Second half drags on as Cumbernauld run out of puff

Trailing 7-5 at half-time, Cumbernauld must have thought they were on course to avenge a 12-try defeat at Stewartry earlier in the season.

Scrummaging in the first half had been excellent from the home team and their drive and overall effort could not be faulted.

But the second half saw a reccurrence of the Cumbernauld malaise as they ran out of steam and conceded four further tries, allowing the visitors to achieve a bonus point.

Cumbernauld started in a positive frame of mind and gave as good as they got in loose and tight play.

Stewartry failed to take advantage of two penalty awards but broke the stalemate when Stewartry’s class act at centre strode through the home defence to score in the corner.

Stand-off Andrew Reid was unlucky with two penalty attempts but Cumbernauld kept up the pressure and Michael McDonald scored in the corner following good scrummage play from the Auchenkilns forwards.

Cumbernauld were caught cold at the start of the second half when the Stewartry winger scored an unconverted try in the corner.

The Badgers, perhaps out of frustration, then started to give away penalties and from one such indiscretion, a Stewartry tap penalty was rewarded by a second try for their centre, duly converted to make the score 19-5.

Stewartry scored two additional tries to make the final score 33-5 and leave the Cumbernauld coaches to address the training regime issue if the lack of fitness in the second half of matches is not to haunt them for the rest of the season.

With the possibility that three teams could be relegated from this division, players now have to increase their commitment to the cause and start to train harder and more regularly if the relegation threat is to be avoided.

The next game for the Badgers is next Saturday when Cumbernauld travel to Paisley for a 3pm kick-off.