Comeback Crushes Cumnock
Both Clydebank senior teams were in action at home this
weekend against the same opposition Cumnock, but this week
both teams recorded victories.
The 1st XV were once more a changed side due to call-offs
and injuries and were going into the match off the back of
their first defeat the week before. After a first half
roasting by a youthful Cumnock side they were trailing 5-20
but a show of great character saw them regain their
composure and run in twenty-two points without response to
win 27-20.
The 2nd XV completed a hat-trick of wins by beating
Cumnock 26-20 in another exciting match.
The 1st XV were unsettled going into this match and the
first half made their task no easier.
With the kick off by Cumnock going loose, Cumnock
regained possession and their young, and confident stand-off slotted a fine drop
goal to get the first points on the board within the first
minute of play.
Clydebank were in disarray and eight minutes later
Cumnock crossed the line for the first try and stretched the
lead with the added conversion.
Clydebank struggled to regain their composure and settle
into the several new configurations they were playing.
In order to give them a chance to get back into the match
they reverted to their core strength, the forwards, who
proceeded to keep the ball tight and take the young Cumnock
team up front. This paid off initially and the next
twenty minutes was played mostly in the Cumnock 22 metre
area.
On the half hour mark a break by Derek Nolan looked to have crossed
the line but was judged to have been held up. However, Derek took
a knock to the head and had to leave the field causing another
significant change to the Clydebank lineup.
Clydebank had a penalty immediately after and opted for the kick to
touch and the lineout. With a clean win, the ensuing maul rolled
over the line with Graeme Kyle in control to touch down. Ross
Moffatt missed the conversion but the score was now 5-10.
The play went back up the field and within three minutes an
infringement by Clydebank gave Cumnock another shot at goal and an easy
three points to take the score to 5-13.
The first half ran on with injury time and Clydebank were pushing
once more on the Cumnock line. At another breakdown Clydebank were
penalised and Cumnock quickly kicked the ball well up the park. As
Clydebank stumbled and fumbled to clear the danger the quick Cumnock
backs were following up and in a minute of madness Clydebank had lost
possession and Cumnock were running over the line for another try on 44
minutes. A difficult conversion was added and the half ended with
Clydebank in their worst position this season, trailing 5-20.
Things looked bleak for Clydebank going into the second half and
after five minutes Cumnock had another penalty chance.
The penalty was missed but there appeared to be a change in the air
as the Clydebank players looked to have realised the dire position they
were in.
Two minutes later Clydebank had possession once more close to the
Cumnock line and the forwards battered their way through to cross the
line with Kyle once more in control as the ball was touched down.
The conversion was missed.
Clydebank game back again and again at the Cumnock defence and after
several bruising charges they had another penalty which they kicked for
the lineout on the five yard line.
Another win in the lineout saw Clydebank march over the line with
Kyle once again with the ball in hand as they crossed the line. A
fantastic hat-trick and an amazing comeback was on the cards.
Moffatt added the conversion to narrow the gap to 17-20.
Clydebank had the bit between their teeth and the once confident
Cumnock team, who had thought they had the match won, were now on the
ropes.
More sustained pressure saw the Clydebank forwards rumble across the
line seven minutes later. This time Don Ross was on hand to touch
down and take the lead. This also added the first bonus point for
the year. With the conversion missed the score was now 22-20 and
Clydebank were back in control, but not yet finished.
Again, seven minutes later and the forwards were at it again as they
pummelled the Cumnock defence. After a series of rucks in the
Cumnock five yard area Don Ross crossed the line for his second and the
fifth try of the day. Again the conversion was missed and the
score was now 27-20.
The final ten minutes saw a resurgence in the Cumnock attack as they
came close several times. Fortunately, the Clydebank defence held
strong and with the final whistle the Comeback Kings had prevailed over
a youthful and inexperienced Cumnock team.
Team Photo
The 2nd XV was a more settled affair compared to
last week but the benefit of several replacements gave the
team a more confident air.
Clydebank started the match with the slight slope advantage
but it took them until the eleventh minute to start the
scoring when Ronnie McKee broke through to touch down under
the posts.
Next up was Paolo Camillo who slithered through the middle
of the Cumnock defence and ran in from forty yards to touch
down under the posts.
Jamie Boyd added two more tries, and the accompanying
conversions, to seal the victory.
Alistair Smart added another conversion to complete the
scoring for Clydebank and win the match 26-20.
Team Photo
The U15 side were the only ones in action this weekend and
faced Lenzie away. The team lost against a good Lenzie
squad by 37-7 but put in a good performance with a try from
Calum Smith and a conversion from Jack Kirkwood.
Ryan Parker stood out with a fine performance in defence.