Report by Ian Park

The conditions played their part in what was a messy game, littered with handling errors and penalties. However it was poor decision making that was to be Cumnock’s downfall. Unbeaten in the league the young Nock team were stretched by injuries and call offs meaning they could only field 16 players against a big Dalziel squad, in both size and number.

The visitors set their stall out early kicking behind Cumnock at every opportunity keeping them deep in their own half, using their big forwards to pick off opportunities. The home team didn’t help themselves by coughing up possession whenever they got close enough for a score.

A nicely executed catch and drive from a 5 metre lineout saw the visitors take the lead, closely followed by a penalty in front of the posts to make it 0-10 midway through the half. After butchering a couple of try scoring opportunities Thomas Findlay squeezed the ball over from all of 6 inches, Alistair Birrell missing the extras to close the game 5-10. Before the half ended the Motherwell team ran in another score wide to finish the half up 5-15.

While Cumnock were not playing well they were still very much in the game as the second half kicked off. The Nock forwards were struggling against the bigger opposition and while the backs were starved of decent quality quick ball they invariably made the wrong choice when in possession. The next Dalziel score came from an interception as Cumnock tried again to build from the back, the easy score between the posts saw the score shoot up to 5-22.

However as the coaches have witnessed on a few occasion this year the young Nock team never give up and with 15 minutes remaining Aiden Kerr took the option to go on the blind side from a scrum to cross the whitewash, this time Birrell made the harder kick for the 2 points for a 12-22 game.

Despite a strong finish Cumnock couldn’t add to the score and went down for their first league defeat of the season. On reflection, the boys knew they didn’t play well but short of numbers and with players out of position they still kept themselves in the game. Tackling and last line defence was good but they need to be more committed in the rucks with quicker ball and improve their decision making when under pressure.

Team: Aidan Kerr, Glen Young, Ryan McCrone, Thomas Findlay, Kyle Farrow, Michael Anderson, Sean Houston, Scott Teece, Dylan Lawrie, Craig Willison, Gavin Gilliland, Robbie McLaren, Connor Hill, Calum Park, Alistair Birrell, Aiden Walker

Cumnock Rugby Football Club

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