The first game for the Cumnock Red team saw opposition from Biggar. A slow start was made by Cumnock allowing Biggar the 1st four tries of game, but the Reds then started to get a bit of shape. A darting run from Finlay into the corner, followed by a pass onto Ruaridh, saw the 1st try for the Reds! Biggar replied to this with another four tries, despite dogged defending from Ruari and Barry. A long run by Ruari from his own half saw him weave through the Biggar defence to score the 2nd for the Red team! Biggar then finished the 1st half with another try. A quick team talk at half time spurred the Reds on, and Adam scored his 1st straight from restart! More great defending and tackling thwarted Biggar from scoring, and from turnovers and great running and support from the team allowed Adam to score another 2 tries! Biggar then scored their last try of game. From this restart, Barry made a quick pass to Ruaridh who run in the last try of game!
Final score: Biggar 10 - Cumnock Reds 6
Up next for Red team was a combined Biggar/Annan team, and the Reds were awake by now! The opposition started the game but great defending from the full team forced the turnover, and from that Adam went on to score! Not allowing the opposition any time on the ball, the Reds kept forcing the turnovers, from which Adam scored another 2 tries! Biggar/Annan then scored 2 of their own. From the restart, Barry took the ball forward and passed to Finlay, who ran the ball into the corner where he offloaded to Ruaridh, who took ball over the try line! Ruari and Ruaridh also added to the scoreline before full time!
Final score: Biggar/Annan 2 - Cumnock Reds 6
First up for Cumnock Black team were a combined Biggar and Annan side who started on the front foot with 2 quick tries. Cumnock were struggling with the under foot conditions (nice term for mud) but Iona and Riley then drove Cumnock forward with some powerful runs, allowing John to get 2 tries to draw Cumnock Black team level. Maddy then took over following good defensive tackling from Caleb to score 4 tries before half time. The opposition then scored the next 2 tries to make the half time score 6-4. The second half started with Cumnock now looking more determined and Riley scored an excellent try in the corner, followed by more good wing play from Caleb allowing him to get on the score sheet. Biggar/Annan scored 2 more tries before the try of the game was scored by Iona who put on the afterburners to score her trademark try. A good start from the Black team but defensively a bit to work on.
Final score: Biggar/Annan 6 - Cumnock Blacks 9
The 2nd game was against Biggars strongest side. Biggar flew out the traps to score 3 brilliant trys and the Black team were shell-shocked. It is rare for a team to be able to out run our Black team, but this was certainly the case in the first 5 minutes of the first half. After some heated discussions between the Black team John and Caleb started to push Biggar back with some outstanding tackling. Maddy then spotted the gap up the wing to score the Blacks first try. Riley and Caleb were now stretching Biggar defence by staying out on their wings and making the pitch nice and wide for Iona to use her running ability to set up Caleb for the Blacks 2nd try. Just when the Black team felt they were getting back into the game, Biggar scored an outstanding try. A looping pass took out 3 Cumnock defenders for Biggar to sprint in to make the score 4-2 to Biggar at half time. During the break, a discussion was had with all players and the coach. It was decided that we would use Ionas pace to stretch the defensive line of Biggar and create space for our off loading game. From kick off Iona received the ball and quickly passed to Maddy who set Riley free to score an excellent try. Biggar then scored another 2 trys to surely make the game safe. In the last 5 minutes of the half, Cumnock Black team produced some of the best, most committed rugby of their short careers. Caleb made an outstanding tackle to force a turnover, John collected the ball and charged into the corner. Time was running out but the Black team were not giving in. John scored another try, set up brilliantly by Maddy and Riley. Unfortunately the full time whistle sounded, with the final score:
Biggar 6 - Cumnock Blacks 5
Both Cumnock sides played with 5 players against the home teams 6, and got really stuck in against some quality opposition. This was easily the best game of the season so far, with both sets of kids a credit to each other’s club!
Red Team: Barry, Finlay, Ruari, Adam, Ruaridh.
Black Team: Maddy, John, Caleb, Riley, Iona.