CLYDEBANK Rugby Club’s hopes of consecutive victories were dashed as Cumbernauld scored a late penalty to snatch a 22-20 victory on Saturday.

However Clydebank’s second team built on their fine recent performances with a storming 36-20 win at home to GHA, with some fine offloading rugby and a spectacular try by veteran winger Davie Cairns.

Matches between Clydebank and Cumbernauld are usually tight and this one was no different. Cumbernauld, playing at home, took an early lead from a converted try after a missed tackle in midfield.

Clydebank tried to get into their wide attacking shape but got bogged down in a forward battle. When they did go wide they used their pace to great effect. Returning captain Robert Parr danced down the left wing beating several defenders to run in under the post, Jack McCombe converted. McCombe banged over a sweet penalty strike from 35 metres as Cumbernauld began to give away silly penalties.

The start of the second half saw the red and blacks defend for the first 20 minutes, often in their own 22 as they were unable to wrestle possession away from the home side.

Their only result from this was a try after Clydebank were unable to repel a break down the blind side from their scrum half which was unconverted.

They also missed a penalty shot at goal. Bank then took control of the game when Jamie Boyd broke the defensive line 10 metres inside his own half and bolted away to score a great individual try.

This gave Bank a healthy 20-12 lead with five minutes to go and they looked set for the win. However when Cumbernauld’s big second row broke through a massive gap in the Clydebank defence and shimmied around the last line of defence their tails were up.

The conversion was good and the home side were one point behind when they got a penalty shot at goal that was coolly slotted by their stand off to win the game.

Back at Whitecrook the Clydebank’s second team were playing with pace, power and precision with a lovely offloading game keeping the ball alive with great close support.

The first score came as McIntosh loaded the gun after some lovely interplay with Moffatt and Jack Fraser fired the first salvo. Andy Lyle then set up the second with a cracking offload out the tackle and fed David McLintock who finished it off in style.

Alex Allan extended the lead with the third try as he beat several defenders in a mazy run from 20 metres.

The try of the day came from Davie Cairns, a man known for his miraculous try saving abilities, as he turned try scorer. Moffat made the initial break and offloaded out the tackle to Cairns who took the ball, performing a dive to take the pass, popped up onto his feet and sprinted away at a speed that defied his age to the delight of his fellow players and fans.

Andy Lyle got on the scoresheet next as he scored a lovely try as he set up and finished the move and Paul Andrews scored the sixth and final try of the day. Graeme Smillie used the offload to feed Andrew who cored under the posts.

Jack Fraser was on kicking duty and he slotted two conversions. But when he tried to convert Smillie’s try with a drop kick from in front of the posts he comically missed and claimed a torn hamstring.

GHA ran in four fine tries of their own but the home side were never in danger of losing the game.

The club now has a two week break that will be welcomed as their injury list is mounting.