On Saturday Garnock travelled to Park Farm to face Dumfries Saints continuing their Nat 3 campaign. Following the trip to Orkney the previous week the squad was suffering from an outbreak of illness resulting in significant disruption. Indeed seven of the victorious team from Kirkwall were missing including five backs ! When combined with some unavailability and injury this meant Garnock travelled with a bare 15 players.
The backline problems meant three forwards had to play in the high numbers with Jonny Watson ( a second row) at 9, Ross Brocket (a No8) at 12 and Kenny McDermott ( a prop) at 14.
On a positive note it gave the opportunity for three of Garnocks promising youngsters, Ewan Anderson, Cameron King and Andrew Holmes to play 80 minutes for the 1st XV .
The match kicked off with Garnock kicking off into a strong wind blowing down the pitch. Garnock started strongly dominating possession and territory through their big pack. From a lineout 10m out Garnock secured possession and drove for the line. The home side were unable to stop the driving maul and Matt Shiells was the man with the ball over the line. 0-5
For the next 35 minutes Dumfries used the advantage of the wind well regularly kicking long toward the visitors 22. They initially opted to kick two close range penalties taking the score to 6-5 quickly followed by a converted try 13-5. With the final play of the half and Garnock in the home side’s half Dumfries spun the ball wide to out flank the visitors and score under the posts . Half-time 20-5
Unfortunately for the visitors the strong wind dropped in the second half reducing the significant advantage from which Dumfries benefited in the first. Dumfries started the half strongly through their pack challenging the Garnock defensive line . During the opening 20 minutes Dumfries added two further unconverted tries taking the score to 30-7.
Heads could easily have dropped but that is not in the nature of this Garnock team and the deficit only drove the side on to better things. For the next 10 minutes Garnock took total control with the game being played almost exclusively in the Dumfries 22. During this time Garnock added two further tries through Matt Shiells and skipper Lewis McGeachy. One successful conversion taking the score to 30-17.
The significant physical efforts of the visitors began to take their toll with no replacements available. Dumfries made regular changes to bring on fresh players and were able to keep Garnock away from their 22. With time running out and Garnock in their own 22 the visitors had little option but to keep the ball in hand. An unfortunate handling error gave possession to the home side who were able to add a final converted try 37-17
There is little doubt that Dumfries deserved the victory and their 5 points however the scoreline does not accurately reflect the game nor the significant efforts of the 15 man team
Mention must go to youngsters Ewan Anderson and Cameron King in the pack who both impressed. In the backline Jonny Watson, Kenny McDermott and Ross Brocket did well playing out of position and young winger Andrew Holmes had a fine game.
Next week we face West of Scotland at Lochshore
Garnock team Shiells, Chapman, F Miller, Anderson, King, Wilson, A Miller, McGeachy, Watson, Walker, Holmes, Brocket, Reekie, McDermott, Jacobson
