-two. Andy Paxton in the air then forwards Smith to Sheppard to Goodlet out to Robbie Paxton who was upended. Calum Smith won the ruck ball onto Jordan Mclean to Craig Sheppard followed by a drive with Adam Roy the try score. Josh Cooper converted on the stroke of half-time 33-11 the score.
The half time pep talk-over Toby Buchannanon his debut replaced Mark Boyle and Kilmarnock kicked off and soon regained possession with the forwards spearheading the attack and Craig McWhirter kicking from a penalty into the Cambus twenty-two. The catch and drive ploy won another penalty for the home side only to concede a penalty short of the Cambus line. Niall Murphy replaced Adam Roy .
Cambus lost the ball from their line out, but a dropped pass gave them a scrum on the half way line. Kilmarnock pushed Cambus off the ball to win a penalty. Taylor McHarg replaced Jonathan Goodlet and in the next scrum Kilmarnock won another penalty. A kick to the corner and from the five-metre lineout a break from the ruck by \Jordan Mclean saw the second-row forward score in the blind side corner. 38-11 no conversion.
Curran McMillan earned a well-earned rest being replaced by Morton Sinclair.
Cambus countered following a penalty for not releasing and moved into Kilmarnock territory with the left winger being held up in a maul giving Kilmarnock a scrum.
The Kilmarnock backline shipped the ball and forced a penalty with Craig McWhirter kicking up to the halfway line.
Andy Paxton won the ball and the forwards through Calum Smith advanced with a looping pass picked up by Connor Turnbull who sprinted at lightning speed to score in the corner. No Josh Cooper, Robbie Paxton’s conversion failed. 43-11 with fourteen minutes of the half played.
Ryan Andrews took the restart and shipped to Calum Smith and the forwards passed between themselves back to Andrews who hesitated then passed to Robbie Paxton who was caught but passed to Taylor McHarg to fellow second row forward Niall Murphy for a well-executed try. No conversion 48-11.
Craig Sheppard knocked on at the restart, but his pack pushed Cambus off the ball for a penalty. The ball was won and the backline showed good handling skills with Calum Smith collecting and scoring his hat trick try. No conversion again 53-11 midway through the half.
The restart was taken by Taylor McHarg who was hit in the air by the Cambus number five who was sin binned.
Kilmarnock won their lineout and the ball fed to the backline back to Craig McWhirter who broke but was penalised for not releasing. Robbie Paxton was replaced by Mark Boyle. Cambus moved the ball but knocked on for a scrum. Kilmarnock kicked to clear for a Cambus lineout. Two more substitutions with Jonathan Good and Ewan Callaghan replacing Calum Smith and Craig Sheppard.
From their lineout Cambus were given a penalty for a deliberate knock on and kicked to the corner. Morton Sinclair stole the ball at the front and linked with the half backs to gain forty metres. Robbie Colman continued onto Toby Buchannan to Robbie Paxton who was penalised. The Cambus lineout was stolen again by Sinclair, the second phase saw Scott McDowall link with Turnbull, Roy then Victor Park drove to win a free ball. The forwards drove goalwards, and a loose ball was collected by Craig McWhirter who sold a great dummy, stepped inside and went over below the posts for a try to cap his 150th appearance for Kilmarnock. The conversion was added by Mark Boyle. 60-11 with eight minutes remaining.
With the game well and truly won for Kilmarnock Cambus mounted a last gasp effort and from a thirty-metre run by number five the Cambus forwards scored an unconverted try to end the game. Final score Kilmarnock 60 Cambuslang 16.
The post patch huddle saw the Kilmarnock team take a knee with coach Gregor Paxton exclaim “Different class, sixty points against a good team.” Coach McKenzie Pearce was ambivalent, “Big win only playing at 50%. Too many penalties we have to take responsibility and elevate our standards. Have a good night.”
Well deserved Kilmarnock Man of the Match – Hat trick Hero Calum Smith.
Post match in the clubhouse at the pensioner’s table of aficionados, elder statesman and ex.referee Jock Campbell congratulated referee Ed Crick on his performance which can only be echoed by the writer.
Good to see the players taking ownership of the club... good vibes on the day.
On pitch two after a delayed start a combined Kilmarnock 2nd / 3rd XV saw off visitors Carrick in a high scoring match 40-33.
Meanwhile on the road the Under 18s lost to a strong Newton Stewart side 47-26. Read Paul Dunlop’s report on the Kilmarnock Rugby Club facebook website.
This coming Saturday Kilmarnock travel to Holmpark to play newly promoted Bishopton with a Kick-off at 3.00pm.
The Kilmarnock 2nd XV recently promoted to the Arnold Clark West Region Reserve League Division 1 open their league campaign with a home game against Lenzie.
Kick-off at 3.00pm.
Best of luck to both teams, be there and support the club.