Arran score six tries to put Cumnock to the sword
Arran Rugby Club ran in six tries as they recorded a comprehensive 41-17 victory over Cumnock on Saturday at Ormidale Park. A minute’s silence was held before the start of the match as a mark of respect for former club president Gus Robertson who died last week.
Arran fielded a strong team with captain Niall McMaster and stand off Lachlan Jones returning to the starting line-up. Arran started brightly on a glorious early summer’s day and Jones landed a long range penalty in the opening minutes, giving the home side a 3-0 lead.
This was soon 10-0 as Arran scored the first try of the match. Jones put up a well-placed up and under which the visiting full back allowed to bounce, Jack Barbour pounced on the mistake and offloaded to Gregor Adamson who timed his pass well to send the supporting Jones under the posts. Jones converted his own score and minutes later Arran were in for another try.
Adamson made a great break in midfield and shipped the ball wide, this allowed Charlie Boal and Jack Barbour to make good ground and the ball was eventually worked to Kiwi full back Fraser Gilbert who cruised in for try number two. Jones again converted and Arran were 17 points to the good after 10 minutes.
Arran continued to pile on the pressure and Cumnock simply couldn’t match their intensity and commitment. The visitors were pinned in their own 22 for most of the opening period and Arran showed no mercy as Stuart McMaster bludgeoned his way over from close range for the home side’s third try after some good work by the Arran pack. Jones was off target with the conversion giving Arran a 22-0 lead.
Cumnock slowly grew into the game and scored their first points with an unconverted score after they had worked the ball wide following a line out in the Arran 22. The home side responded almost immediately as Jack Barbour scored a fantastic individual try, breaking through the visiting defence and rounding the full back. This gave Arran their fourth try and the bonus point was in the bag before half-time. Cumnock hit back with another unconverted score, cutting Arran’s lead to 29-10 at the half-time break.
Cumnock started the second-half brightly and scored a converted try within 10 minutes of the restart after sustained heavy pressure on the Arran line.
As the match wore on tempers started to flare on both sides, resulting in prop Donald Murchie and his opposite number being sent to the sin bin after exchanging blows.
With both teams reduced to 14 men spaces started to appear out wide and the home side took full advantage running in a fifth try. Frazer Thomson was the scorer as he finished brilliantly in the corner following some clever offloading Niall McMaster and Gregor Adamson.
Arran’s sixth and final try followed soon after as Jack Barbour took advantage of some loose Cumnock passing to run in unchallenged from 30 meters. Lachlan Jones added the conversion bringing the score to 4117 and that was how it remained until the full-time whistle as Arran saw out the match comfortably.
It was another superb home win for Arran, who played some lovely running rugby throughout.
The home pack was dominant for the majority of the game and the returning Iain Bayne was superb in the line out, securing clean possession which provided the backs with plenty of attacking opportunities.
All in all it was a great display from the home side as they secured their second bonus point home win in a row, against a team in the top half of the table, ensuring that the boys went to their annual rugby club dinner in a buoyant mood.
Next up Arran face a tough away trip to second-placed Stewartry today (Saturday).