W/D keep strong run going

On a wet day in Dunoon ,Waysiders/ Drumpellier kept up their excellent start to the season with a 24-5 win against a good Cowal side.

The W/D pack were dominant from the start but, despite some good possession, were unable to unlock the home defence.

That changed in the fifth minute when the pressure from the scrum forced a turnover from which Jay Weir scored in the corner.

Josh Wilson was unable to kick the difficult conversion, however.

W/D continued to turn the screw and five minutes later scored again.

After a great break from Lee McGowan both the forwards and the backs took turns at trying to break the line before the ball was shipped wide for Chris McCaffer to touch down.

Again, Wilson’s kick was just off target to limit the score to 10-0.

There was no further scoring in the first half but W/D were in control throughout.

The Cowal penalty count was going through the roof and the referee would have been justified in reaching for a card for persistent infringements.

The Monklands’side’s discipline was exceptional, conceding only a solitary penalty during the half that was ultimately kicked wide.

Five minutes into the second half W/D again crossed the white-wash after more indiscipline by the home side resulted in a couple of penalties and McCaffer wasn’t going to be stopped from five metres out.

Wilson’s kick was drawn in by the wind causing confusion with the touch judges.

Fortunately, the Cowal players were honest and advised the ref that the kick was good.

The next 25 minutes were spend mainly in the Dunoon side’s half with only the occasional foray into W/D territory.

That is not to say the visitors didn’t have to defend, but they were doing it from the front.

With 10 minutes to go the pressure paid off when Wilson capitalised on some confusion in a defensive scrum to scoop the ball up and breach the line for the bonus try.

He also added the conversion to stretch the lead to make it an unassailable 24-0.

Cowal eventually scored the try their play probably deserved when they took a quick tap from a penalty and went through a couple of phases before shipping the ball wide.

The ref thought the winger had been tackled so blew for the penalty as W/D hadn’t retreated 10 metres.

It looked like a let-off as the winger had actually broken down the tackle and was heading under the posts.

His blushes were spared as the home side crashed over in the corner, but the conversion was missed to mean only five points appeared on the board for Cowal.

Coach David Brown said:“I was delighted with the boys.

“They stuck to the game plan and gave their all for each other and the club.“