Last Saturday on a cold crisp day Kilmarnock hosted local rivals Cumnock and it was the visitors who completed the double with a victory winning the second match between the teams 24-12 collecting a bonus try point en-route.

The hosts kicked off with the icy north wind behind them and the sun in their eyes. The teams were tied for the first few minutes and then a Cumnock player was yellow carded by the whistle happy referee. Kilmarnock tried to take advantage but could not cross the gain line to score and spurned a relatively easily penalty kick by taking a quick tap and go and were penalised at the first ruck. Back to full strength then Cumnock numbers were reduced with their number eight being yellow carded for whatever after twenty minutes. Kilmarnock tried a variety of options in attack but lacked the killer punch to open the scoring whilst Cumnock were sound in defence.

Both sides conceded penalties and then it was Kilmarnock who lost a player Alan Spiers following a try saving tackle after forty minutes of play. Cumnock took a five-metre scrum and attacked the Kilmarnock goal line but were thwarted and a penalty relieved the pressure on the home side. From the lineout won by Niall Murphy the ball was shipped to winger Chris Milligan who broke the initial defence but was turned over. Cumnock attacked and won a scrum in midfield. The ball was put in and was clearly out of the scrum on the blind side of the referee and a penalty was awarded to the visitors. In the next phase of play Robbie Paxton sustained an injury and was replaced by Craig McWhirter in the sixth minute of extra time.

In the next Cumnock attack the ball went to ground and was fly hacked up field with David Smith in hot pursuit. The Cumnock fullback fielded the ball and set up another advance then kicked from the next ruck. Kilmarnock countered with a move by Chris Milligan who linked with David Smith who was held up and the half time whistle was blown, fifty- two minutes had elapsed.
Half time and the sides even on zero points apiece. Writer Bill Barnaby shivering in the cold.

The sides turned around as the sun settled and Cumnock won a kickable penalty from the restart but took a quick tap and go and won a lineout. The ball was caught, and the backline was soon in action and a second phase ball was kicked with Kilmarnock prop Ewan Callaghan falling backwards in an attempt to field the ball resulting in a scrum to the visitors. The packs were set and Kilmarnock were penalised for pushing too early. A quick tap and go was taken and from the driving maul Cumnock scored a push over try which was converted. 7-0 after four minutes played of the second half.

David Smith’s restart kick went high in the air and was knocked backwards by Cumnock and Killie flanker Morton Sinclair palmed the ball into touch. The Cumnock throw in was squint and from Killie’s lineout Niall Murphy won the ball and the forwards drove up field then released the backs with Allan Spiers being held then a pass to Ewan Callaghan. From the ruck through the halfbacks to Craig Sheppard and again nine and ten to fullback Robbie Colman who was turned over in midfield. Cumnock shipped the ball to their left winger who was injured in an attack and was substituted as was Iain Spiers who was replaced by Adam Roy.

From the scrum Kilmarnock attacked through Sheppard and Colman but possession was lost, and Cumnock gained ground from their backline with Allan Spiers intercepting breaking wide but passed to fresh air for a lineout. The visitors secured the ball and attacked to the open side then switched back and their inside centre made a searing break at pace linking with his half backs and two further passes at speed to score a very good try in the nearside corner. No conversion Cumnock 12-0 ahead after nine minutes.

Kilmarnock lost their rhythm and made several handling and kicking errors in the next few passages of play and were soon under the cosh as Cumnock threatened the home goal line. A penalty to the home side relieved the pressure followed by two more and Kilmarnock moved into opposition territory. Robbie Colman broke free but was isolated and his desperate pass failed to find a support player however a Cumnock error gave Kilmarnock a scrum in the Cumnock twenty-two area. The half backs fed Allan Spiers and the second phase saw Craig McWhirter cross kicking to Ethan McIsaac who just failed to catch the ball at full tilt. A five-metre lineout to Cumnock was stolen by the home side, Morton Sinclair was stopped short, and Josh Cooper fed Sam Diamond who passed to Craig Sheppard who went over for a try. McIsaac’s conversion was straight as a die but fell tantalisingly short. Scoreline 12-5 with half an hour played.

From the restart kick Sam Diamond fielded the ball dummied the first defender and set off on a forty-metre break and passed to centre Chris Milligan who was brought down and penalised for holding on the ground. So near yet so far. Cumnock took the quick tap and go to force a lineout followed by another penalty with Kilmarnock prop Craig Sheppard receiving a yellow card to end his game. Cumnock refused the kick at goal and took a tap and go but knocked on in the process. Kilmarnock won the scrum with stand-off David Smith breaking out of defence despite a high tackle to win a scrum on the twenty-two line.

Kilmarnock’s put in and the Cumnock pack shoved the seven Sons of Killie backwards to win a penalty. Quick as a flash Cumnock moved the ball out their backline to score a third try which was quickly converted. Scoreline 19-5 with five minutes remaining.
Kilmarnock won the ball from the restart and advanced through Diamond and Spiers then John Limond back to Spiers. From the ruck Cooper fed Adam Roy and the tall second row forward was held up with Cumnock winning a scrum. Cumnock won the ball and kicked with Robbie Colman fielding but was stopped and from the ruck Sam Diamond led a charge but was turned over.
Cumnock knocked on deep in their own twenty-two and won a penalty from the resulting scrum. The tap and go was fed to their fullback who sped seventy-five metres unopposed to score between the posts with a bonus point try. A drop goal conversion was taken quickly advertising Cumnock’s intention to rack up their goal difference.

From the restart Kilmarnock’s Sam Diamond clattered his opposite number and won a penalty from the ruck. Craig McWhirter found touch deep in the opposition twenty-two. Niall Murphy creamed the ball fed Sam Diamond who went over for a consolation try and the conversion was sound by Craig McWhirter and no side was blown. Final score Cumnock worthy winners 24-12.

The somewhat lonely figure of Kilmarnock coach Stuart Pratt stood waiting on the park for the customary post-mortem huddle and was upbeat praising the effort of his players particularly their first half performance. There was no lack of effort however what chances of scoring his team had, were not taken unlike Cumnock who profited at each opportunity. They are a good team, the league still has a few games to go but we must concentrate on the second bite of the cherry with the Shield match against East Kilbride this coming Saturday.

Number eight Sam Diamond reinforced the need for maximum numbers to turn up at training this coming week. Special thanks were expressed to Club President John Brown for his contribution playing out of position at hooker and perhaps not for the last time this season.