CUMNOCK 2ND XV 0 HILLHEAD/JORDANHILL 2A 27

CUMNOCK 2XV welcomed Hills to Broomfield on Saturday to kick start the new league campaign.

This team, having been promoted into BT West Reserve League 2 last season, knew they were going to have a massive fight on their hands.

Under the reigns of coach Jim Ramage and newly appointed captain Scott Given the boys took to the field with the ferocity that they have been bringing to the training paddock.

Cumnock are going into this league as massive underdogs but really came out fighting. From the outset Cumnock kept cool and took everything that Hills could throw at them on the chin.

Cumnock now with a desire that has never been felt before in the 2nd XV were up for this and plugged away relentlessly at the strong defensive lines in front of them.

Some foul play twenty minutes into the first half saw what is every player’s worst nightmare and an ambulance having to be brought onto the pitch for our scrum half Thomas Findlay who took a blow to the side of the head in a ruck. After this the game had to be moved on to the “postage stamp” which saw the demise of Cumnock the slightly smaller pitch played right into the hands of “Hills” by taking away our strength and pace on the back line. Although this never stopped Cumnock from putting all of the heart and fight into this match that they had from the start and never once looked like giving up and came very close to the line several times themselves, but Hills just couldn’t be broken.

Cumnock were defending like lions and Hills really struggling to get that ball over the line in several occasions Cumnock gave away scrums five meters out, but due to the Cumnock forwards putting in some massive hits in defence Hillhead could not score.

Things are looking really positive for this squad and the players walked off the pitch on Saturday although beaten on the score board, a sense of self achievement could be felt and the boys were just as proud going off and heads were held high as there were a lot of positives that came from this game. Coach Ramage was very impressed with the performance on Saturday afternoon and is anticipating an exciting season ahead

Man of the match : S Thompson

CUMNOCK - Forsyth, McCrorie, Gemmell, McKenzie, Brady, Thompson, Gilliland, Given (C), Findlay, Barr, Parker, McCurdy, McCall, Hastings, McMillan.

Subs: McGrath, Wylie, Aitken, Rafferty, Scott, Boswell.

Cumnock 2nd XV are still looking for players to join their squad regardless of age or experience. If anyone is interested please call Scott Given on 07955164547.