If anyone was looking for champagne rugby, they certainly weren’t going to find it on a wet and slippery Cumbernauld pitch on Saturday. After what felt like several months of uninterrupted rain, the surface had all the grip of a bar of soap in a jacuzzi. Still, Shire arrived top of the table, fully aware that their hosts – the Badgers – had three games in hand and were more than capable of digging in and causing trouble. Add in the fact that the last two encounters between these sides ended in low-scoring draws, and this fixture had all the makings of another tight, muddy battle.

Pre-Match Challenges

Shire’s injury list seems to be expanding faster than a Christmas credit card bill. Missing were flanker Sam McAuley, scrum-half Adam Ingram, and stand-off Neil Forsyth, all sidelined. Meanwhile, South African lock Benji Sharples had inconveniently decided to migrate home for an early Christmas. Thankfully, the cavalry arrived in the form of returning players Mark Pirrie and Andrew McMillan, both back after injury layoffs.

First Half – Penalties, Puddles, and a Bit of Magic

With conditions punishing any attempt at quick, expansive rugby, the ball spent much of the afternoon somewhere between “slippery” and “impossible.” Knock-ons were the order of the day. Captain Scott Forsyth quickly decided this was not the time for risky play – points would have to come the old-fashioned way: off the tee.

Thankfully, his brother Blair brought his kicking boots – and they were clearly screwed on tight despite the mud. A well-struck early penalty from a wide angle opened the scoring: 0–3.

Moments later, from a scrum deep in Shire territory, Blair launched a towering kick that Cumbernauld’s back line misjudged on halfway. Fullback Bruce Burnett reacted fastest, scooping up the bouncing ball and sprinting in for Shire’s only try of the day. Blair converted from another tough angle for 0–10.

The Badgers bit back with a try of their own (unconverted), narrowing it to 5–10, and with a penalty apiece before halftime, Shire went in leading 8–13.

Second Half – A War of Attrition

If the first half felt like a slog, the second was trench warfare. Shire dominated territory and possession for most of the opening 30 minutes but could only add another penalty – again from Blair – taking it to 8–16.

Then came the final 10 minutes, which belonged entirely to Cumbernauld. Memories of last season’s late comeback draw were fresh for Shire supporters as the Badgers threw everything at the visitors. Helplessly camped inside their own 22, Shire defended with stubborn, desperate, badge-worthy determination.

A held-up try, a couple of wayward passes, and some heroic tackling meant Cumbernauld’s comeback attempt stalled. They eventually opted for a late penalty to secure a losing bonus point, much to Shire’s relief. Final whistle: 11–16.

Leswalt Village Store Man of the Match

Blair Forsyth – 11 points from the tee, 100% accuracy, and superb tactical kicking to relieve pressure and pin Cumbernauld back. A complete performance in awful conditions.

Coach’s Comments (Updated)

Coach Jason McKie praised the squad not just for their performance, but for the spirit they showed.
“It was a real squad effort,” he said. “The boys dug in for each other and for all the people who couldn’t be with us but are every bit part of this team.”

League Position & What’s Next

Cambuslang’s bonus-point win nudges Shire into 2nd place, but with everything still to play for. Next week, Shire return home to face Birkmyre, the only side to beat them in the first half of the season. A chance for a little festive revenge, perhaps?

Wigtownshire Squad

Starting XV:
B Burnett, A McMillan, J McKie, S Forsyth (c), R McAuley, N Forsyth, T King, A Dunbar, I Allan, M Pirrie, J McConnell, O Kelly, J Rankin, A McClymont, J McGarvie

Replacements:
R Drysdale, A Slavin, J Rennie, G Dunlop